Like the food you eat, pet food is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine “requires that pet foods, like human foods, be pure and wholesome, safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.” Pet foods, however, do not have to be pre-approved by the FDA before going to the shelves, and many ingredients are not monitored at all. And while a beef recall or salmonella scare causes concern in many consumers, pet food issues are much more frequent and much less publicized, bringing with them just as scary a number of health risks.
In response to these concerns, many people have begun buying organic pet foods. Just as eating organic is a guaranteed way to ensure that we keep certain harmful substances out of our bodies, so does providing organic food to animals can make for healthier, happier pets. Raw food is also a great option for animals as well because of the digestive problems that some animals have with processed meats and grains. While you may not be inclined to feed your pet the same delicious cuisine you prepare for yourself, consider its health the next time you buy food. It may even save you a few trips to the vet.
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Want to learn more? Click here to read about green pet care on ecomii.
Popular organic food brands such as Newman’s Own make food for pets.
Did you know that Americans buy millions of dollars worth of pet food each year?
In 2007 dog and cat food sales in the U.S. reached a new record high of over $15.7 billion. If
all that food came from organic sources, our land would be in much better shape.
SOURCES :
1. US Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine. [25 April 2008] Pet Foods. Available from: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petfoods.htm [20 June 2008]
