Marketing terms - "Natural"

The natural pet food sector has been recognised as a rapidly growing category of pet food. With grain-free products continuing to drive the natural category, it is worth examining the terms "natural" and "grain-free" in relation to our cat's diet.¹

 

The term "natural" has been defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, known as AAFCO, and requires, at minimum, that the pet food be preserved with natural preservatives. And that's it – no further definition. However, the purchaser's perception of natural focuses not only on the exclusion of preservatives, but also on the inclusion of whole ingredients, meats, fruits and vegetables, avoiding refined grains and by-products and feeding according to ancestral or instinctual nutritional philosophies.² Natural also implies no nasty additives; but, this is not included in the AAFCO definition.

 

Grain-free products have replaced grains with other inappropriate carbohydrates. Check the ingredient list for: ground brown rice, oatmeal, dried beet pulp, red lentils, green lentils, quinoa, green peas, pumpkin, butternut squash, carrots, apples, pears. All inappropriate and potentially harmful to our felines.
Read more at http://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/a-gut-reaction-to-cat-food 
Follow us on Twitter: @FelineNutrition

Read more at http://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/a-gut-reaction-to-cat-food 
Follow us on Twitter: @FelineNutrition