This day in age we’re constantly being bombarded with the buzzwords organic, natural and holistic everywhere we look––on television, at the grocery store, even at the pet shop. Standing in the dog food isle reading snazzy labels claiming to their foods are “natural”, “organic” or “holistic” can make your head spin. When did choosing a dog food become so confusing? As loving dog owners we don’t want to walk out of the store with an unhealthy food, so how do we make the right choice? Here a few definitions that will help you out.
The Term Natural
Dog food labeled “natural” basically means that it has been made with ingredients that have been processed minimally and that have been grown in a “natural” environment. According to the Pet Food Committee of the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), pet foods can only be labeled “natural” in reference to the product as a whole only if all the ingredients meet the definition, which according to the AAFCO is this: A feed or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subjected to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as might occur unavoidably in good manufacturing practices.
Dog food, then, can not be labeled “natural” if it has any chemical synthesized ingredients in it, but it can still include filler ingredients such as corn, soy, glutens, making it the least desirable product of the three choices.
The Term Organic
Truly “organic” dog food is must be made from ingredients that are grown without the use of pesticides, insecticides or herbicides. It is generally composed of one protein, one carbohydrate and one fat, and does not contain by-products, fillers, artificial flavors, artificial colors or preservatives. While organic farmers in the United States must receive special certification in order to be considered “organic”, dog food labeling, unfortunately, is not as strictly regulated. A dog food containing certified organic vegetables, for example, can still put the word “organic” on the label even if it contains non-organic meat. So how do you know if a dog food is really organic? Ask around. Your Veterinarian or local kennel club will know a lot about organic brands that live up to their labels. While might take a little work to find the right organic food, it will be worth it when you see how your dog benefits from it.
The Term Holistic
The word “holistic” means “entire” or “total”. A holistic approach to dog food means it should contain ingredients that are each responsible for providing different health benefits to the dog. Honest to goodness holistic dog foods are comprised of very high quality, natural, human-grade ingredients, which are well cared for during the production process. Like organic dog food, holistic dog food contains no by-products, fillers or preservatives.
When it comes to choosing the right type of food for your pup, the words natural, organic and holistic can be confusing because they’re too often used interchangeably and inaccurately. It’s always best practice to read labels thoroughly and, when in doubt, turn to experts.
This day in age we’re constantly being bombarded with the buzzwords organic, natural and holistic everywhere we look––on television, at the grocery store, even at the pet shop. Standing in the dog food isle reading snazzy labels claiming to their foods are “natural”, “organic” or “holistic” can make your head spin. When did choosing a dog food become so confusing? As loving dog owners we don’t want to walk out of the store with an unhealthy food, so how do we make the right choice? Here a few definitions that will help you out.
The Term Natural
Dog food labeled “natural” basically means that it has been made with ingredients that have been processed minimally and that have been grown in a “natural” environment. According to the Pet Food Committee of the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), pet foods can only be labeled “natural” in reference to the product as a whole only if all the ingredients meet the definition, which according to the AAFCO is this: A feed or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subjected to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as might occur unavoidably in good manufacturing practices.
Dog food, then, can not be labeled “natural” if it has any chemical synthesized ingredients in it, but it can still include filler ingredients such as corn, soy, glutens, making it the least desirable product of the three choices.
The Term Organic
Truly “organic” dog food is must be made from ingredients that are grown without the use of pesticides, insecticides or herbicides. It is generally composed of one protein, one carbohydrate and one fat, and does not contain by-products, fillers, artificial flavors, artificial colors or preservatives. While organic farmers in the United States must receive special certification in order to be considered “organic”, dog food labeling, unfortunately, is not as strictly regulated. A dog food containing certified organic vegetables, for example, can still put the word “organic” on the label even if it contains non-organic meat. So how do you know if a dog food is really organic? Ask around. Your Veterinarian or local kennel club will know a lot about organic brands that live up to their labels. While might take a little work to find the right organic food, it will be worth it when you see how your dog benefits from it.
The Term Holistic
The word “holistic” means “entire” or “total”. A holistic approach to dog food means it should contain ingredients that are each responsible for providing different health benefits to the dog. Honest to goodness holistic dog foods are comprised of very high quality, natural, human-grade ingredients, which are well cared for during the production process. Like organic dog food, holistic dog food contains no by-products, fillers or preservatives.
When it comes to choosing the right type of food for your pup, the words natural, organic and holistic can be confusing because they’re too often used interchangeably and inaccurately. It’s always best practice to read labels thoroughly and, when in doubt, turn to experts.
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