Pet lovers are much more willing to pay top dollar for quality pet food. The longevity of our pets may depend on the food we offer them. Because there are so many pet food options, decisions on the purchase are made more critically and informed. But, the dizzying array of pet foods and labeling can leave the average pet owner feeling overwhelmed. Pet food with a human-grade certification can satisfy even the most discerning pet owners and pets alike.
Pet Food Decisions
To help you make the appropriate food decisions for your pet, animal foods are certified for quality and content. Because we all want the best for our pets, becoming familiar with the main types of pet food grading can help us choose the best food options for our animals.
To help you, we’ll be using the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) definitions to clarify each pet food grading and certification. The AAFCO is an association of federal and state agencies that regulate the manufacturing and distribution of animal feed — which includes pet foods. The AAFCO provides definitions for regulatory laws and establishes regulations to ensure that animal feed is nutritionally adequate and safe.
Organic Certification
According to the AAFCO, organic pet food meets the processing standard of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA’s National Organic Program states that organic products are “produced through approved methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.”
Organic products undergo stringent audits and investigations. As of yet, the are no organic regulations that pertain specifically to pet food. Currently, pet food certified as organic must meet the USDA National Organic Program definition as it pertains to organic human food regulations. To qualify as “certified organic,” pet food must be made of at least 95% organic ingredients.
Natural Certification
In the past, the term “natural” had ambiguous meanings and didn’t have a solid definition. These days, natural is a definite certification. According to AAFCO definition of natural is:
“A feed or feed ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as might occur in good manufacturing practices.”
Beware of misleading “certified natural” labels. Many pet foods can be “natural,” but all-natural and 100% natural certifications are very specific. For a pet food product to be 100% natural, it must with every aspect of the AAFCO definition. Products that advertise an item as 100% can’t also have “added vitamins and minerals.”
Human-Grade Certification
The term “human-grade” isn’t currently defined by AAFCO, efforts are being made to establish a guideline to certify pet producers with. A human-grade certification would require unique and specific standards because there are no human-grade guidelines to compare animal feed with. The USDA, however, does define what items are “edible.” For an animal feed to meet human-grade certification, it would have to be fit for human consumption, thus meet the USDA definitions for edible food products.
Human-grade certification ensures that the food made for your pet was made as it would be for humans. Obtaining a human-grade certification for a pet food product would mean passing the same processing, manufacturing, and inspection hurdles that human food does. The USDA guidelines are so stringent and that very few pet food products would be able to make this claim at this time.
Silver and Gold Certification
As the desire for healthier pet food grows, so does the need to develop new certifications for higher grades of pet food. Silver certification is a new designation that combines the edible human-grade definition with other existing pet food regulations for pet safety. Free of artificial flavorings, colors, or preservatives, silver certification contains no rendered meat or by-products.
Gold certification, another new designation, meets all of the silver certification elements and is also minimally processed at a facility that meets the standard for human food production. Not only is it edible for humans, but gold certification is also made with human food processing standards in mind.
Certification Considerations
You may think that your furry friend can consume the same foods you do. After all, what’s good for you should be suitable for man’s best friend, right? Well, the answer isn’t black and white. In general, all pet foods come from animals and plants that humans would consume. For example, humans and animals both eat chicken. The parts of the chicken fed to humans would be the breast and thighs. The organs and back, however, are what may end up in pet food. In theory, the same chicken parts could be consumed by humans, but we typically prefer the more traditional chicken parts! The plants we consume are also the same plants that end up in pet food.
Nutrients are also not a factor when it comes to the term human-grade, natural, or organic. AAFCO uses the same standards for nutrients, regardless of whether the pet food is your typical run-of-the-mill pet food or if it’s the higher-priced organic variety. When it comes to nutrients, human-grade or organic pet food may not be all that different from regular pet food. What is different is how the food was grown, processed, and packaged. Organic dog food, for example, may not have genetically engineered plant ingredients. And human-grade cat food receives the same factory processing as human food does. In the end, the nutritional value may be the same, but pet owners may find other aspects more beneficial than others. It’s up to the preference of the pet owners and the guidance of a veterinarian.
The Truth About Pet Food
What’s important is that pets aren’t routinely fed the same foods that we eat — like table food. Just because a food product is fit for human consumption doesn’t mean that it’s safe for a pet to eat. Chocolate, for example, is a delicious treat for humans. For dogs, however, it can be toxic. Researchers and manufacturers formulate pet foods to have the right amount of carbohydrates, proteins, and nutrients for the animal it’s made for. Although dogs may enjoy — and perhaps beg for — the same food we have at the dinner table, the food we eat for ourselves may not be what’s best for them in the long run.
An animal’s digestive and nutritional needs are very different from our own, and finding the right formulation requires attention to detail and knowledge of animal health. It’s best to leave it to the professionals! Whether you choose traditional, human-grade, or organic pet food, know that the ingredients and nutrients may not be all that different. The decision always comes down to what’s best for you and safe for your pet.