Organic is not always organic

[Rosie]

For pet foods, organic does not always really mean organic.

In the US, only certified organic pet food claims are regulated & enforced by law.

All other (non-certified) organic claims may or may not be true, no unbiased party has verified these claims.

A State compliance officer at CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture) once noted ”… It is ‘buyer be ware’ of any pet food product that does not show that it is certified by one of the NOP certification agents.” 

Meanwhile, we have seen several pet foods that are marketed as organic but are not certified organic  - so without organic certification how can one ever be sure? 

[Bonkers]

  What does it take to get pet food certified Organic?  Answer; "Products meeting the requirements for "100% organic" and "organic" may display the percentage of organic content on their principal display panel. The USDA organic seal and the seal or mark of the applicable certifying agents may appear on product packages and in advertisements.

Foods labeled "100% organic" and "organic" cannot be produced using excluded methods, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation.

Processed products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients can use the phrase "made with organic ingredients" and list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the principal display panel.

Processed products labeled "made with organic ingredients" cannot be produced using excluded methods, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation. The percentage of organic content and the certifying agent's seal or mark may be used on the principal display panel. However, the USDA seal cannot be used anywhere on the package.

Processed products that contain less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term organic anywhere on the principal display panel. However, they may identify the specific ingredients that are organically produced on the ingredients statement on the information panel. The handlers of such products do not have to be certified, but the individual ingredients identified as "organic" must have been produced by certified operations.

  The NOP has not engaged in rulemaking to establish specific organic pet food standards, and the NOSB has not drafted any recommendations concerning the topic. Because of this, certification of pet food is optional. However, if the word "organic" is used anywhere on a pet food label, the organic ingredient(s) must have been produced by certified operations, following all of the applicable requirements summarized above."                                                                         http://www.misa.umn.edu/vd/organicpetfoods.html

[GreyGhost]

I just posted this on dehydrated diets about being deceived. Heres one company that deceives by their name.

Timberwolf Organics. The foods are not organic.

[Perseus]

I just posted this on dehydrated diets about being deceived. Heres one company that deceives by their name.

Timberwolf Organics. The foods are not organic.

Wow, this is VERY deceptive.  I would have ASSUMED the ingredients were organic if the name says it.  Buyer beware of everything I guess.

[Bonkers]

  Another fact that I have discovered is that many companies that are touting their foods as "organic" contain organic veggies and grains but the chicken or chicken meal that is in them is not listed as organic.

[Rosie]

  The NOP has not engaged in rulemaking to establish specific organic pet food standards, and the NOSB has not drafted any recommendations concerning the topic. Because of this, certification of pet food is optional. However, if the word "organic" is used anywhere on a pet food label, the organic ingredient(s) must have been produced by certified operations, following all of the applicable requirements summarized above."                                                                       
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I wish that it were true - namely, that every 'organic' claim in the pet food industry were certified!  It isn't so.

Organic certification of pet foods currenlty follows exactly the same National Organic Product standards as human foods.  Same inspections, same record checks, same additives allowed (although that point will soon change thanks to pet food manufacturers that want to add more synthetics to our pet's foods),.... 

Certified organic pet foods are the ONLY pet foods where the word 'organic' means something because the claims on certified organic pet food packages are verified by a USDA-accredited organic certifier. 

All organic claims on non-certified organic pet foods need not and are not verified by anybody but the manufacturer.  For non-certified organic pet foods, nobody cares if a pet food manufacturer uses or doesn't use the organic ingredients they say they use.

Every pet food that is certified organic has to have the name of the organic certifier (e.g., QAI) on the package, otherwise organic claims are not verified. 

Certified organic pet foods can be:
100% organic (USDA organic seal)
Certified organic (at least 95% of ingredients are organic, USDA organic seal)
Made with such and such organic ingredient (at least 70% must be organic; NO USDA organic seal)

All three categories of certified organic pet foods MUST disclose the name of the organic certifier.

We once tried to find out from QAI and the FDA and USDA if one company uses the organic ingredients they say they use in one of their non-certified organic products.  The officials came back to us and said more or less: "The use of the term "organic" in pet foods is not regulated, if the pet food isn't certified organic by a USDA-approved certifier. Only 'certified organic' pet food claims are regulated at this time". 

[Rosie]

What I didn't find out yet from the QAI or USDA is how far the inspection goes for the 'made with organic ingredients' (certified 70% organic) pet foods:  I know that the organic ingredients are checked for their organic status, quantity, sources, and that they have to be handled to preserve their organic state, etc., but then what?

After the 70% organic ingredients are mixed with the non-organic 30%, what's going to happen?
I guess that the manufacturer still can't use pesticides and toxic chemicals (as they are even allowed for human food manufacture!) around the products and ingredients because otherwise the organic ingredients would be impacted. 

In contrast to the 95% certified organic pet foods, the remaining 30% of ingredients of "made with organic" pet foods contain non-certified organic ingredients, but what about GMO ingredients?  (GMOs are an absolute no-no for 100% and 95% certified organic pet foods).

Does anybody know? Otherwise I'll come back with any info I might get on this from QAI after bugging them again.

[Rosie]

In contrast to the 95% certified organic pet foods, the remaining 30% of ingredients of "made with organic" pet foods contain non-certified organic ingredients, but what about GMO ingredients?  (GMOs are an absolute no-no for 100% and 95% certified organic pet foods).
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Good news - the QAI person I just spoke to confirmed my hopes (although she hesitated):
No GMOs are allowed in any certified organic pet foods.  This makes sense to me. 

Although we only buy (certified) organic pet foods (95% or 100% organic) this is good to know....
We like the 95% and more pet foods because this way we exclude the toxins that come with conventional ingredients (pesticides etc).

[Perseus]

In contrast to the 95% certified organic pet foods, the remaining 30% of ingredients of "made with organic" pet foods contain non-certified organic ingredients, but what about GMO ingredients?  (GMOs are an absolute no-no for 100% and 95% certified organic pet foods).
--------------
Good news - the QAI person I just spoke to confirmed my hopes (although she hesitated):
No GMOs are allowed in any certified organic pet foods.  This makes sense to me. 

Although we only buy (certified) organic pet foods (95% or 100% organic) this is good to know....
We like the 95% and more pet foods because this way we exclude the toxins that come with conventional ingredients (pesticides etc).

Rosie, thanks for posting all this info about organics (or not organic as it turns out).  I've been following your posts all along.  I'm interested in knowing what organic pet foods specifically are you feeding?

[Bonkers]

   Unfortunately to my knowledge there are no grain free organic commercial pet foods on the market. All of the dry & canned organic cat foods I have looked at contain unnecessary grains, with the only exception being a few brands of commercial raw. Less worry about GMO's with a grain free food also.

[GreyGhost]

  Unfortunately to my knowledge there are no grain free organic commercial pet foods on the market. All of the dry & canned organic cat foods I have looked at contain unnecessary grains, with the only exception being a few brands of commercial raw. Less worry about GMO's with a grain free food also.

I haven't found an organic kibble or canned for dogs either. I know N.V. has their organic Chicken Raw but thats all I know of. Like you said some raw foods are organic but thats about it.

[GreyGhost]

I did actually find a couple organic kibble formulas for dogs.

Unfortunately Natura makes Karma for dogs. They don't have a cat kibble or canned. organix is made by Castor & Pollux and sold at Petco. I don't know anything about that company.

Karma and Organix

[Rosie]

True, there are almost no options out there.  When i recently helped somebody searching for an organic / certified organic dog kibble, I only found Karma, but it's not grain free.

[Bonkers]

   Was wondering what organic pet foods you are feeding to your pets?

[Rosie]

I make it mainly from scratch.  We humans in our house are semi-raw fooders and buy only a few processed (but cert. organic) convenience foods for ourselves.  The rest is certified organic real food which we share with our guys.  Understandably, I spend some time in the kitchen, but I believe it is worthwhile, and some can be prepared in advance, while others just needs some chopping or planning.  We buy some cert. organic convenience treats for our dogs, chinchilla, rats, and birds.  We buy some certified organic bird pellets which we have for emergencies.  Is there a special place on this forum where I can put the company names for these cert organic commercial pet food/treat suppliers, I didn't see any treat suppliers listed?