Absurd product claims

[miajag]

There was a discussion recently in another thread about the claims some pellet manufacturers make that their product is a "complete diet." I agree that this claim is questionable at best (I'm sure a bird could live quite a while on just fortified pellets, but it wouldn't necessarily be very happy), but it got me thinking about some of the more ridiculous claims bird food manufacturers (and manufacturers of other products as well) make.

Example: Now, don't get me wrong, I think Lafeber Nutri-berries are a good product and I give one or two a day to my parrot as treats. The Garden Veggie and Sunny Orchard varieties in particular are quite healthy ingredient-wise and good for foraging and beak health as well. That said, I noticed recently that on their website they claim that "96% of the berry gets eaten." (http://www.lafeber.com/pinnacle/index.php?p=catalog&parent=24&pg=1) LOL. I am sure anyone who has actually watched a bird eat and knows what a Nutri-berry is realizes that this number is totally absurd. In a couple of non-scientific trials, I observed Winnie to eat about 40% of a Nutri-berry by weight before moving on, and based on what I've seen from other birds that seems like a realistic number. I wonder whether a parrot has ever eaten 96% of anything, to be honest. Just an absolutely ridiculous number and I'd really like to know how they reached it.

What are some other absurd claims made by makers of bird products?

[Michael]

Like it's one bit different with human products? Afterall, they're selling the pellets to the people and not the birds. Think of the most notorious pellet manufacturers for humans: cereal companies. They claim you could practically live off that stuff.

[alight15]

Like it's one bit different with human products? Afterall, they're selling the pellets to the people and not the birds. Think of the most notorious pellet manufacturers for humans: cereal companies. They claim you could practically live off that stuff.

well I dont think the exaggeration is that severe when you look at the pellets it has several things,even if it's not a "Complete diet" they can live on the stuff{for their expected lifetime(*5 years )}
and with cereals well if you've ever tasted those survival food packets you just ad water to...cereal is an instant meal...I eat it a lot of the fortified "super cereals" or w/e they are supposed to be, its convenient for a college student like me

oh anyway..I just wanted to add the actual lies i've noticed are related to millet spray..theres a different type for parrot sizes they dont mention just that it's for all birds.
I bought a larger size bag's brand for all size parrots and parakeets and it was a lousy treat,the millet bundles were packed so tightly my budgie needed me to remove bundles off of it for him

and unlike the previous ones these had seeds like a corn cob that if i gave him a piece of the stick he'd have a hard time reaching all of them because the millet was all in a straight rod
He wasnt able to finish them and he didnt like it removed till it was...I'm gonna switch back to the Hartz one
even if they're in smaller bags and come in less..because he likes to eat it till it's bare then chew it till it breaks at the base (near the clip i used to hold it in his cage) and falls off