Are you as confused as most when a clerk says, "We have natural pet food" or "These treat are 70% organic"? Most people are, but don't say so because they are afraid to admit the don't know what something as simple as 'natural' means.
Is is simple? The short answer is no. The longer answer is that mostly is follows the guidelines of what you would think of, but stray a little depending on exact wording, logos, and the product line you are talking about.
In this post I am going to reveal some short descriptions of these terms in relationship to pet food and treats only. These could have entirely different meanings in the human consumption world as government and consumer groups have their own definitions.
Buzzwords-----
Natural:
Although not necessarily 100% synthetic/preservative free, these items contain some plant, mineral, and better quality meat items. Check the ingredients list to gage how natural the product actually is. Actual pet food has standards that have to be met by the AAFCO to use the wording of 'Natural' on the package (see http://www.petfoodindustry.com/ViewArticle.aspx?id=24824).
Organic:
Just like fruit at the farmers' market products touting this term are mostly free of artificial chemicals and pesticides (Usually 70-95% of the ingredients meets this standard some of the treats we carry even say 70% organic). A special note here on how Organic applies to the pet industry 1.) Most treats that say organic on the bag are actually made from human standards organic products (like organic peanut butter just like you would buy from your local store). These treats are usually made by local or small companies and because of this will also carry a heavier price tag. 2.) Pet food however is not usually made in small batches, therefore the cost of human-grade products is great. As you can read in the link above (under Natural), organic items in the pet food industry, as of yet have, have no regulations set by the AAFCO, and therefore are usually sub-standard quality and could be labeled as by-product of the human organic market (i.e., what's not good enough for us). A true organic pet food would simply be way to expensive to afford, even high-grade, high-end pet foods do not use organic ingredients. My advice here would be to stay away from these foods until they are regulated unless you know exactly where the ingredients come from. Note: Pretentious Pooch has not been able to find a food that is willing to release their sources, and therefore we do not carry an organic pet food.
Vegan:
Absolutely nothing that's derived from animals, insects or their by-products are inside this food item. Vegan is extremely rare and not even touched upon as being regulated in any pet edibles.
Vegetarian:
Different people follow different forms of vegetarianism. True vegetarian means no meat at all, including chicken and fish, but does not omit other products that come from animals such as eggs, cheese, etc. Treats and foods in this category usually follow the definition above very well, but again it is not regulated, so by-products are commonly used in the food production. We do not carry a Vegetarian food mostly because it is not recommended for a canine and a feline on this diet may perish because they are carnivores, and need meat in their diet to survive. When thinking of moving a dog to this diet, check out this guide for guidelines.
As you can see, the labels can mean many things even in the same industry such as food versus treats. The best rule is to always read the label carefully (you would be surprised at the amount of people that never look at a pet food ingredient list), always try to find out the source of ingredients, and above all talk to the store manager or your veterinarian before trying any new diets.
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