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Organic Dog Food Comparison
Dog Food Comparison: What Are The Best Organic Dog Foods?
I decided to do an organic dog food comparison. There is a lot of controversy over what is considered an organic dog food. Although the organic definitions and guidelines are stricter than other labeling on dog foods, there is still room for confusion. Therefore, as always, Buyer Beware – look at the ingredients in your dog food before buying to be sure of what you are getting.
Dog Food Comparison: Label Definitions
- ‘Organic’, as defined by the FDA, means 95% certified organic ingredients (no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics or growth hormones).
- ‘100% Organic’ means, obviously, that 100% of the ingredients (excluding water and salt) must be certified organic.
- ‘Made with Organic Ingredients’ means the food must use at least 70% certified organic ingredients.
Organic refers to how foods are grown, not how they are processed. I don’t know if any are 100% organic dog foods, as some vitamins and minerals are not available in organic form (as of now) and must be used to create a complete, balanced diet.
Most dog foods that are considered organic, are actually classified as ‘made with organic ingredients’ by the FDA as they use at least 70% organic ingredients.
What To Look For When Comparing Organic Dog Foods
To do a dog food comparison on organic foods, look at the dog food ingredients and see which ones are not organic. Are they further down the list, or near the top? This is important if your dog is allergic to or has any reactions to pesticides, fertilizers, or antibiotics that may be in the list of non-organic ingredients.
My Top Rated Organic Dog Foods
All of these play into how to compare organic dog foods to get the best one for your dog. Of all the dog foods that claim to be organic, some top quality organic dog foods are:
- Natura’s Karma
- 95% USDA Certified Organic; Certified organic, free-range chicken
- Made with whole fruits and vegetables, not dried
- 100% recyclable packaging
- Portion of profit goes to helping animals in need
- Newman’s Own Organic
- More than 70% Organic; Certified organic, free-range chicken
- Added probiotics, vitamins, and antioxidants
- Cooked at low temperatures to retain nutrients
- Castor & Pollux Organix
- Each and every ingredient – even those that aren’t organic – are reviewed and approved by an organic certifying agency
- Certified organic, free-range chicken
- Broad range of organic fruit and veggie puree added
- Natural Balance Organic Formulas
- Certified organic, free-range chicken
- All ingredients grown without any genetic engineering
- All-natural: no dyes, colors, or bleach ever used
Side Note: One thing I noticed while doing research is that the more committed a company is to making organic/natural dog food, the more committed they are to the environment and the local community – such as using recyclable packaging, renewable energy sources, or putting a portion of the profits toward animals or the environment.
Dog Food Comparison: Organic vs. Natural Dog Food
So, is an organic dog food also natural? If it’s not, do NOT buy it. What’s the difference? Organic refers to how the food is grown, natural refers to the processed result. Natural dog food cannot use any chemical or synthetic flavorings, colorings, or preservatives. If you find an organic dog food that is not also natural, that should be a BIG red flag for consumers.
Why Does Organic or Natural Matter?
Why does organic, or even natural, matter? Because artificial coloring, preservatives, pesticides, growth-hormones, and fertilizers are often tied to a lot of dog food allergies and illnesses. By first going to an organic and natural dog food, many people see their dog’s food allergies are relieved tremendously.
It should be noted that neither of these terms, organic or natural, say anything about the quality of the ingredients, only how they are grown or processed. I say this only because it seems there is ALWAYS someone/some-company out there that will exploit these terms and actually provide an inferior dog food to make a bigger profit.
Keep your guard up and look at the ingredients and the companies! When doing a dog food comparison, look first at the company and how it operates – that will tell you a lot. Then look at the dog food ingredients label. This is the only way to really do a thorough dog food comparison.
