Not to be a Conspiracy Theorist or anything, but uh.
1.) No links to actual scientific studies - only to other articles published by Tufts itself. It is anecdotal evidence based on ONE case in specific, and generalities otherwise. Claims are unsubstantiated. Where are the articles / other practices to verify the claim that "Recently, some veterinary cardiologists have been reporting increased rates of DCM in dogs," as stated in the article? All of this is just being said. There's no outside evidence or scientific articles supporting it.
2.) Hill's / Science Diet and Purina both are donors to Tuft's Veterinary Program. Of course they don't want anything saying that grain free is healthier; of course they want things that say it's less healthy. Corn costs less and they would love to fill their food with more of it and less meat.
3.) The article points to home made diets being the cause, particularly vegetarian diets being a cause due to a lack of taurine. Ironically enough, grain-based diets CANNOT contain NATURAL taurine, as (unless they use yeast, which is still a live culture), taurine is only found in meat. It is the reason cats need more (and why it is regulated in cat foods) - they are generally more carnivorous in their dietary needs than canines. I know cats can't produce it themselves - it MUST come from meat sources. I'm not sure if dogs can synthesize taurine or not, but I'd be willing to bet they need it as well from meat sources. Raw meat is also a better source than cooked meat - most cat foods, even those with nothing but meat, generally have taurine added to them BECAUSE cooking takes so much out of raw meat.
ANY food that fails to meet AAFCO standards is a hazard. There is no way to confirm that homemade diets are meeting nutritional needs - that's exactly what the article is getting at. Not that "grain free causes heart issues," it's that homemade diets are on the rise and are unbalanced because people are more into the idea than the science.
Those would be my concerns as well. I was wondering who funded the studies because that can seriously impact results. Now that I know they fund it it makes more sense. It is interesting though if it's true but I do think it needs more independent research to support or not support it. I know it is still new so maybe that is why there is not more research but I would like more info and research.
I did find it rather telling too how they mentioned multiple times about switching to a company with a long track record of producing quality food or "well known reputable company" and kept mentioning standard ingredients. Those are also cheaper ones. Chicken, beef, corn rice. I don't think those meats or even rice are so bad but I thought it was odd they put corn in parentheses with those other three as examples of standard ingredients as if those are healthy. Maybe grains and wheat and rice and all that is fine, I don't necessarily think, grain free is necessary for all or even most dogs, but I know for a fact that dogs cannot digest corn. A bit odd they say no evidence supports it. I found it odd though how lamb and fish were considered exotic and unhealthy?? But corn is okay? Wolves are more than likely eating more rabbits, lambs, and fish, than corn... i can how something like kangaroo or bison or something might not be necessary though and they're maybe not catching them but duck and lamb and fish i didnt think were exotic but may be wrong. ANYWAY. Long story short, I did think and wonder when they were mentioning all these reputable companies, long histories, and saying that smaller companies may not have the nutritional knowledge, etc. If they weren't referencing Purina and the like and trying to get people to buy it.
That said, it is interesting for sure and I certainly don't want to hurt my dog and if feeding grains would help him be healthier, I'll do it, especially since the grain foods are much cheaper. But I also know that when we switched to Purina ProPlan Savor he started having soft, runny poops and getting very very itchy and hot spots. He has been on Purina One SmartBlend before and well several years ago but he also seems to do fine on the grain free. Idk. Although he's been having health issues lately and it would ve interesting if those were because pf the grain free. Maybe I could try switching to something with grain that isn't Purina and doesn't have tons of corn