Sustainable Suppers The Rise of Organic Dog Food
Best Organic Dog Foods
Tender and True Chicken and Liver Recipe is one of 6 dry recipes included in our review of the Tender and True dry product line.
Tender and True Chicken and Liver derives the vast majority of its animal protein from both chicken meal and fresh chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 18% fat and 45% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.
Tender and True is USDA certified organic which makes each recipe a rare find for discerning dog owners.
Read our review of the full Tender and True Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, organic chicken meal, organic tapioca starch, organic dried pea, organic chickpea Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 29% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog had eczema and allergies. Since switching to the pesticide free dog food, chicken and liver flavor, her eczema is gone. I highly recommend going organic. I really like that the chickens were humanely raised as well."
Gather Free Acres is one of 3 dry recipes included in our review of the Gather product line.
Gather Free Acres gets the lions share of its meat protein from fresh chicken and dehydrated chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 17% fat and 42% estimated carbs creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
In addition to Gathers certified organic ingredients, each recipe also contains a balanced blend of healthy omega 3 and omega 6 fats. A top choice.
Read our review of the full Gather Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, organic dehydrated chicken, organic peas, lentils, chicken fat Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 33% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog Daisy has a sensitive stomach and has been having all sorts of problems due to her food that she didnt even like. I switched her to this food and she has made a 180 turn around for the better. Im very happy with this product."
Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken Recipe is one of 8 dehydrated recipes included in our review of the Honest Kitchen product line.
This Whole Grain Chicken formulation derives the bulk of its meat protein from dehydrated chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 27% protein, 15% fat and 50% estimated carbs which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.
In addition to its multiple organic ingredients, each recipe is processed in a human grade food processing facility.
And each component is non genetically modified (non-GMO) and free of any chemicals or preservatives. All meat ingredients are hormone and antibiotic free, too.
See all available recipes.
Read our review of the full Honest Kitchen Dog Food (Dehydrated) range here
Main Ingredients Dehydrated chicken, organic barley, dehydrated potatoes, organic flaxseed, organic oats Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusiv Protein Percentage 27% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My German Shepherd is a fussy eater, with his fair share of allergies. Ive tried all different brands and this one makes my Shermy happy. Its a great price, easy meal prep and super filling for him. This is the first brand of food I dont have to add anything or convince him to eat what I put down for him. I think I finally found a food we will be sticking with!"
Stella and Chewys Venison Blend is one of 13 raw recipes included in our review of the Stella and Chewys Freeze-Dried Dinner product line.Venison, lamb, lamb liver, venison liver, venison lung
This Venison Blend recipe derives the largest share of its animal protein from both venison and lamb. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 47% protein, 32% fat and 13% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
Stella and Chewys promises all its frozen and freeze-dried raw recipes include vitamins and minerals sourced from 100% certified organic fruits and vegetables.
A top-rated, freeze-dried dog food for those not requiring organic meat. Recommended with confidence.
See all 13 available recipes
Read our review of the full Stella and Chewys Freeze Dried Dinners Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here
Main Ingredients Venison, lamb, lamb liver, venison liver, venison lung Texture Raw Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 47% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My pretty pittie is allergic to everything, beef, chicken, lamb, tomato (which is in most dog food) grain, etc. It was also recommended that we go with raw food. We have tried many brands of venison, duck, bison and wild boar. This by far is her favorite food. It is easy to store because most of the other brands were frozen. We feed her 2 1/2 "pucks" broken up and mixed with grain free dry food 2x a day. We typically add water to the pucks but she also enjoys them dry right out of the bag."
Carna4 Chicken is one of 6 dry recipes included in our review of the Carna4 product line.
This Carna4 formula derives most of its animal protein from both fresh chicken and chicken liver. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 17% fat and 43% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.
Features a number of plant-based, organic ingredients. A quality formulation worthy of consideration.
Read our review of the full Carna4 Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Fresh chicken, chicken liver, eggs, organic sprouted barley seed, wild salmon Type: Grain-inclusive (barley, rice) Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 32% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Amazon.com"You will notice the difference in your dog within a few days of switching them to this dry kibble. All of our dogs (2 Seniors, 1 Adult and 3 Puppies) all love the food. They are happier, healthier looking and acting (shiny eyes, shiny coat, more energy, no tummy troubles ie. vomiting/diarreah no itching skin or scratching)."
Organic Chicken and Liver Recipe is one of 2 wet products included in our review of the Tender and True Canned product line.
This Tender and True organic formula derives the bulk of its meat protein from fresh chicken. Based on dry matter, this recipe contains 39% protein, 23% fat and 31% estimated carbs which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.
A smooth, finely-chopped pate consistency. Its 100% complete and balanced nutrition with added vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients.
Fully organic. Contains no grain, GMOs, corn, wheat, or soy. Also free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. A quality wet diet. Recommended with confidence.
Read our review of the full Tender and True Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, water sufficient for processing, organic pea Flour, organic chicken liver, organic chicken heart Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 39% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog is the pickiest dog i have ever had, never wanted to eat anything, always turning his nose up at everything I put him in front of him. Someone suggested Tender and True and it has been a complete turnaround, he cant wait to eat. Cleans the bowl as if her were starving. I highly recommend this product."
The Best Sustainable And Ethically Produced Dog Food Brands
When I first adopted my dog and brought her home almost 15 years ago, it didnt occur to me that I should put more thoughtful consideration into the kind of food I gave her and I stuck to run-of-the-mill kibble. Nowadays, trying to decide what kind of food to give my fragile senior dog occupies precious space in my mind. I agonize over every decision, in the hopes that I can keep my very picky creature healthy and happy for as long as possible. And I know Im not alone in this preoccupation.
Aside from trying to find the most wholesome and nutrient-rich dog food available, I also prioritize brands that are sustainably made with ethically-sourced ingredients. This is not as easy as one might hope. Like so many lightly regulated industries, you cant always trust what labels tell you. Buzzwords such as holistic are often used in the pet food industry, but it doesnt actually mean much.
That said, there are actually a few dog food brands out there that prioritize sustainability and responsibly-sourced ingredients, without sacrificing vital nutrients and vitamins. Some use human food-grade organic ingredients, while others focus on eco-friendly farming practices. Ive rounded up some of the best and most reliable environmentally-conscious dog food brands, so that your sweet little pup can eat well and you can feel good about the impact to our planet.
Sales of eco-friendly pet food soar as owners become aware of impact
Eco-friendly pet food is on the rise as dog and cat owners become more aware of the impact of their beloved pets diet.
New figures released exclusively to the Guardian show that the number of pet food products containing Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified sustainable seafood has grown by 57% in the UK during the last five years, from 49 to 77. In the last year alone consumers bought more than 7m tins, pouches and packs of MSC-certified pet food.
Globally, pets consume about 20% of the worlds meat and fish, a number set to rise with the trend for consumers to feed them human-grade meat. An area double the size of the UK is used to produce dry pet food for cats and dogs each year, while approximately 3m tonnes of fish are used in pet food in the UK every year. Pet food is estimated to be responsible for a quarter of the environmental impacts of meat production, such as the release of greenhouse gases, phosphates and pesticides.
But there are now a growing number of environmentally friendly alternatives available. Dog food containing insects went on sale for the first time in 2019 and can be bought in high street pet food shops, and vegan brands are increasing in popularity. The market continues to grow as people realise the food their pets eat could increase their carbon emissions and contain meat from animals kept in poor welfare conditions.
A recent study found that vegan pet food is just as good for dogs and cats as meat. However, the British Veterinary Association still does not recommend feeding your pet a plant-based diet. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 also penalises pet owners if they fail to feed a suitable diet meeting their dogs nutritional needs a 20,000 fine or a 51-week jail sentence could ensue.
Andrew Knight, a professor of animal welfare and ethics at the University of Winchester, said at the time that his research showed that cats and dogs had as good or better health outcomes on plant-based diets as they did when fed on meat pet foods, provided these were carefully formulated with additional synthetic nutrients.
In general, fish has a lower carbon footprint than meat, according to research published in the journal Nature Climate Change, which found that for each kilogram of fish caught between one and five kilograms of carbon is produced while red meat production produces between 50 to 750kg of carbon for each kilogram of meat.
However, it is vital that pet owners choose food containing fish that is not overfished, including Cornish sardines. There have also been concerns raised about salmon after investigations that have revealed the environmental impact of salmon farming. And recently the lack of oversight in the UKs fish farms was revealed by Animal Equality.
Salmon is the most popular species for MSC-certified sustainable pet food containing fish, followed by cod, tuna, sardines and saithe. Newly launched pet food ranges include a prawn pet food product by McAdams, Cornish sardines by Aldi and a golden red fish product by Woofs.
George Clark, the MSCs programme director for the UK and Ireland, said: UK pet owners increasingly understand that caring for their furry friends also means looking after the wider environment. Fish species and marine wildlife around the globe are being put at risk as overfishing threaten our oceans. We also know that seafood often has a significantly lower carbon footprint than meat, so buying sustainable seafood products is one of the most positive choices that pet owners can make to help reverse this worrying trend. The Marine Stewardship Council recently introduced a Pet Food Brand of the Year award for the very first time at its annual awards this year, a response to the growing importance of sustainability for consumers of sustainable pet food products.
