Have you ever wondered what all those pet food marketing terms actually mean? We’ve got you covered! Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you understand everything from “natural” to “hypoallergenic.”

What is “Natural” Pet Food?

The term “natural” is regulated by the FDA, which defines it as: “…those ingredients which are derived from plants, animals or other marine sources, either in their unprocessed state or have been subject to physical processing (e.g., crushing, grinding, purifying, etc.), but not subjected to chemical processing or other non-physical means of altering their original structure.”

In short, “natural” pet food contains ingredients that come from nature and have undergone little to no processing.

Organic Pet Food

The term “organic” is also regulated by the FDA, which defines it as: “…foods produced using only certain methods, including a ban on most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, no artificial ingredients or preservatives, and animals raised without antibiotics or growth hormones.”

Organic pet food must meet the same standards as organic human food, meaning it contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives and is produced without the use of most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Furthermore, the animals used to produce organic pet food must be raised without antibiotics or growth hormones.

Holistic Pet Food

The term “holistic” is not regulated by the FDA. In general, holistic pet foods are those that are formulated to provide comprehensive nutrition for your pet. These products often contain a balance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and other nutrients that work together to support your pet’s overall health.

The problem with unregulated terms like “holistic” is that they can be used to describe any pet food, even those that are not truly holistic. For example, pet food could be considered “holistic” if it contains a single vitamin or mineral that is essential for your pet’s health. The quality of ingredients can vary greatly from one “holistic” pet food to another, so it’s important to read the label carefully and choose a product that contains high-quality ingredients.

Human-Grade Pet Food

Have you ever seen the term “human-grade” on a pet food label? Unfortunately, there’s no legal definition for this term, so it can be used to describe any pet food. In general, “human-grade” pet foods are those that contain only ingredients that are fit for human consumption. However, since there is no legal definition, this term means different things to different companies.

For example, some companies may use the term “human-grade” to describe pet food that contains only human-edible ingredients. Others may use the term to describe pet food that meets the same safety and quality standards as human food. And still, others may use the term simply to indicate that their pet food is of high quality.

When choosing “human-grade” pet food, it’s important to read the label carefully and make sure that the product meets your expectations.

Ingredient-Splitting

Ingredient-splitting is the practice of listing ingredients in separate parts of the ingredient list in order to make a product appear to be of higher quality than it actually is. For example, a pet food company might list “chicken” as the first ingredient and “chicken meal” as the second ingredient. By doing this, the company can make it appear as if the food contains more chicken than it actually does.

In reality, ingredients are usually listed in order of weight, not quality. So, if “chicken meal” is listed before “chicken,” it’s likely because it weighs more than chicken (after the water has been removed). This means that the food actually contains more chicken meals than chicken.

Unfortunately, ingredient-splitting is a common practice in the pet food industry, so it’s important to read the ingredient list carefully and make sure that you’re getting what you expect.

By-Products

The term “by-product” is used to describe any parts of an animal that are not muscle meat. This includes organs, bones, blood, fat, and feathers. By-products can be found in both animal-based and plant-based ingredients.

For example, chicken meal is a by-product of the chicken industry. It’s made from chicken parts that are not used for human consumption, such as bones, organs, and feathers.

While by-products are not necessarily bad for your pet, they can be lower in quality than muscle meat. For this reason, it’s important to read the ingredient list carefully and make sure that by-products make up a small percentage of the total ingredients.

Flavorings

Flavorings are added to pet food to make it more palatable for your pet. In most cases, flavorings are made from natural ingredients, such as chicken fat or beef broth. However, some flavorings may be made from artificial ingredients, such as MSG.

When choosing pet food, it’s important to read the ingredient list carefully and make sure that flavorings make up a small percentage of the total ingredients.

Final Words

When it comes to choosing pet food, it’s important to read the label carefully and choose a product that contains high-quality ingredients. Keep an eye out for marketing terms, such as “human-grade” and “holistic,” that are not regulated by the government. And be sure to avoid products that contain by-products, flavorings, and other low-quality ingredients.

By following these tips, you can be sure that you’re giving your pet the best possible nutrition.