Types of Organic Dog Food Labels

[Tamara Hamilton]

The United States Department of Agriculture, in 2002, developed very
strict organic dog food label rules to help dog owners be informed as
to what exactly the content of each dog food means. Below is a list,
with explanations, of the different types of dog food labels.
1.) 100% Organic - All dog food labels that have this title must
contain only certified produced ingredients. In general, these dog
foods only contain a single ingredient.
2.) Organic - All dog food labels that have this listing must have 95%
- 100% certified ingredients. Some vitamins and minerals may not be
available in organic form, which is the reason why they may not use
the 100% label.
3.) Made with Organic Ingredients - Dog food labels that signify this
category must have a minimum of 70% certified ingredients. Up to three
of the ingredients can be listed on the principle display panel. A
certifying agency mark may also be shown, but a USDA symbol may not.
4.) Less Than 70% Organic Ingredients - Dog Foods that contain less
than 70% certified ingredients cannot use the term anywhere on the
packaging except in the ingredient statement.
There are a couple of other points I would like to make in closing.
All dog foods claiming to contain any amount of organic ingredients
must provide the name and address of the third party certifying
agency.
One other important note is that some companies try to side step this
rule regarding organic dog food by using a form of the word in the
trademarked name of the product, giving the impression that it is a
100% product. Beware of this and always double check the ingredient
statement and look for that third party agency stamp of approval.
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