Quality Control
Developed by Experienced Pet Food Specialists
Our products are developed by a team of nutritionists, food scientists and engineers, with graduate degrees in biochemistry, nutrition and biology. Our team also has more than 50 years combined industry experience in developing complete and balanced pet foods.
Validated by Independent Food Scientists
To test Carna4 for its nutrient composition and quality, we enlisted Mortec Scientific Inc., an independent research and laboratory testing firm that specializes in pet food and natural health products for some of North America’s leading consumer goods companies.
Mortec is owned and led by Dr. Scott Morton, a seasoned scientist with more than 25 years lab and research experience. His experience includes managing the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Pet Food Certification lab and serving as executive director of a leading full service North American lab. Latterly, as a senior corporate quality assurance professional with a multi-national food processor, Dr. Morton pioneered the concept of a full service-testing laboratory within its corporate structure that also provided services to external food companies. This premise was the model for Mortec, which he founded in 2007. Today, Mortec has about 50 highly-skilled scientists, who use recognized ISO 17025 standards, as well as AOAC, AOCS, AACC, APHA, Health Canada and other official methods for its testing.
Mortec Scientific and Gelda Scientific are renowned laboratories in the pet nutrition industry known for their advanced analytical testing services, often tackling challenges beyond the capabilities of typical laboratories. Mortec Scientific specializes in nutritional chemistry and instrumentation, and notably, was the first to pioneer methodologies for studying choline content in dog food and assessing the activity of key digestive enzymes in canines. Mortec works in close alliance with Gelda Scientific, whose principal, Arvind Gelda, is a recognized authority in the production and testing of probiotics—the beneficial bacteria essential for maintaining healthy digestive systems in pets. Together, Mortec and Gelda collaborate on specialized testing projects to ensure comprehensive quality and nutritional evaluations.
Mortec Scientific | Gelda Scientific
In testing Carna4, Mortec’s researchers were amazed by the increased nutrients that came from our special blend of sprouted seeds. “In the past, we’ve seen increases from 50% to more than 10,000% in vitamins and enzymes after germination of raw seed. However, we didn’t expect to see such high levels of nutrients in a finished food. Carna4’s sprouted seed mixture appears to work synergistically with the other ingredients to maintain their nutritional levels throughout the cooking process,” explained Dr. Morton.
“Even the probiotics held their own, at levels we’ve not seen before in commercial pet foods.”
Mortec has also done research to assess the effect of Omega-3 essential fatty acids from sprouted seeds including barley, lentil, amaranth and flaxseed, on dogs. “Available clinical and anecdotal evidence suggests that dogs and humans alike can benefit from the Omega-3s in various sprouted seeds and in comparable portions,” concluded Dr. Morton. “But dogs get the added bonus of increased natural fiber and active enzymes from sprouted seeds, which you don’t find in Omega-3s from fish and fish oils that most pet food manufacturers use.”
Monitored by Ongoing Testing & Audits
NSF Cook & Thurber plays a critical role in quality assurance for Carna4 products, combining efforts of off-site and on-site quality assurance specialists, supervising teams, and independent nutritional testers. At the Carna4 bakery facility, an on-site team rigorously tests every batch for multiple parameters, with a primary focus on the complete absence of pathogens before any product is released. Impressively, Carna4 has maintained a recall-free record over 15 years. Their family-run, bovine-free bakery is regularly audited by prominent food safety organizations such as the American Institute of Baking (AIB), the American Spice Institute (ASI), and NSF Cook & Thurber itself, consistently achieving superior food safety ratings. The bakery also operates an effective Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) program and holds certifications from the European Union (EU) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Plant Protection and Quarantine (APHIS-PFO, #UT-PFO-001). NSF Cook & Thurber