These days the cupboards of students in College Park condos - Aura and elsewhere - are filled with natural and organic foods as forward thinking individuals grasp onto the latest food trends to try and improve their health. Organic and natural foods have even found their way onto pet food shelves, leaving many pet owners wondering: "what is organic animal food, anyway?" and "should I feed my pet organic food?" Hopefully this article can provide some answers.

What is organic?

When the word "organic" is applied to food, whether it's aquarium fish foods or breakfast cereal, it means that the crops and animal products in the food were raised in a special way. Specifically, they were raised and produced without using any drugs or chemicals. This means that organic cattle were not given any growth hormones or antibiotics. It means that organic grains weren't sprayed with chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Everything was done naturally.

Is organic the same as natural and holistic?

No, it isn't. While organic is a label applied to foods to denote how it was raised, natural is a label that companies use to describe what happens to it afterward, when it's harvested and turned into food products. An Ottawa pet photographer who gives animals natural foods is giving them foods that were minimally processed and didn't have a lot of additives other foods added to them while they were being prepared and packaged. Holistic has no official definition when it comes to food.

Are there rules about organic and natural food?

There are rules governing who can use the terms organic and natural in people food, but when it comes to pet food there are no regulations (in Canada, at least) that govern who is allowed to use these terms. In the USA there are, guidelines, however, and some of the natural or organic food sold at your pet's London, Ontario animal hospital will have come from there. But you should always be careful - do research, read labels - when buying organic pet food in Canada.

Where can I buy organic pet food?

Organic pet food is generally only available in Canada through specialty pet stores. These will be locally owned, not chain stores. You might occasionally see something through Home Health Care Edmonton, your local grocery store chain, or a major pet store chain, but not really with any consistency. Check your telephone directory for local pet food shops and inquire if they have organic food for your pet.