Take a close look at the packages of commercial pet foods marketed as “natural.” Chances are very good you will see the following phrase: “Natural with added vitamins, minerals, and other trace nutrients.” What looks like a positive to most people shopping for pet food is actually a disclaimer. It is intended to inform consumers that this particular product does not contain natural vitamins, minerals, and trace nutrients, but instead contains chemically-synthesized forms. This is the only way pet food manufacturers that use man-made nutrients can use the word “natural” on their foods.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is the body regulating the production of pet food in the United States. AAFCO has established guidelines which pet food companies must adhere to when marketing their products as “natural.” The guidelines state: “The use of the term natural is false and misleading if any chemically-synthesized ingredients are present in the product.” Yet almost all  vitamins and minerals used to make pet foods are not natural, but instead are chemically-synthesized forms added to the food so that it will meet AAFCO nutritional profiles. This is true even in products marketed as “natural.”

The reason AAFCO insists on the disclaimer is that chemically-synthesized nutrients actually pose a potential health threat for pets. Many are derived from substances such as coal tar or by-products of industrial metal production. They were not designed to be consumed in every meal, but instead were intended to correct deficiencies in the feed given for a limited time to food-chain animals, such as cattle. Studies showing links to adverse health effects can be found in two books published by the National Academy of Sciences: Vitamin Tolerance of Animals and Mineral Tolerance of Domestic Animals.

Nature’s Logic® natural pet foods do not have to display the AAFCO disclaimer.  The company has created the first and only full-line kibble, canned, and raw frozen pet food in the world with no chemically-synthesized or man-made ingredients. Our foods provide pets with essential and complete nutrition using only 100% natural ingredients and contain NO chemically-synthesized vitamins, minerals or other trace nutrients. More information on Natures Logic products may be found at www.natureslogic.com.