Organic dry food - advantages and disadvantages | Alpenwuff guide

Organic dry food is a trend in our society that has continued to grow in recent years. Here, you'll learn what organic dog food actually is, how to identify it, and how organic dog food is inspected. You'll also learn the reasons for choosing organic dog food and some of the disadvantages of organic dog food.

What is organic dry food?

The word "organic" is a legally protected term that requires products to meet the requirements of the EU Organic Regulation and to be produced using organic methods. The regulation specifies how organic products are produced, inspected, imported, and labeled.

For organic dog food, the regulation means, among other things, that 95% of the food's ingredients must meet the following standards:

• The processed meat comes from animals kept in species-appropriate conditions with access to outdoor exercise
• The animals processed for meat were not exposed to antibiotics or growth-accelerating hormones
• Ingredients have not been genetically modified
• Ingredients have not been exposed to pesticides, artificial fertilizers or other chemical-synthetic fertilizers or plant protection products
• Ingredients come from controlled organic farming

These standards exceed the legal minimum requirements for dog food. Organic dog food therefore refers to high-quality dog ​​food that meets ecological standards.

How do I recognize organic dry dog ​​food?

Organic dog food can be identified by various "organic" seals. If a dog food meets the above-mentioned organic requirements, among others, it can display the European organic logo or the German organic seal. Both seals are government-approved and equivalent.

With the trend toward more conscious nutrition, additional organic labels have emerged. Organic associations have developed seals that go beyond government standards. Examples include Bioland, Demeter, Naturland, and biokreis. There are also other seals with similar terms such as "from controlled cultivation," but these usually indicate misleading labeling. As a rule of thumb regarding the validity of the organic label, we recommend questioning the seal and relying on the two government seals as the minimum requirement for organic products.

How is organic dog food controlled?

Producers using one of the statutory seals are inspected at least once a year, in addition to regular food inspections. Independent organic inspectors trained in Germany visit the producers and check whether the organic seal's regulations are being adhered to. The organic inspectors are provided by private inspection bodies. However, these bodies are subject to approval and supervision by government authorities. In addition to the annual inspection, random checks of organic producers are conducted.

Why organic dry food for dogs: 3 reasons

Organic dry food and dog nutrition is a trend that has been observed in recent years. An Austrian study shows that two main reasons for organic dog food are recognizable in society, both of which revolve around animal welfare (Straßmair, 2021). Another reason for organic dry food is environmental pollution.

Healthier for the dog

Organic farming stands for high-quality products. In Germany, the organic seal is the highest legal standard for agriculture and food production. Almost every ingredient is subject to these regulations, thus ensuring a high standard of quality. Avoiding antibiotics and artificial/chemical ingredients also plays a role. By purchasing organic dog food , dog owners therefore hope for a healthier diet for their furry friends.

Species-appropriate husbandry of the animals processed in the feed

The welfare of the animals processed is also an important argument for Organic dog food is in the room. The organic regulation focuses on animal welfare and imposes clear requirements. Ethical objections to factory farming, for example, speak in favor of buying Organic dog food .

Environmental pollution

The environmental impact of mass production and transportation routes is enormous. Therefore, another conceivable reason for using organic dry food is to counteract the environmental impact of factory farming, the mass production of vegetables, and the associated transportation routes.

What types of food are available as Organic dog food ?

Organic dog food is available as BARF products, wet food, and organic dry food. However, caution is advised. Unfortunately, not everything that says "organic" on the label actually contains "organic" ingredients. To ensure that the food fully meets organic standards, we recommend paying attention to the label's seal. If no seal is printed, you should ask the manufacturer which ingredients are organic and which are not.

Is there also cold-pressed dog food in organic quality?

Cold-pressed organic dog food is available on the market, for example, from Terra Pura. However, the production process combined with organic ingredients results in significantly higher prices. The price per kilo is approximately three to four times higher than for high-quality cold-pressed dog food without organic ingredients.

2 Disadvantages of organic dry food

Organic dry food is generally recommended for pet owners. However, there are two disadvantages that buyers of organic dog food should keep in mind.

Nutritional quality not necessarily guaranteed

According to Karin Straßmair's thesis (2021), there are few studies on the nutritional quality of organic products. Therefore, in 2021, she published a study examining the following question: Does organic dog food live up to its marketing promises?

In an analysis of seven organic wet foods and six organic BARF products, she shows that quality is not necessarily guaranteed:

• 4 out of 7 of the wet feeds showed deviations between declared values ​​and analyzed values, with values ​​each exceeding the legally permitted value
• 6 out of 6 organic BARF products showed higher deviations in at least one nutrient than legally permitted.

The conclusion of these results suggests that one should ask for independent analysis data when purchasing high-quality, expensive products.

Price segment

Another disadvantage is the price segment of organic dry food. As with other product categories, quality comes at a price. Especially with organic products, the quality standards in the production and rearing of animals and plants result in enormous additional costs. On the other hand, the extreme price jump, three to four times the price of an alternative, equally high-quality dog ​​food, is only partially understandable. This means that organic dry food, as an exclusive product, is affordable for only a few.

Conclusion

Organic dry food is a very good nutritional solution for dogs. However, it's important to ensure that the advertised quality is actually being used. This can be done by critically examining printed seals or conducting an independent food analysis.