As an organic pet food business owner, I want to share a little known fact:
In the US, only certified organic pet food claims are regulated and enforced by law. All other (non-certified) organic claims are not regulated or enforced by law – all these other organic claims can be ab-used freely and without consequences by pet food manufacturers. This means that an organic dog food may or may not contain organic ingredients, but no unbiased third party can verify any of these (non-certified) organic claims.

All certified organic dog food claims have undergone the same stringent verification processes as they apply to certified organic foods for human consumption. This means among others: Full disclosure of records and books including organic and GMO-free status and sources of used ingredients, manufacturing processes (no GMOs or toxins are allowed during ingredient growth or product processing), and repeated inspections of the manufacturing facility.

Certified organic dog food products (foods and treats) are inspected by an independent USDA-accredited organic certifying agency and contain at least 95% certified organic ingredients, the remainder are allowed ingredients such as calcium carbonate and currently still all fish. In certified organic dog food products, no non-certified organic ingredients are allowed if such ingredients are available in organic form. No synthetics, and no food ingredients are allowed which cannot be traced back to their source (this excludes automatically any undefined animal fats, byproducts, or rendered meats, or products that contain external hormones or antibiotics).

Signs of verified organic (i.e., certified organic) dog (and other pet) food products are: the USDA organic seal, the name of the organic certifying agency (this has to be on the label), and the certified organic claim.

An organic claim by itself may or may not buy you a truly organic dog food, it certainly is not substantiated by an unbiased party.

As one State compliance officer at CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture) wrote in 2008: It is buyer be ware of any pet food product that does not show that it is certified by one of the NOP (National Organic Program) certification agents. A Green Seal certifier noted in 2008, that (USDA) organic certification is the best and most credible label for pet and human food products, also in respect to any green claims.

Now, only consumers need to be properly informed to be able to make a wise decision!

If interested, you can read more about this or similar topics on our blogs or News page at www.onestaorganics.com

© 2008 – 2010, tdomf_ef7f5. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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Do you know what the term ‘holistic’ means when you hear it?  Holistic is a term that is used to define something that is natural, organic, eco-friendly, herbal medications, etc..  Overtime, the pet industry has grown to the usage of the term and you can find holistic vets, retailers, pet stores, and products.

According to Dictionary.com, the term ‘holistic’ originates from the word ‘holism’, which means “the theory that whole entities, as fundamental components of reality, have an existence other than as the mere sum of their parts.”  Pet Product News International states that “if holistic means that a being is more than the sum of its parts, then it follows that holistic medicine treats more than the sum of the parts, holistic retailers cater to more than the sum of their clients’ parts, and holistic pet products, whether natural, organic or eco-friendly, address more than an animal’s isolated need for food, soap, play accessories, or whatever.  They address the entire experience of an animal’s life, from hunger, hygiene or boredom to the pet’s macro-environment”.

Though the basic definition of holistic has been provided, it could get become more compicated, because people have different interpretations of what it actually means.  What does it mean when you hear the word holistic or how do you define the word?

Sources:

1. Dictionary.com
2. Adamson, E. (2008, October).  What Is Holistic? Pet Product News International.  54-56.

© 2008 – 2010, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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On Saturday, May 31st, Santa Monica, CA will have a new dog retail store that opens up called Healthy Spot (www.healthyspotla.com).  Healthy Spot will offer organic, green, and modern dog products and services in their store located at 1110 Wilshire Boulevard at the intersection of 11th Street in Santa Monica, CA.

In this store, there will be a styling salon, spa, and small doggie daycare.  Healthy Spot’s goal is to cater to dog owners who are concerned with the numerous pet product recalls that occurred last year, by selecting specific brands for nutritional value, manufacturing and distribution processes, and past product history that have been carefully screened.  This process will enable patrons to trust the food and treat products carried in the Healthy Spot store.

Healthy Spot has applied their stringent pre-selection process to all product categories in order to provide the highest quality offerings for their customers. Products include bio-friendly toys that reduce dogs’ exposure to allergens and toxic chemicals, beds composed of recycled materials, organic pet toys and apparel, and all-natural grooming products. Healthy Spot maintains priority in helping the earth and strives to minimize the negative impact on the environment through product and practice.

For those interested in green products, there is a product called The Pet Loo which is an in/outdoor potty for dogs.  The Pet Loo is basically a backyard in a box that is a lifelong cost effective solution.  Unlike wee wee pads, there are no replacement parts required, and as a result, helps to save our Earth from the plastic wee wee pads that are thrown in the trash.  For more information, please visit: www.dogservicenetwork.com/thepetloo/general_info.html.

© 2008, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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