Often it can be confusing looking at all the dog foods on the market, especially organic pet food in Fort Lauderdale. Most of them say that they are veterinarian recommended, or that they offer something better than anyone else. How far is advertising allowed to go before it is considered a fallacy?
With foods that are certified organic, for instance, is this just another case of one ingredient matching the description and, therefore, can be sold under misleading headings? The short answer is no but, unfortunately, there are loopholes you must be aware of.
For a dog food to be USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and NOP (National Organic Program) certified organic, it must meet strict guidelines to ensure that at least 95% of the ingredients are organic. As there are no pet food standards at the moment, to be certified organic by the USDA, pet foods must adhere to human quality food standards and guidelines. These guidelines ensure that the products are:
- Free from genetic engineering, radiation or sludge. This means that all ingredients must be GMO-free and that GMO-free feed is used for cattle, sheep or other animals.
- Under observation by the USDA National Organic Program to ensure all regulations are met or exceeded.
- Manufactured in a facility that followed the Good Manufacturing Practices with sanitary conditions.
So while this is all positive, there is the dishonest side of how some marketing agencies work. There is currently no law against stating that foods listed as “organic” must contain certified organic ingredients. While misleading, often these foods do have one or more organic ingredient, but do not meet the NOP standards of production, the percentage of organic ingredients, or quality of ingredients.
The USDA is working to ensure that this becomes less of an issue and are working on guidelines for organic pet food in Fort Lauderdale specifically which may make organic certification easier for dog food manufacturers.
Therefore, it is very important to ensure that the food is “certified organic” and that it has the USDA seal of approval if you are wanting an organic food. When looking for organic pet food in Fort Lauderdale, talk with your local pet expert for advice and guidance in choosing a better food for your pet!
