USDA Organic Standards for Pet Food

Kristina Voltin
Jun 12
11 min read

Updated: Jun 13

USDA organic standards ensure pet food is made with high-quality, safe, and natural ingredients, free from harmful chemicals, GMOs, and synthetic additives. Here's a quick overview of what you need to know:

Organic Certification Levels:
- 100% Organic: All ingredients (except salt/water) are organic.
- Organic: At least 95% organic ingredients; remaining 5% must meet strict rules.
- Made with Organic: At least 70% organic ingredients; no USDA seal allowed.
Key Standards:
- No synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, or GMOs.
- Strict ingredient sourcing and processing rules.
- USDA inspections and third-party certifications ensure compliance.
Benefits:
- Healthier, nutrient-rich food for pets.
- Reduced risk of allergies and sensitivities.
- Supports eco-friendly farming practices.

Whether you're choosing freeze-dried raw food or other organic options, USDA certification guarantees transparency and quality for your pet's diet.

Decoding Organic, Natural, and Holistic Dog Food: What Do These Labels Really Mean?

USDA Organic Certification Requirements for Pet Food

Earning USDA organic certification for pet food isn’t just about slapping a seal on a package - it’s a rigorous process that ensures high standards of quality and transparency. It involves meeting specific ingredient percentages, adhering to strict sourcing methods, and maintaining compliance over time. For pet owners, this certification guarantees that the organic seal truly stands for something meaningful.

Organic Labeling Categories

USDA regulations outline three distinct categories for labeling organic pet food, each with its own requirements:

"100% Organic": Products in this category must contain only organic ingredients (excluding salt and water). These are typically raw or minimally processed items and are eligible to display the USDA organic seal.
"Organic": To qualify, at least 95% of the ingredients (excluding salt and water) must be organic. The remaining 5% can include nonorganic ingredients, but only if organic versions aren’t commercially available. These products can also carry the USDA organic seal and the "organic" label on the main display panel.
"Made with Organic": Products must include at least 70% organic ingredients (excluding salt and water). They can state "made with organic" followed by up to three specific ingredients or ingredient categories. However, they cannot display the USDA organic seal or claim the entire product is organic.

These categories provide clear guidelines for manufacturers and help consumers understand what they’re buying.

Ingredient Sourcing and Processing Standards

Beyond labeling, manufacturers need to follow strict rules for sourcing and processing to maintain the organic integrity of their products. Unlike livestock feed, organic pet food is treated as a processed product, meaning it must meet specific agricultural and production standards. Organic ingredients must be grown using methods that promote resource recycling, protect soil and water quality, and preserve biodiversity - all while minimizing synthetic inputs[6].

Processing facilities also face strict requirements. They must avoid using methods like genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge. Only substances approved on the National List can be used[6]. For example, the USDA recently proposed allowing synthetic taurine as a nonorganic additive in pet food labeled "organic" or "made with organic ingredients" to meet essential nutritional needs without compromising organic principles[7].

"These long-awaited standards were the result of over two decades of stakeholder collaboration and brought essential clarity to an underserved market segment... They lowered barriers for producing complete-and-balanced organic pet food by aligning with industry practices and permitting key ingredients like animal co-products and synthetic taurine."
Pet Sustainability Coalition [10]

Additionally, organic pet food must comply with state animal feed regulations, FDA requirements, and the National Organic Program (NOP) process control standards[5]. This layered oversight ensures products meet both nutritional and organic benchmarks.

Role of Third-Party Certifiers

Independent certification is essential to ensure manufacturers stick to these rigorous standards. USDA-accredited certification agencies are responsible for verifying compliance with organic regulations. Certification isn’t a one-and-done process - it starts with understanding the requirements, followed by an application, an onsite inspection, and addressing any follow-up actions before paying the necessary fees[8][5]. Regular inspections and detailed record-keeping are required to maintain certification.

The USDA also conducts its own audits and investigations to ensure organic products meet federal standards[5]. Products that pass this process can display the USDA organic seal, signifying they contain at least 95% organic ingredients[5]. Interestingly, the U.S. organic market accounts for about 40% of the global organics sector[9].

For brands like Loyal Saints, which offer premium freeze-dried pet food, this certification process ensures their human-grade, all-natural ingredients meet the highest organic standards. It’s a guarantee of balanced nutrition for dogs at every stage of life.

Ingredient Standards for Freeze-Dried Organic Pet Food

Freeze-dried organic pet food must adhere to strict guidelines, ensuring both organic integrity and nutritional value despite the complexities of processing.

Permitted and Prohibited Ingredients

The USDA National Organic Program sets clear boundaries for what can and cannot be included in organic pet food. Practices such as genetic engineering, irradiation, the use of sewage sludge, and synthetic fertilizers are strictly prohibited in the production of organic ingredients [5].

For freeze-dried pet foods, manufacturers must also steer clear of certain additives commonly found in conventional products. These include synthetic colorants like Blue 2, Yellow 5 & 6, and Red 40, as well as preservatives such as BHA and BHT. Other excluded ingredients are ethoxyquin, propylene glycol, by-products from 4-D meats (animals that are dead, diseased, dying, or disabled), certain plant oils (like canola, soy, sunflower, and corn oil), hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and vague "natural flavorings" that lack transparency [11].

Instead, the focus is on incorporating whole, recognizable ingredients that align with organic principles. This includes organic meats, vegetables, and fruits grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. To ensure these foods meet complete nutritional standards, regulated synthetic supplements may sometimes be necessary.

Synthetic Nutrients in Organic Pet Food

USDA regulations allow for limited use of synthetic nutrients, such as FDA-approved synthetic taurine, to help meet the nutritional needs of organic pet food [10]. According to the Pet Sustainability Coalition, these allowances have made it easier for manufacturers to produce complete-and-balanced organic pet food by aligning with broader industry practices. For example, they permit the inclusion of animal co-products and essential nutrients like synthetic taurine [10]. This balance ensures that freeze-dried organic foods can meet both the rigorous standards of organic certification and the nutritional needs of pets, even when supplementation is required.

Freeze-Dried Processing Standards

Freeze-drying offers a unique advantage by preserving both the nutritional integrity and the organic certification of pet food. Unlike heat-based processing methods, freeze-drying maintains the nutrient profile of raw ingredients while reducing moisture content to just 5–7%, compared to over 70% in frozen options [12].

To maintain organic certification, the freeze-drying process must also prevent contamination. This method, while highly effective at retaining nutrients compared to dehydration or air-drying, does come with higher energy demands - requiring 4 to 10 times more energy than traditional hot air dehydration. This raises questions about energy use and sustainability [2].

For companies like Loyal Saints, adhering to these rigorous freeze-drying standards ensures their products deliver both the organic certification and high nutritional quality that pet owners expect. This commitment supports the health and well-being of pets at every stage of life, making freeze-dried organic pet food a trusted choice for conscientious pet owners.

Additive and Filler-Free Certification Standards

USDA organic standards strictly prohibit the use of artificial additives and fillers in pet foods. This ensures that these products maintain their nutritional quality by excluding unnecessary, non-nutritive substances.

What Are Additives and Fillers?

In the context of USDA organic certification, additives are synthetic substances used to preserve, color, flavor, or improve the texture of pet food. Fillers, on the other hand, are inexpensive ingredients that add bulk but offer little to no nutritional benefit. USDA organic standards ban such substances unless they meet specific organic requirements. As a result, organic pet foods are free from residues of prohibited materials [13]. This strict approach also eliminates the use of low-grade fillers commonly found in some conventional pet foods.

Instead of synthetic additives, organic pet foods rely on natural alternatives to achieve preservation and flavor, ensuring a healthier and more wholesome product for pets.

How Ingredient Purity Is Maintained

To uphold these standards, USDA organic certification enforces rigorous traceability protocols. This ensures that every ingredient in organic pet food can be traced back to its source. From farm to bowl, the supply chain is transparent, guaranteeing that ingredients meet organic criteria. For example, when "chicken" is listed on an organic pet food label, you can trust it comes from chickens raised on organic feed, without exposure to antibiotics or growth hormones. Similarly, any fruits and vegetables included must be cultivated without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

These purity requirements extend beyond ingredients. Even the processing aids and manufacturing equipment must meet strict standards to prevent cross-contamination with non-organic materials. Facilities are required to keep detailed records of both sourcing and processing methods, ensuring the final product maintains its organic status throughout production.

For freeze-dried organic pet foods, these standards become even more critical. The freeze-drying process intensifies nutrients, meaning any contaminants would also be concentrated. Brands like Loyal Saints demonstrate how adherence to these standards results in products made with human-grade ingredients, fully aligned with USDA organic requirements. This guarantees pet owners a product free from artificial additives and unnecessary fillers.

The rise in organic pet food sales highlights the growing demand for such high standards. Between 2003 and 2004, sales increased by 63%, followed by another 46% jump in 2005, making organic pet food the second-fastest-growing non-food category [13]. This trend underscores the importance pet owners place on avoiding artificial additives and fillers in their pets' diets.

Labeling and Compliance for Organic Freeze-Dried Pet Food

The USDA’s organic labeling system for freeze-dried pet food provides clear guidelines to help consumers understand what they’re purchasing while upholding the integrity of organic certification. These rules are tightly linked to the detailed compliance measures that manufacturers must follow.

Understanding Organic Label Claims

The USDA defines specific label categories based on the percentage of organic content in a product. These categories help clarify what qualifies as organic and what doesn’t:

Label Category	Organic Content Required	USDA Seal Allowed	Labeling Restrictions
100% Organic	100% (excluding salt/water)	Yes	None
Organic	Minimum 95% (excluding salt/water)	Yes	Up to 5% non-organic if unavailable
Made with Organic	Minimum 70% (excluding salt/water)	No	Cannot claim the product is organic
Less than 70%	Below 70%	No	No "organic" on the main display panel

Each category comes with specific requirements, such as the use of the USDA Organic Seal and restrictions on labeling claims. For example, products labeled “100% Organic” must consist entirely of organic ingredients (excluding salt and water), while those labeled “Made with Organic” must contain at least 70% organic ingredients but cannot display the USDA seal. Products with less than 70% organic content can only list organic ingredients in the ingredient panel.

Compliance and Certification Maintenance

Earning and maintaining USDA organic certification is no small task. Manufacturers need to follow a detailed process, starting with the creation of an organic system plan. This plan outlines how the operation will comply with all USDA regulations, and it undergoes review, inspection, and approval by a certifying agent. Once certified, manufacturers must update their plans annually and undergo regular inspections to retain their certification [15].

The USDA highlights the importance of this ongoing process:

"Organic Certification allows a farm or processing facility to sell, label, and represent their products as organic. The organic brand provides consumers with more choices in the marketplace. The USDA protects consumer options by protecting the organic seal." [14]

For freeze-dried pet food manufacturers, compliance involves meticulous documentation. This includes keeping detailed records of ingredient sourcing, processing methods, and quality control measures. Any changes that might affect the organic status - such as contamination or the use of prohibited substances - must be reported immediately to the certifying agent [16].

Failing to comply with USDA organic regulations has serious consequences. Knowingly mislabeling or selling a product as organic without meeting the standards can result in civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation [16]. More severe violations, such as providing false information to USDA officials or certifying agents, are federal offenses punishable by fines and up to five years in prison [16].

To avoid these risks, facilities must take steps to prevent commingling and contamination. This often means using separate production lines, dedicated storage areas, and thorough cleaning protocols to ensure organic products remain uncontaminated. For freeze-dried pet food, this level of care is essential to maintain certification.

Brands like Loyal Saints demonstrate how strict compliance can lead to products that meet both human-grade ingredient standards and full USDA organic certification. Their dedication ensures pet owners can trust that their freeze-dried products meet the highest organic standards.

USDA-accredited certifying agents play a key role in this system, verifying that products meet all organic requirements. If violations are found, the USDA can impose penalties, suspend certifications, or even revoke them entirely [14]. This rigorous enforcement ensures that the organic label continues to hold its value for consumers and manufacturers alike.

Why USDA Organic Standards Matter for Pet Food

USDA organic standards play a critical role in ensuring the quality, safety, and transparency of pet food. These standards give pet owners peace of mind, knowing their furry companions are consuming food made with the same level of care and high-quality ingredients as human food. The result? Pets enjoy genuine health and digestive benefits.

One of the biggest advantages of organic pet food is the absence of synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, and GMOs, which can contribute to better overall health outcomes for pets [17]. Organic ingredients are also packed with nutrients, offering higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants [3]. This nutrient-rich profile is especially helpful for pets with food allergies or sensitivities, as organic diets avoid artificial additives and preservatives that often trigger adverse reactions. On top of that, organic pet food tends to have more natural fiber, promoting healthy digestion and reducing the risk of gastrointestinal problems [3].

The growing demand for organic pet food highlights the trust consumers place in these standards. In 2023, the global organic pet food market hit USD 23.6 billion, with online searches for organic pet food increasing by 35%. The market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.7% through 2032 [17]. This trend underscores how USDA certification fosters confidence and transparency in an ever-expanding market.

USDA organic standards also extend beyond pet health, supporting environmentally responsible farming practices. By choosing organic pet food, pet owners contribute to a more sustainable future by backing farmers who prioritize eco-friendly methods [1].

Brands like Loyal Saints are setting an example by offering freeze-dried dog food made with human-grade ingredients. Their commitment to meeting organic certification requirements ensures pet owners can trust both the nutritional integrity and safety of their products.

Another significant benefit of USDA standards is the clarity they bring to product labeling. The organic seal makes it easy for pet owners to identify products that meet their quality expectations, eliminating the need to decode vague marketing claims [4]. This transparency is essential for building trust between brands and consumers in the thriving organic pet food industry.

FAQs

What’s the difference between ‘Organic’ and ‘Made with Organic’ labels on pet food?

The distinction comes down to the percentage of organic ingredients and whether the USDA organic seal can be used.

Organic: Items with this label must be made up of at least 95% organic ingredients by weight and meet all USDA organic standards. These products are allowed to display the USDA organic seal.
Made with Organic: This label is for products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients. While they cannot feature the USDA organic seal, they can highlight the specific organic ingredients on their packaging.

How does the USDA make sure organic pet food meets its standards?

The USDA plays a key role in ensuring that organic pet food lives up to its name. To achieve this, manufacturers must be certified by USDA-accredited certifying agents. These agents meticulously check that every step - from sourcing ingredients to production methods and labeling - meets strict organic requirements.

To keep things consistent, the USDA has established clear standards for organic pet food. These guidelines ensure that all certified products adhere to the same level of quality. If manufacturers fail to meet these standards, they can face serious consequences, such as fines or losing their organic certification. This thorough process ensures that organic pet food not only complies with USDA rules but is also safe for pets to enjoy.

Why are synthetic nutrients included in USDA-certified organic pet food, and do they affect its nutritional quality?

Synthetic nutrients often find their way into USDA-certified organic pet food to meet the nutritional benchmarks set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). These include essentials like taurine, along with various vitamins and minerals, ensuring the food can be labeled as "complete and balanced" for pets - especially when natural ingredients alone fall short of providing all the necessary nutrients.

Although these synthetic additions help fulfill critical dietary needs, they don't always match the bioavailability of nutrients derived from whole food sources. On top of that, the processing involved in making pet food can diminish its natural nutrient levels, making supplementation unavoidable. However, the organic certification process ensures that these additives are used under strict guidelines, preserving both the quality and safety of the product.