Organic pet food

Organic pet food sales continue to grow steadily. Of the $15 billion in pet food sales in the U.S. last year, about $14 million was for organic pet food. According to the Organic Trade Association, that’s an increase of 63%. According to USA Today, many small, private companies now provide natural and organic alternatives. One of them (Natura, featured below) carries USDA certification.

Until the 1980’s, the National Research Council (NRC) set the nutritional standards for pet food. They were then revised in 2001, when the pet food industry found feeding trials too expensive. Today, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO tests pet foods by conducting limited feed trials. They require that 6 out of 8 animals remain “healthy” for 6 months without losing more than 15% of their body weight. Many would argue that this “test” is not rigorous enough to ensure optimal health.

Pet food primer

If we’re going to argue in favor of organic pet food, it helps to know what commercial pet food products contain. As with most commercial products, pet foods contain chemical preservatives which prolong their shelf life. Canned pet foods tend to have fewer preservatives than dry foods. A few of the synthetic preservatives used include BHA and BHT, which are potential cancer-causing agents. In addition, many additives have little or no nutritional value and are merely used as fillers or substitutes for more expensive meats. Animal fat is added, which means that preservatives must be added, as well, to keep the fat from becoming rancid. Additional additives include artificial color, thickeners, sweeteners, etc.

Certain contaminants can often be found in commercial pet foods - namely, endotoxins and mycotoxins. Endotoxins are produced by some bacteria and are released when they die. Commercially prepared pet foods often use poorly prepared meat meals from inferior animals or by-products from carcasses which are not fit for humans to eat. This can result in the presence of bacteria. Mycotoxins are produced by mold and, in sufficient quantities, have the potential to cause weight loss, liver damage, lameness, and even death.

Now, more than ever, consumers want to be careful about what they feed their pets. Recently, a wet pet food recall by Menu Foods has left many cat and dog owners with unanswered questions. A few well-known brands like Iam's wet pet food have been linked with animal deaths. Consumers can learn more about the recall and the brands affected by it by going to the Menu Foods recall information weblink.

What kind of diet is best for our pets? We know that cats and dogs are natural hunters and carnivores. They have short intestinal tracts which are designed to digest raw foods. Cats are “obligate carnivores” (meat only). By contrast, commercial dry pet food is produced using high heat and extrusion, which kills many nutrients and natural enzymes found in raw food; they also contain non-meat by-products and grains (corn and wheat), which are not as easily digested by cats and dogs. Organic pet foods use organic human-grade meats without fillers, flavor enhancers or other chemical additives. A number of raw, freeze-dried formulas are available, as well.

A few publications provide additional information and resources. Check out the Whole Dog Journal.
For more information about commercial pet food ingredients, you might wish to look at Foods Pets Die for. It covers what we discussed above in more detail, and it includes information about natural and organic pet food.
Below is a list of organic pet food providers. Some are more expensive than others. As always, consumers should read labels to be sure what they are getting.

Nature's Pet organic pet food

Natura Pet natural and organic lines
Home of the Karma line of certified organic pet food, containing 95% organic ingredients. Visit their website and try their "Comparison Wizard" and compare your present pet food with theirs.

Newman's Own Organics pet food
Recently introduced and competitively priced at approximately $39.99 for a 25-pound bag. Their products contain 70% organic ingredients. They also donate their profits to charity.

Yoghund organic frozen yogurt for dogs

We recently learned of this New Hampshire-based company that produces frozen yogurt using organic yogurt, bananas, and peanuts - ingredients that any dog would love. And their packaging is biodegradable.

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: Blink Del.icio.us Digg
Furl Google Simpy Spurl Technorati Y! MyWeb