Best Ethically Produced Food to Feed your Pets
What is Ethically Sourced Pet Food?
Ethically produced pet food is food that has been made with the health and well-being of animals in mind. It is not just about producing safe, high-quality products but also about ensuring that no animal is ever exploited or mistreated during the production process.
There are many benefits to switching to ethically produced pet food, including better quality ingredients and healthier animals. However, there are also drawbacks to this type of diet for your pet.
Here's what you need to know:
3 Primary Elements of Ethically Sourced Pet Food
Ethical sourcing of pet food is a way to ensure that the food you are feeding your pet is sourced from responsible, sustainable, and ethical farms. This means that the ingredients used in their production have been sourced in a manner that does not harm the environment or the animals involved.
It's important to know where your dog's food comes from to determine if it was ethically produced or not.
Animal Welfare
There are several ways to ensure your pet's food is ethically sourced.
â— Cruelty-free, humane, and happy animals: If you're looking for an ethical alternative to factory-farmed meat, consider buying from a producer that raises their animals in a natural environment where they have access to fresh air and room to roam.
â— Healthy diet: Animals raised on pasture (rather than feedlots) will eat grasses naturally rich in healthy fats that help keep their skin and coats shiny! For dogs especially, this also helps maintain strong teeth and strengthen their immune systems, so they're less likely to get sick or develop allergies from eating corn or soy products found in most commercial dog foods today.
Honest Ingredients
Honest ingredients are those that are grown or raised using a holistic approach—one that not only takes into account the animal’s health and welfare and the environment in which it lives.
Unethical ingredients come from factory farms, where animals are caged and fed an unnatural diet. This can have devastating effects on both the animal and its habitat.
More than 90% of all antibiotics used in factory farms go to livestock production, so many studies have linked antibiotic overuse in animals with resistant strains of bacteria being passed onto humans. Feeding livestock grain instead of grass also results in a significant increase in methane emissions, contributing to climate change.
Eco-friendly Packaging
You might be surprised to find that many pet products are packaged in toxic chemicals, such as BPA and BPS. These chemicals can leach into your pet’s food or water and are linked to health issues like infertility and cancer. You don’t want these things in your pets’ food, so look for labels that say “BPA-free†or “BPS-free†on the packaging.
If plastics are used for packaging, make sure they are labeled “biodegradable†or “compostable,†these plastics break down within a few months in landfills versus the hundreds of years it takes regular plastic to break down.
Top 6 Ethical Pet Food Brands in India
Here are some of the best pet food brands that have their products made in ethical conditions.
â— Acana
â— Little BigPaw
â— Kennel Kitchen
â— Orijen
â— Arden Grange
â— Aistra
Acana
Acana is a Canadian brand that produces ethically sourced pet food for dogs and cats. They have various products for different age groups and breed types, but their unique pet food formula of 40% meat and 60% vegetables and fruits has been winning over the hearts of many discerning pet owners.
Acana is considered one of the best ethical brands as they are passionate about producing food as naturally as possible while also focusing on environmental conservation efforts. This can be seen with their use of fresh ingredients from local farmers, which helps support local businesses in an environmentally friendly way.
Little BigPaw
Little BigPaw's philosophy is to create food products that are tasty and nutritious for your pets. They source all of their ingredients locally to ensure that the quality of ingredients is high, and they also ensure their products are healthy for your pet.
Their ingredients include chicken meal, peas, brown rice, pea starch, egg product, flaxseed oil, canola oil, natural flavorings from salmon oils, etc. Their foods contain no soy or maize and no artificial preservatives or colorings. This means that you won't have to worry about any allergic reactions when feeding your dog this food brand!
Kennel Kitchen
They use free-range meat and organic vegetables. Their products are produced in small batches, using only whole foods, fillers, and no preservatives. They believe that their factory is 100% human-grade. They’ve even invited people into the kitchen for tours!
Orijen
Orijen is a 100% natural pet food brand that uses fresh and local ingredients to produce a nutrient-rich diet for your pet. The company sources its ingredients from trusted farmers and ranchers, who are paid fair wages and ensure that their animals are raised on sustainable farms.
If you're looking for premium pet food, Arden Grange is the brand. The company puts its products through rigorous testing and uses only the highest quality ingredients.
Arden Grange is committed to ethical production and has received several awards from animal welfare groups.
Aistra
Aistra is an ethical pet food brand that offers a range of natural pet food options. The ingredients used by Aistra are ethically produced, and its packaging is eco-friendly. It uses fresh, raw ingredients and doesn't contain any artificial additives or preservatives.
The Importance of Switching to Ethically Produced Pet Food
The term “ethically produced†refers to food that has been made in a way that is respectful of the environment and its people. Animals are bred and raised on farms free from cruelty, put through no harmful processes, and fed a quality diet. The same applies to crops grown for animal feed - they should be grown without pesticides or chemicals, nor come from areas where deforestation occurs.
The benefits of eating ethically-produced foods are evident: your pet enjoys quality nutrition without any additives or preservatives; farmers get paid fairly for their efforts; the environment gains from sustainable farming practices, and you can feel good about what you’re buying!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can dog owners sustainably feed their dogs?
It is essential to ensure your dog's food is both complete and balanced for its stage of life and if it has any medical issues. It is entirely acceptable to feed your dog a pure kibble diet. Or you can mix their diet up with some cooked or raw meat, fish, vegetables, and rice.
What ingredients should not be in cat food?
â— Corn and wheat gluten.
â— Meat and grain meals and by-products.
â— BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
â— BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
â— Ethoxyquin.
â— Food Dyes (Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, 4-MIE)
â— PG (Propylene Glycol)
â— Rendered fat.
Published By: Admin
Published On: 24-August-2022