Pet owners use terms such as “natural” or “organic” to describe their
own food and what they want for their pets. Some people believe that
fresh, uncooked, whole foods have “life energy” and that “natural”
or “organic” ingredients are required for proper nutrition.
Although pet food sales of “natural’ or “organic” products are increasing (US$2 billion by 2012), consumers may not know exactly what they are buying. No single official or universally accepted definition for either category exists, so pet owners are often left to figure out product marketing and labeling claims.
“Natural”
Currently “natural” means different things to different people, but in general,
the term implies food products:
- Without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
- Without synthetic nutrient additives such as amino acids, vitamins or minerals
- With ingredients (meat and grains) produced without synthetic hormones, pesticides or fertilizers
The term “natural” has not been defined by the FDA for pet foods http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/
The term "natural" is often used on pet food labels, although that term does not have an official definition. For the most part, "natural" can be construed as equivalent to a lack of artificial flavors, artificial colors, or artificial preservatives in the product. Artificial flavors are rarely employed. Artificial colors are not nutritionally necessary but are used to please the pet owner's eye. If used, they must be from approved sources, the same as that for human foods.
AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) has suggested a
pet food definition for “natural” as “of or pertaining to a product
wholly comprising ingredients completely devoid of artificial or
manmade substances including, but not limited to, synthetic flavors,
colors, preservatives, vitamins, minerals, or other additives, whether
added directly to the product or incidentally as a component of another
ingredient.”
AAFCO is considering the term “natural” as false and misleading if any chemically synthesized ingredients are present in the product but recommends an exception be made for synthesized vitamins, minerals or other trace nutrients present as ingredients in the product and that a disclaimer is used to inform the consumer that the vitamin, minerals or other trace minerals are not natural.
The AAFCO definition is only a recommendation and therefore can vary from state to state.
In Europe, “natural” means no physical or chemical conservation other
than refrigeration, and therefore, “natural” ingredients will contain
no colorants, flavors, preservatives, or synthetic nutrient additives.
Meats and grains produced without pesticides, fertilizers, or hormones
may be called “organic.”
“Organic”
"Organic" is not the same as "natural." The organic term refers to the conditions under which the plants were grown or animals were raised and does not affect the nutritional content.
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, who oversees the National Organic Program, published the rulings on national organic standards on December 27, 2000. Implementation of the program began in April 2001 but these regulations do not apply to pet food.
In a marketing survey, consumers gave widely varying interpretations of the meaning of “organic” and only 25% said they selected products with the certified organic seal, while 70% said they chose products that simply were labeled organic.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about the National Organic Program (NOP) can be found at: www.ams.usda.gov/nop/Q&A.html
Currently many pet foods marketed as organic foods follow the standards for human foods however, for a pet food to be complete and balanced; it must contain vitamins and minerals in sufficient quantities. In order to achieve this claim of complete and balanced, inorganic or synthesized vitamins and minerals must be used. Hence the final pet product cannot be “100% organic”.
The most important point is natural or organic ingredients do not affect the nutritional profile of a pet food. The nutrients contained within an ingredient are not changed (better or worse) by the designation of “organically grown” or “all natural”. A full description of various foods can be found at the USDA National Nutrient Database and there is no designation as to how the food item was produced that would make a difference to the nutrient profile. (www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search). Selecting “natural” or “organic” food items is a life style issue and not a nutritional issue.
See Petfood Industry June 2006 and March 2008 for continued updates.
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If you would like to feed your pet a diet consisting of natural
or organic ingredients, click on Chef to arrange for a homemade
diet formulation.
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