Selecting the Best Natural Pet Food: A Guide
It's no secret that manufacturers often concoct clever names and coin new terms to confuse consumers, making unsuspecting buyers believe in the authenticity of their products.
Among the most deceived are those who are swayed by the marketing of pet products labeled as "natural" and "humangrade." These items, however, contain ingredients that are far from natural and may even be laced with harmful substances, which could potentially lead to health issues in pets if consumed over time. To put it simply, why would pet owners opt for the more expensive "natural" pet food over the standard variety? The most common reason is the desire to provide their pets with nutrients from "natural" sources, avoiding chemical additives and preservatives. This sentiment is shared by the vast majority of pet parents, all hoping for their furry friends to thrive healthily.
However, the term "natural" for commercial pet food was undefined until 2000, when the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) in the United States provided a clear definition, establishing standards for manufacturers to follow. Here's the AAFCO's definition of "natural": a product can be labeled as "natural" as long as its ingredients are derived from animals, plants, and minerals, and no synthetic substances are added during production.
In practice, though, AAFCO allows manufacturers to add synthetic vitamins and minerals to their products to compensate for nutrients lost during the production process. These added synthetic nutrients can also be labeled as "natural." All a manufacturer needs to do is print "Natural with added vitamins, minerals, and trace nutrients" or similar wording on the packaging to market their product as such.
Worse still, some products use the term "natural" as part of their brand or product name to mislead cat and dog lovers, when in fact, the majority of their nutritional content is made up of synthetic substances. Therefore, when selecting "natural" pet food, it's crucial to carefully examine the ingredient list on the packaging and count the number of synthetic additives. Only then can you truly discern whether a product is genuinely "natural." Authentic "natural" pet food is marked with "100% Natural" and contains no synthetic substances.
