FAQs

• Q | How do you use ZiwiPeak?

  ZiwiPeak is so easy and so ready to feed straight from the pouch or from the can.

  
  

  Air Dried Cuisine Pouches:

  
  

  All you do is tear above the re-seal bar then open it and inside there is our scoop which on one side reads 56.8g/2oz for feeding your Dog and on the other side of the scoop it reads 1/2 scoop 28.4g/1oz for feeding your Cat.

  
  

  • You do not have to add water to the food.
    
  • You do not have to cook it.
    
  • You do not have to deep fry it.
    
  • You do not have to microwave it.
    

  
  

  It's ready to go and you are feeding the very best, healthiest and most trusted pet food on the global market. Re-seal the pouch carefully when you have finished.

  
  

  Moist Canned Cuisine:

  
  

  Consult the Feeding Calculator to determine how much to feed your dog or cat.  Open the can and spoon out the desired amount. 

• Q | How do you store ZiwiPeak?

  Air Dried Cuisine Pouches:

  
  

  ZiwiPeak needs only to be stored in a cool dry place and should be used within 8 weeks of opening.

  
  

  Please do not put it in the fridge or freezer as this will change its natural profile over time.

  
  

  When you have finished using ZiwiPeak after you have fed your pet, please ensure that it is sealed well before you store it again.

  
  

  Please do not take the food out of its safe pouch environment as the profile will start to change.

  
  

  ZiwiPeak is a true natural 'MEAT' product.

  
  

  Moist Canned Cuisine:

  
  

  If there is food left in the can that you want to keep for the next feed, please cover the open can and store in your refrigerator.

• Q | What pack size should I buy?

  When buying ZiwiPeak, you are actually buying an equivalent to feeding a raw meat diet but it is air-dried and very safe.

  
  

  ZiwiPeak Air Dried Cuisine has a shelf life of 21 months from manufacture provided it is unopened.  Once opened you have eight to nine weeks to consume our food .  This is because it is a real meat diet that doesn't have any preservatives, salts or sugars added and hence is a true natural product for Cats and Dogs.

  
  

  If you have a small dog please make sure that you buy the 1kg/2.2lb pouch or the Trial Pack as this will give you  plenty of time to use ZiwiPeak .   Please do not buy a 5kg/11lb pouch for a small dog as you will never be able to use the product in the time we say to use it.   If you have two to three or more dogs then buying our larger 5kg/11lb pouch will work well for you. 

  
  

  Another important point is please don't take the food out of the ZiwiPeak pouch as this is the foods safe haven.   Seal well after each feeding time and store in a cool dry place.

• Q | Why wouldn’t I just feed my pet raw meat?

  A | At ZiwiPeak the science is simple. Just as in their natural wild habitat, your cat or dog has a digestion system that has evolved to thrive on a raw diet. So ZiwiPeak is just as nature intended: 90% real raw meat and organs.

  The best diet you can give your pet is a raw meat diet. However, this presents safety and hygiene issues, especially in the kitchen where you prepare your family food and around children. It also presents questions of inconvenience with the process of having to thaw raw meat from the freezer every day. Our air dried cuisine eliminates the inconvenience and safety issues of dealing with raw meat for your pet, while our unique and gentle air drying process of 90% raw meat in our cuisine means we capture the vast majority of the benefits of raw. ZiwiPeak is the next best thing to a raw diet. 

• Q | If I give my pet ZiwiPeak, will I see a difference in their health?

  A | ZiwiPeak has been created to work in harmony with your pet’s natural digestion system. We only use real meat and organs, just as nature intended. True to our word, the 100% all natural meat and organ ingredients we source at ZiwiPeak can be tracked and traced from pasture to your pet’s bowl. Therefore, any build-up of allergens caused by feeding grain-based diets or diets containing any added sugars, salt, glycerines, antibiotics, hormones, preservatives, growth promotants, fillers or potatoes may be alleviated over time with feeding ZiwiPeak.

• Q | Don’t I need to provide supplements, such as essential oils for joint-health, for my pet?

  A | ZiwiPeak has been formulated with the advice of global pet nutrition experts to ensure that it provides a complete and whole diet for animals of every lifestyle, age and breed. When you feed your beloved animal ZiwiPeak they require no other supplements for their optimum nutritional support, health and longevity. This means the cost of ZiwiPeak is the full and final daily cost for providing your pet with the ultimate diet and also means that you have the best chance at keeping vet bills to a minimum.
  
  

  Dogs and cats cannot produce minerals and only some vitamins. For example they cannot synthesise vitamin D, and cats specifically cannot synthesise taurine, to meet their health requirements, so it needs to be incorporated into their diet. ZiwiPeak achieves this by including liver and fish oil, both naturally rich in vitamin D and suited to your pet’s natural digestion system. We include ingredients like New Zealand green-lipped mussel and venison connective tissue, which provide digestible levels of chondroitin and glucosamine, to give your pet the nutritional support for long-term joint health.  

• Q | If ZiwiPeak is 90% raw meat and organs, what makes up the other 10%?

  A | The other 10% consists of carbohydrates from natural sources, such as chicory, kelp and parsley, plus essential vitamins and minerals, like chondroitin and glucosamine for a balanced diet that means there is no need for you to provide any further nutritional support in the form of supplements.

• Q | Why will my dog or cat have less stool volume, flatulence and bad breath with ZiwiPeak?

  A | Yes, you will notice a significant change in your pet's stool volume and smell.  ZiwiPeak is sourced from the perfect ingredients that are fully digested by the pet. If your cat or dog’s digestion system is thriving and healthy, then they shouldn’t be suffering from high stool volume, flatulence or bad breath. The added sugars, salt, glycerines, antibiotics, preservatives, fillers, grains and potatoes often found in cheaper pet foods simply cannot be processed by your cat or dog and therefore result in digestive issues. These nasties can cause the above issues, such as bad breath. They are signs your pet’s digestion system isn’t happy.

• Q | Can my cat eat my dog’s ZiwiPeak food?

  A | The short answer is no because the two cuisines are different and have been formulated to specifically meet a dog or cat’s individual and different nutritional requirements. Each cuisine contains a different balance of vitamins and minerals. However a healthy cat can eat your dog’s ZiwiPeak for a short period, but this should be kept to a minimum.

• Q | If I give my dog or cat ZiwiPeak treats, does that affect how much ZiwiPeak air dried or moist cuisine I should be feeding my pet?

  A | Thanks to the goodness in each ZiwiPeak treat, you should modify your portion size of ZiwiPeak cuisine at feeding times – your pet won’t need as much if they have received a treat. ZiwiPeak treats are not intended as a complete daily diet, but as a premium real-meat jerky treat to occasionally reward your dog or cat's good behaviour.
  

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• Q | What is the difference between protein from meat and organs compared to the protein from carbohydrates?

  A |  Dog and cat digestive systems thrive on a raw meat, organs and fish diet like the one they evolved for in the wild. In order to be healthy, well and live a long life, their bodies need the energy of high protein and fat sourced from real meat, organs and fish. ZiwiPeak provides this by ensuring our air dried cuisine is made from 90% raw meat and organs dried by our gentle and unique process that locks in the majority of the nutritional goodness of raw. This also means that in our air dried cuisine protein is always at around 37%, and fat at around 32%. 
  
  
  ZiwiPeak's fundamental difference is that our food is providing protein and fat sourced from real raw meat and organs.  This is the perfect diet for your beloved cat and dog.  Most of the other brands use carbohydrates unsuitable for your pets natural digestion system. ZiwiPeak has a digestibility rating of over 95% so that the food your loved animal eats is used for its full and energetic life.

  
   

• Q | What testing does ZiwiPeak undertake?

  Every batch of product produced at ZiwiPeak must meet our thorough and stringent in-house specifications and is not released for sale if these specifications are not met.

  Water activity, used to control microbial growth, is the critical control point for our New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) approved Risk Management Programme. This Programme is based on a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan.  Samples from all our batches are taken from the production area and tested to ensure water activity values are within a specified range for food quality and safety.

  Further to this, we conduct Laboratory Testing in New Zealand on all our production on a weekly basis to comply with stringent EU regulations and to meet our own strict in-house requirements.

  Tests conducted are for:

  • Salmonella
  • Enterobacteriaceae
  • APC
  • Yeasts and Moulds

  There are strict limits imposed for these tests, and NZFSA maintain an overview of the results.. 

  We also test on a random basis for: Ethoxyquin,  BHT and BHA & Propylene Glycol

  Results for these 4 tests have been negative to date, as expected.

• Q | Does ZiwiPeak meet AAFCO standards in their petfood?

  The ZiwiPeak pet food manufacturing process is unique.

  ZiwiPeak pet food products are manufactured to the highest international quality benchmarks by ZiwiPeak Limited in a controlled, sophisticated plant. Products meet stringent NZFSA and AAFCO approved standards (B16).

  ZiwiPeak 'Daily-Dog' & 'Daily Cat' Cuisine is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog & Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.  ZiwiPeak ingredients exceed the minimum AAFCO standards and are less than the maximum AAFCO requirements.

  Our gentle air-drying process, using raw meat, delivers a high quality ‘dry' food product, whilst maintaining the nutritional integrity of the natural raw materials. Likewise, our canned moist products also comply with the necessary regulations.

  It is a sterile and safe method under controlled conditions. The process provides for exactly the right level of moisture removal to make the product shelf-stable, without altering its state or disrupting its nutritional value.

• Q | Does ZiwiPeak have bone content in the food?

  The raw meat that ZiwiPeak uses is mechanically recovered off the bone and contains 3% finely ground bone.  We also use the marrow and soft cartilage provided from the meat recovery process.

  This makes ZiwiPeak the perfect food for your dog or cat.

• Q | What protein source does ZiwiPeak use?

  ZiwiPeak do not use any parts of a rendered animal.

  ZiwiPeak Meat and Organ ingredients are sourced from animals that have been slaughtered for 'Human Consumption" at plants operating under a NZFSA approved Risk Management Programme.

• Q | What is the calorie content of ZiwiPeak food?

  ZiwiPeak Dog Air-Dried Cuisine

  Venison                    4351 Kcal per kg / 247 Kcal per scoop

  Venison & Fish        4244 Kcal per kg / 241 Kcal per scoop

  Lamb                         4465 Kcal per kg / 254 Kcal per scoop  

   

  ZiwiPeak Dog Cuisine Cans

  Venison                    389 Kcal per can

  Venison & Fish       389 Kcal per can

  Lamb                        407 Kcal per can

  Tripe                         416 Kcal per can

   

  ZiwiPeak Cat Air Dried Cuisine

  Venison                    4301 Kcal per kg / 122 Kcal per scoop

  Venison & Fish        4251 Kcal per kg / 121 Kcal per scoop

  Lamb                        4401 Kcal per kg / 125 Kcal per scoop  

   

  ZiwiPeak Cat Cuisine Cans

  Venison                    187 Kcal per can

  Venison & Fish        183 Kcal per can

  Lamb                        186 Kcal per can
  
  

  ZiwiPeak Treats Range

  Venison                    4145 Kcal per kg

  Venison & Fish        4130 Kcal per kg

  Venison & Mussel   4140 Kcal per kg

  Lamb                        4365 Kcal per kg

  Lamb & Liver           4265 Kcal per kg

  Beef                          3660 Kcal per kg

  
  
  

• Q | Carrageenan in ZiwiPeak's canned product

  There are two types of Carrageenan, undegraded (food-grade) and degraded (hydrolysed with acid).

  Undegraded Carrageenan has been used in both the human food and pet food industries for many years, and its safety has been assured by the United States Food and Drug Administration GRAS (Generally Recognised as Safe) status.

  Degraded Carrageenan however, is a known Carcinogen and is not used or permitted in food (or pet food) production.

  Carrageenan is also listed by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) as an approved ingredient for pet food.

  ZiwiPeak' cans contain undegraded Carrageenan. 

  Acid hydrolysis, which is dependent on pH, temperature and time, may hydrolyse (degrade) Carrageenan in solution at higher temperatures but this takes place only when Carrageenan is dissolved.    In our process, the Carrageenan is in solution only at very low temperature. When Carrageenan is in its gelled state, as it is during canning, acid hydrolysis no longer occurs. 

  Please be assured that the quality and safety of ZiwiPeak is of the highest level.

   

• Q | Are there carbohydrates in ZiwiPeak Cat Food?

  As you know, we do not add carbohydrates specifically to our products.  The carbohydrate levels are naturally present from the non-meat product (chicory, kelp, parsley) raw ingredients and the levels based on calculation are as follows averaging out from the latest test averages (figures have been rounded):
  
  

  Air-Dried Cat Cuisine                             Carbohydrates 8%
  
  

  Canned Cat Cuisine                               Carbohydrates 1.5%

• Q | ZiwiPeak's New Zealand Deer Antler

  ZiwiPeak 'Good-Dog' Deer Antlers are a 100% natural, mineral rich, long lasting dog chew.
  
  

  A mineral analysis would show high levels of calcium and phosphorus and trace
  levels of iron, zinc and sodium.
  
  

  Deer antlers are slowly ground down by chewing, providing a dog with enjoyment at the same time as helping to keep teeth and gums healthy.
  
  

  Deer Antler is basically bone material, naturally shed by the deer.   Because they are natural they are easy on the digestive system, rarely causing tummy trauma.

• Q | What are the levels of Taurine in ZiwiPeak Cat Cuisine?

  Taurine is an essential nutrient, especially for Cats. 
  
  

  It is naturally present in all our products, but because it is essential, we have it especially added to our Cat cuisine, (both dry and canned products) at above the minimum maintenance levels required for Cats.
  
  

  The taurine levels in ZiwiPeak Cat Cuisine is 0.28%, AAFCO's minimum levels are 0.1% for extruded product and 0.2% for canned product. 
  
  

  As Taurine is not considered essential for Dogs, we do not specifically add it to our Dog Cuisine.  It is present though from the natural raw materials in ZiwiPeak at a level of 0.21%.

• Q | What fat content is in ZiwiPeak?

  Firstly on the fat; the fat in ZiwiPeak is what is naturally occurring in the meat of the source species. The percent does look high because of the low moisture in the dry ZiwiPeak, but on an as fed basis our Vet experts which helped us develop ZiwiPeak advise that the levels we have in ZiwiPeak are what is best for Cats & Dogs.
  
  

  Information on fat; we as humans, tend to be paranoid but fat is an essential source of energy and it also supplies essential fatty acids which play important roles in metabolism, cell membranes and skin permeability in pets.
  
  

  Cats and Dogs do not get heart attacks from fat around the arteries and must have near the percent we provide to function properly and have the energy they need to move. Otherwise they lack energy and don't burn calories!!
  
  

  The perfect daily diet for dogs and cats is rich in proteins and fats sourced from raw meat and organs balanced with vitamins and minerals. It must be low in carbohydrates as they are not easily digested.

• Q | Vitamin A in ZiwiPeak

  Latest analysis results (as fed) for Vitamin A for ZiwiPeak products are as follows: 

  • Daily Dog Cuisine Air-Dried          64700 IU/kg
  • Daily Dog Cuisine Cans                  6067 IU/kg 
  • Daily Cat Cuisine Air-Dried           86200 IU/kg
  • Daily Cat Cuisine Cans                   6585 IU/kg 

  These are above AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles minimum requirements for all life stages, and well below their recommended maximum levels. 

  Maximum levels, based on dry matter, are 250,000 for dogs and 750000 for cats.

• Q | What are the phosphorous levels in ZiwiPeak Cuisine?

  Phosphorous levels in our food is as follows:

  ZiwiPeak Daily Dog Air-Dried Cuisine:
  
  Venison 1.6%

  Venison & Fish 1.21%

  Lamb 1.17%

  
  

  ZiwiPeak Daily Dog Cuisine Cans:
  
  Venison 0.26%

  Venison & Fish 0.25%

  Lamb 0.25%

  Tripe: Lamb & Venison 0.19% 

  
  
  ZiwiPeak Daily Cat Air-Dried Cuisine:
  
  Venison 1.5%
  
  Venison & Fish 1.3%
  
  Lamb 1.2%

  
  

  ZiwiPeak Daily Cat Cuisine Cans:
  
  Venison 0.39%

  Venison & Fish 0.3%

  Lamb 0.29%

   

• Q | Does ZiwiPeak use Ethoxyquin?

  Ethoxyquin is not used by ZiwiPeak.

• Q | Does ZiwiPeak have Omega-3 Supplements?

  We do not offer an Omega 3 supplement product.  We believe the extremely high quality of natural ingredients used to make all ZiwiPeak products delivers all the necessary nutritional requirements to provide your dog or cat the perfect daily diet.

  We use high levels of New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel in all of our Cuisine formulations.  Green-Lipped Mussel contains high levels of Glucosamine and Chondroitin as well as Omega 3 & Omega 6.

  There is sufficient Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Omega 3 & 6 in ZiwiPeak to provide your dog and cat’s recommended daily dosage.

  There is no need for you to purchase additional costly supplements.  ZiwiPeak's latest test results gave the following Omega levels:
  
  Omega 3 - 3.7g/100g
  Omega 6 - 7.18g/100g

• Q | Magnesium, Calcium & Phosphorus in ZiwiPeak Cat Cuisine

  Would you like to know how much Magnesium, Calcium and Phosphorus is in your dry ZiwiPeak Cat food?

  ZiwiPeak ‘Daily-Cat' Cuisine Air-Dried Cuisine: 

  Magnesium 9mg/kg
  

  Calcium 2.3%

  Phosphorus 1.32%

• Q | Does ZiwiPeak get Irradiated in Australia?

  ZiwiPeak is not irradiated when it enters Australia.

  ZiwiPeak is permitted to enter Australia without requiring irradiation.  This is due to ZiwiPeak’s carefully controlled manufacturing process.  AQIS has issued a permit for the entry of ZiwiPeak as we comply with strict NZ Food Safety requirements and operate under a registered HACCP and Risk Management Plan.

• Q | What type of Lecithin do we use?

  ZiwiPeak adds Lecithin, a source of Choline and Inositol - essential fatty acids and sterols - to its formulation.

  Lecithin is good for hair and coat condition, as well as liver and heart function. 

  Currently we are using a soy-based lecithin.    However, we are continually striving to improve our products, and we are looking at alternative sources of Lecithin. 

   

   

• Q | Calcium in ZiwiPeak

  ZiwiPeak has been carefully designed by pet nutrition experts as a pure meat product that is based on the balance that a hunting animal would eat in the wild.    We have added specific vitamins and minerals to make the product a "complete diet", that is one that maintains the pet in peak health. 

  ZiwiPeak has some calcium from bone, but mostly we include calcium by way of a digestible mineral (chelated) so it has the most benefit for the animal.

  Our pet nutrition experts say that Calcium should be between 0.6% and 2.5% for maintenance, and 1% and 2.5% for reproduction and growth: 

  ZiwiPeak has been tested at around 2%.

• Q | Chicory Inulin in ZiwiPeak

  ZiwiPeak uses Chicory Inulin in all of our Cuisine products. 

  Nutritionally, inulin is a form of soluble dietary fibre and is classed as a prebiotic.    We use a chicory derived inulin as this has much higher prebiotic fiber content compared to other sources.   Chicory Inulin is a powder containing mainly oligofructose, or fructooligosaccharides (FOS), both of which are among the most effective prebiotics.

  Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/or activity of good bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifido-bacteria in the digestive system, which are beneficial to the health of the body, while suppressing the development of bad bacteria like Escherichia coli (E.coli). 

  Simply speaking, chicory inulin contributes in optimising digestion, supports the immune function, and promotes nutrient absorption, in particular calcium and magnesium.

• Q | Copper and Zinc In ZiwiPeak cat food

  The amount of Copper & Zinc in our Cat Food are as follows: 

  
  

  Copper          Air-dried    17.6 mg/kg

                          Canned      9.5mg/kg 

   
  

  Zinc               Air-dried     160 mg/kg

                         Canned       50 mg/kg

• Q | Why are there 'black-outs' on some of your ZiwiPeak packaging?

  When we originally designed the packaging for ZiwiPeak, the regulatory authorities in New Zealand approved the packaging and all the information contained on it with the FDA. 

  At that stage it was ok for us to state "derived from animals that are fit for human consumption in their raw state" and "only ingredients passed fit for human consumption make the grade."    However the regulatory authorities (NZFSA & FDA) subsequently changed their policy and determined that this comment must be crossed out and that the pet food packs must be marked with "not fit for human consumption".

  As we still had packaging in stock to use up, we were given approval to cross out these phrases until such time as our packs are used up.    Unfortunately the vagaries of officialdom!! 

  We have redesigned our packaging and all our Dog Cuisine products are now being packed into the new pouches.  Obviously there are still some older pouches in the market. 

  Our new packaging states that ZiwiPeak ingredients are "free of added hormones and growth promotants." There is absolutely no change at all to the quality of the ingredients used in ZiwiPeak, or to the finished product inside the packs.