Harry and Hazel Hamster

[Pebbles82]

There have been a number of posts in recent months about Harry and Hazel Hamster, their formulas and ingredients. To clarify matters I wrote to Supreme Petfoods and have had it confirmed that both Harry and Hazel hamster are identical formulas and neither of them contains either BHA or BHT and haven't done for a long time (at one time a lot of pet products contained them).

The differences in ingredients lists are due to country legislation requirements to present information in different formulas, so one will have a guaranteed analysis and another a typical analysis. But they are exactly the same food.

The protein levels may be slightly lower than the old formulas but aren't too bad and hammy owners can always supplement protein a bit for younger hamsters who need higher protein.

I asked the writer if I could reproduce the letter/email on the forum and they are happy about this, so have attached it as a photo. (Click on photo to enlarge).

[AmityvilleHams]

I think Hazel would be a good option for dwarf hamsters,much like the Higgins Vita Garden.For Syrian hamsters though in the US Higgins Sunburst is very good and has lots of variety.Of course though in the US at least we do not have a diet that is very good on its own More information on that here elsewhere of course though,but for Syrians I would still recommend Higgins in the US.

[Pebbles82]

Yes I think it would be great to have a thread on Hamster foods available in the US and their pros and cons. This was just to clear up confusion on the differences between Hazel and Harry Hamster - as in there aren' any

[AmityvilleHams]

It might eventually come if I have time between hamster preparations and school things and can stop procrastinating as well!

[Shelly78]

so I can feed my hamsters hazel hamster without people telling me its a bad food to give

[AmityvilleHams]

Originally Posted by Shelly78

so I can feed my hamsters hazel hamster without people telling me its a bad food to give

At the end of the day you can feed whatever food you want.Nobody is forcing you to feed one food or another

[CMB]

Everyone wants what's best for their hamsters, so when others say the food being given is bad. The person feels bad for giving it to their hamster.

There is helpful advice and harsh advice. Luckily most people give helpful advice and that is how it should be.

[Pebbles82]

Originally Posted by Shelly78

so I can feed my hamsters hazel hamster without people telling me its a bad food to give

Yes, good news. It still has some food colourings but no real nasties and it has all the nutritional requirements - although a bit low on protein still for younger hams but that could be supplemented with fresh food or something else.

I don't think any of them are as perfect as we'd like but it's important to have a go-to Hamster mix.

Actually I don't think the new version is much different to the previous one nutritionally, apart from the packaging. My Uk Harry Hamster says 18% protein and in his letter he says

"EU legislation says we must declare ingredients and nutritional profiles in one format, and the USA has a different set of rules. Amongst many other things, the US legislation says we must declare a ‘Guaranteed Analysis’ rather than a ‘Typical Analysis’. This is why for example, the Crude protein content in Hazel is declared lower than in Harry. (Hazel is a guaranteed minimum, and Harry is typical (i.e. what the product is formulated to)."

As they are both the same food the amount of protein is the same, it just depends how they want it classifying. A guaranteed minimum covers a few bases I guess. What it is formulated to is what they put in it. What a hamster actually eats is another matter lol! Which is why I like supplementing with fresh food because he always eats it.

I actually think 18% protein is fine.

[AmityvilleHams]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Yes, good news. It still has some food colourings but no real nasties and it has all the nutritional requirements - although a bit low on protein still for younger hams but that could be supplemented with fresh food or something else.

I don't think any of them are as perfect as we'd like but it's important to have a go-to Hamster mix.

Actually I don't think the new version is much different to the previous one nutritionally, apart from the packaging. My Uk Harry Hamster says 18% protein and in his letter he says

"EU legislation says we must declare ingredients and nutritional profiles in one format, and the USA has a different set of rules. Amongst many other things, the US legislation says we must declare a ‘Guaranteed Analysis’ rather than a ‘Typical Analysis’. This is why for example, the Crude protein content in Hazel is declared lower than in Harry. (Hazel is a guaranteed minimum, and Harry is typical (i.e. what the product is formulated to)."

As they are both the same food the amount of protein is the same, it just depends how they want it classifying. A guaranteed minimum covers a few bases I guess. What it is formulated to is what they put in it. What a hamster actually eats is another matter lol! Which is why I like supplementing with fresh food because he always eats it.

I actually think 18% protein is fine.

Hmmm do you have the exact ingredients for the food then?I'd be interested in doing a comparison quickly if you do

[Pebbles82]

Not to hand I'm afraid - it was all I could do to squint at the tiny writing for the protein amounts (first on the list) without my glasses. But I'm happy with the response from Supreme Petfoods and the National Hamster Council recommends Harry Hamster for having all the required nutrients and good sized pieces.

There will be some ingredient differences on the bags of Harry and Hazel hamster, as explained above in the letter - due to different ways of showing the analysis due to different countries' legislation for labelling.