As dog owners, we all want the best for our furry friends. That often means choosing all-natural dog food. But just like with human health, it's important to know what you're really getting. A dog food label saying 'all natural' doesn’t automatically make it the best choice for your pet.
One of the big questions we hear a lot is, "What does 'all natural' actually mean when it comes to dog food?" It's a great question so let's get to it.
What It Really Means
Dog food manufacturers sometimes use phrases like 'all natural' and '100% natural'. These are essentially the same but what do they actually mean? To label dog food as all natural, manufacturers need to meet these four conditions:
- Every ingredient must come from plants, animals, or minerals. No artificial ingredients allowed.
- Every ingredient must comply with the Association of American Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) definition of 'natural'.
- Ingredients can't undergo chemically synthetic processing.
- The food can't contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Interestingly, some manufacturers avoid the term 'all natural' because the requirements are so strict.
There Is Some Wiggle Room
You should know there’s a bit of wiggle room here. Instead of saying 'all natural', a manufacturer might just use 'natural'. This term is less strictly regulated than others, like 'organic'.
Another thing to keep in mind is that 'natural' is loosely defined under federal and state regulations. The FDA hasn’t officially defined 'natural' for pet food labeling. Their only rule is that labeling can’t be false or misleading. This gives manufacturers a lot of leeway to use words that suggest natural dog food without actually saying 'all natural'.
What It Means to You
So, what does all this mean for you as a dog owner? All-natural is a great claim to help you feel confident in the quality of the ingredients, but it doesn’t necessarily mean those ingredients are healthy. For example, a recipe made primarily of sugar and fat can be considered all-natural but not very healthy. Be sure to check the ingredient label to know what natural ingredients are being used.
At the end of the day, healthy and quality ingredients matter but how those ingredients are processed matters, too. That’s why Nextrition specializes in cold-pressed dog food. Cold pressing processes food at 3x lower temperatures vs. traditional kibble, preserving more of the natural nutritional value and flavor.
We’re transparent about our ingredients. Check out each of our formulas and see for yourself. Our ingredients are chosen to offer maximum nutritional value with every bite. They’re perfect for sensitive stomachs and picky eaters. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to drop us a line.
