What Exactly is Organic Dog Food?
The problem is, when it comes to the marketing world, organic labels can be misleading. It’s become a pretty profitable buzzword, so it’s good to be informed about what’s actually organic in order to avoid wasting money on brands that aren’t fully transparent about their ingredients.
In truth, when it comes to pet food, there aren’t that many truly organic products around. So, to make things easier, we’ve made a list of the best certified organic dog foods on the market, versus those that are just partially organic.
Before we get into the list, let’s take a quick dive into the different labels and what they mean, so you’ll know what to look out for in the future. If you’re into holistic living, check out our favorite Dr. Fossum’s Pet Care supplements, too!
“Organic” vs Certified Organic & Partially Organic
Did you know that, legally, anyone can label a product as organic? That’s why it’s important to know what you’re looking at when shopping for organic products. Being labeled “certified organic” is different – this means a product has been certified by the USDA as being in line with the official standards of organic food, according to the US governing body.
What this means:
Fresh produce or ingredients can be “certified organic” if they’ve been grown in soil without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Certified organic meats must come from livestock raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviors, like eating grass, without antibiotics or hormones.
Processed or multi-ingredient organic foods, such as dairy products or pet foods, can contain only organic ingredients, with few exceptions, such as added enzymes in yogurt, and no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. Any synthetic materials that need to be used in any of these processes must be certified as safe for humans & the environment.
Partially organic labels, or labels claiming a product is “made with organic ingredients”, must contain at least 70% organic ingredients that meet the criteria mentioned above. All that being said, products with self-proclaimed “organic” labels without USDA certification aren’t necessarily inorganic, but they lack official verification, so there is no guarantee that they meet official standards without checking the ingredients for yourself. Now that we know what the labels mean, let’s get into our top 5 certified organic foods for dogs!
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