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Protecting your pet: is organic actually better?
Shannon Sanders
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: Life & Style
"The comparison right now is just difficult because there are healthy animals that eat regular food and live a long life and healthy animals that eat organic," Kelso said.
Others say that organic probably is a healthier option for pets than most regular formulas, but the same benefits from using organic could be achieved by using any high-quality pet food.
"Organic ingredients should have a greater quantity and availability of micronutrients, such as trace minerals, compared with conventional grains in conventional foods," said Ken Coffey, a UA animal science professor.
Just as with organic pet-food, manufacturers of other high quality pet foods use less grain in their formulas than average foods and include more vegetables and meat. The nutritional benefits that come from these natural ingredients are present whether or not they were grown organically, Coffey said.
"To make a long story short, I just don't see a great benefit in organically-grown products in pet foods over other high-quality products."
Representatives for the Pet Food Institute, which represents 98 percent of all dog and cat food produced in the U.S., maintain that organic pet food is just another option for consumers and that it is not any better than normal formula pet food.
"The term 'organic' refers to the method by which a product is grown and processed," Gallagher said. "Organic products are no more nutritious or safe than non-organic products."
Cost is also a concern for manufacturers and shoppers. Organic products cost much more to produce than those that can be mass produced with fewer restrictions. The higher costs often help farmers buy more organic farmland and also to expand the organic market, according to the USDA, but consumers are paying twice as much - and sometimes more - for organic pet foods.
Using organic food is also on the minds of many area pet owners. Many stores in Fayetteville are beginning to carry organic brands for pets and Kelso estimated about 10 percent of his clients have already switched to organic pet food. Ozark Natural Foods, a grocery store that provides whole and organic food, carries multiple brands of organic food for dogs and cats, including Newman's Own and Pet Guard.
Others say that organic probably is a healthier option for pets than most regular formulas, but the same benefits from using organic could be achieved by using any high-quality pet food.
"Organic ingredients should have a greater quantity and availability of micronutrients, such as trace minerals, compared with conventional grains in conventional foods," said Ken Coffey, a UA animal science professor.
Just as with organic pet-food, manufacturers of other high quality pet foods use less grain in their formulas than average foods and include more vegetables and meat. The nutritional benefits that come from these natural ingredients are present whether or not they were grown organically, Coffey said.
"To make a long story short, I just don't see a great benefit in organically-grown products in pet foods over other high-quality products."
Representatives for the Pet Food Institute, which represents 98 percent of all dog and cat food produced in the U.S., maintain that organic pet food is just another option for consumers and that it is not any better than normal formula pet food.
"The term 'organic' refers to the method by which a product is grown and processed," Gallagher said. "Organic products are no more nutritious or safe than non-organic products."
Cost is also a concern for manufacturers and shoppers. Organic products cost much more to produce than those that can be mass produced with fewer restrictions. The higher costs often help farmers buy more organic farmland and also to expand the organic market, according to the USDA, but consumers are paying twice as much - and sometimes more - for organic pet foods.
Using organic food is also on the minds of many area pet owners. Many stores in Fayetteville are beginning to carry organic brands for pets and Kelso estimated about 10 percent of his clients have already switched to organic pet food. Ozark Natural Foods, a grocery store that provides whole and organic food, carries multiple brands of organic food for dogs and cats, including Newman's Own and Pet Guard.
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