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What is a myth?

Main Entry: myth
Pronunciation: 'mith
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek mythos

1 a : a usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon b : PARABLE, ALLEGORY

2 a : a popular belief or tradition that has grown up around something or someone; especially : one embodying the ideals and institutions of a society or segment of society <seduced by the American myth of individualism -- Orde Coombs> b : an unfounded or false notion

3 : a person or thing having only an imaginary or unverifiable existence
4 : the whole body of myths

What is propaganda?

Main Entry: pro·pa·gan·da
Pronunciation: "prä-p&-'gan-d&, "prO-
Function: noun

Etymology: New Latin, from Congregatio de propaganda fide Congregation for propagating the faith, organization established by Pope Gregory XV died 1623

1 capitalized : a congregation of the Roman curia having jurisdiction over missionary territories and related institutions

2 : the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person

3 : ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; also : a public action having such an effect

- pro·pa·gan·dist /-dist/ noun or adjective
- pro·pa·gan·dis·tic /-"gan-'dis-tik/ adjective
- pro·pa·gan·dis·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb

     Why are these two words important? How do they apply to the pet food industry? The answer is because these two words are many times the driving force behind a new product or company’s marketing style. These two things are also what cause the most confusion among pet owners. Basically, factual information may be used in a way that is inappropriate and biased in order to distort other information or to influence a person’s selection process.

     How do you recognize myths or propaganda? By having a questioning mind. If something sounds too good to be true, too crazy to be realistic, or just off the wall; question it. If you read something that makes you curious; question it. Question manufacturers, question your vet.  Questions often will reveal myths and propaganda especially if you seek to prove a statement you are questioning.

     For example, I recall a number of years ago reading this statement in a manufacturer’s catalogue

 “We never use sunflower oil as it is proven to cause cancer and cancer labs use sunflower oil to feed tumors in rats.”

     This statement was based on the information (current at the time) that saturated fats can contribute to tumor growth. Of course in a lab they would need to select a saturated fat in order to “feed tumors” so that they could study them.  Tumors were grown in rats and studied, the rats were fed sunflower oil. However, it was not the sunflower oil that was “bad” it was saturated fats in high levels. The manufacturer that made the statement above used other saturated fats in their products. The above is propaganda because it sought to hold the manufacturer in high esteem in the consumer’s eye because they chose not to use a “cancer causing” substance, sunflower oil, in their product.  The statement also at the same time points a nasty finger at companies that choose to use sunflower oil in their Kibble as a fat source by making them appear not to care about the “cancer causing” properties.  Sunflower oil does not cause cancer, neither do saturated fats. Saturated fats do contribute to tumor growth once it is there but does not cause cancer to come about. The statement is also incorrect and misinformation if not a downright lie.

A myth would be the statement seen most often on message boards and heard in groups:

“Corn is the number one allergen of dogs, they cannot digest it, and it serves no purpose for them.”

The above is a myth. Myth’s are different from propaganda in that usually they are retold with good intentions at heart and the speaker does not know they information is not correct. Myths spread themselves and are retold hundreds of times until they almost gain status of fact, but they are not facts. One of my favorite quotes explains this perfectly, a quote by Gandhi:

“An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it. “

     Bottom line myths are less destructive and harder to combat and correct. Propaganda is intentional, can also be spread by a speaker unaware of it’s nature and is meant to control the decisions of the listener.

Look to the side bar on the left for specific pages on specific rumors that are the most prolific and problematic.

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