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Naturally Fed Organics
By Lynn Whittaker
Bow Wow University
Everyday we are bombarded with terms like All Natural, Organic, Free Range, Holistic and Pure. It becomes increasingly difficult to sift through these terms and comprehend what they actually mean. These terms have walked on over to the pet industry where we see them on pet food labels more and more often.
Humans have seen the value of eating free of chemicals and contaminants and now people want to feed their pets the same way. Animals that have allergies or illnesses may benefit from chemical free, pesticide free, and organically grown foods just like their human counterparts.
More pet food companies are manufacturing pet food with better nutrition in mind. Many of these premium companies are using "human grade" meats, (where the meats are purchased from USDA meat companies as opposed to rendering plants) and "organic" ingredients. When shopping for organic foods, it is good to understand what organic really means. The National Organic Standards recognized by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) use these definitions calculated by weight or volume excluding water or salt. These definitions are:
- 100 % Organic has to contain 100 percent organically produced ingredients. Because all "balanced and complete" style dog foods have minerals and supplements added to assure the proper nutritional balance after cooking, they cannot be considered 100 percent organic. (These supplements cannot be produced organically.)
- Organic must contain not less than 95 percent of certifiably organic produced ingredients. Any of the remaining ingredients must be organically produced, unless they aren’t available in organic form, or are nonagricultural substances (such as the supplement mixtures.)
Note: Only products that fall within these two categories can use the USDA ORGANIC label designed to designate the organic nature of the food.
- Made with Organic must contain at least 70 percent organically produced ingredients. Up to three organically produced ingredients or food groups may be named in the phrase.
A common misconception is that All Natural equals Organic. Definitions are lost while colorful packaging, labeling and careful marketing ploys detract us in the market place. We buy based on appearance and careful labeling and not necessarily on the actual nutritional value. Pet food commercials that display vegetables falling from the sky gives the implication that the product is teeming with beautiful nutritious veggies, yet the actual amount in the food is nominal, and may lack any nutritional benefit whatsoever.
Let’s consider the term "free-range" associated with chicken. This means that the chicken (albeit briefly) are allowed out of their cages to roam free. Another confusing term, "Naturally Fed" means that the food was scattered on the ground for the chickens to eat, thereby allowing them to "naturally" eat their food. Sometimes the words just get in the way of what we are really aiming for.
Many of us do not take the time to shop exclusively organic for ourselves, however providing your pets with fresh vegetables, high quality meats in conjunction with premium kibble can only provide a multitude of health benefits regardless of whether the food was certified organic, naturally fed, free-ranged, or not. So next time you are out shopping, look carefully at the label, and ask yourself what exactly are you seeking for your pet’s food?
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