“You are what you eat,” the old saying says, but is the same true for man’s furry friends?Pet stores nationwide have succumbed to the environmental craze with green products like pet foods, green chew toys, bedding, collars and leashes.”This movement is probably in parallel to the movement that we are seeing in people and the way they feed themselves,” said Frédéric Gaschen, professor of companion animal medicine at the University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.The production of natural and organic pet foods is increasing as more pet owners are becoming more aware of what goes into their pets’ food bowls. Pet foods labeled “natural” don’t contain any chemical synthetic processing aids and chemically synthetic additives like artificial flavors, coloring or preservatives. Instead, natural preservatives like vitamin C and E are used. They’re also made from whole ingredients like chicken, beef, vegetables and fruits instead of “meals” or ground skeletal meats, connective tissue or organs.While natural pet foods focus on what goes into the bag, organic pet foods focus primarily on the way ingredients were raised or grown. Organic foods are grown or raised without the use of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides or fertilizers, according to the Organic Trade Association. They’re minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives or irradiation.For a product to receive one of four organic labels, it must meet certain standards set by the National Organic Standards Board to be labeled “100 percent organic,” “organic,” “made with organic,” and “made with organic ingredients.”Products labeled “100 percent organic” must have 100 percent organic ingredients and additives, including processing aids. Products labeled “organic” must have 95 percent organic agricultural ingredients, and the remainder may be approved non-synthetic substances or synthetic substances. Products labeled “made with organic” must have 70 percent organic agricultural ingredients, non-synthetic substances or synthetic substances. But Gaschen warned although eating organic might be one of the best habits for humans, it’s more important to make sure pets’ nutritional requirements are met before considering any sort of organic or natural food product.”When you feed an animal, the first thing you need to pay attention to is that you meet the requirements of this particular animal,” Gaschen said. “After that, you can decide whether to go organic or not. It’s not the other way around.”Even though the debate is still out on whether green pet foods are better than regular pet foods, many consumers swear by the health benefits of green pet foods. Some consumers still aren’t convinced of the benefits of these pet foods.”I don’t believe in the benefits of organic food,” said Giang Nguyen,  chemical engineering sophomore. “I wouldn’t particularly look for it.”Others would like to buy green pet foods if the prices weren’t too expensive.”Does organic make a difference? Maybe not but it’s something I’m willing to spend money on if it’s reasonable,” said Kendall Womack, French senior. “I love my dog very much, but at the same time you need to be realistic.”
—–Contact Minh Dang at [email protected]