Horizon: Is it organic enough?
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I spend more time than I'd like thinking about, shopping for and preparing food: what's in it, how safe it is, and seeking out farmers and suppliers I can trust.Many consumers have trusted the Horizon Organic label, representing the largest organic dairy in the nation, for years now. The label has made organic dairy products accessible to shoppers in grocery store chains across the country. But can the label be trusted?
There's a history of questions about and controversy over whether large-scale farms such as the ones Horizon products come from are truly organic. Some have claimed it's a blatant lie. Boycotts have been organized.
As for me, I care about the whole picture when it comes to buying organic. It's not just about what we put in our mouths. It's about supporting practices that are safe and healthy for people, animals and the planet. This unfortunately means what's easily accessible isn't always best. Thankfully, I have discovered brands I believe in and found local farmers who can be trusted, even if not always certified, to provide food raised or grown or produced using sustainable practices. I encourage everyone to make an effort to do the same.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-09-2008 @ 8:43PM
Jeff - Your Dog Care Guide said...
This is not only the case for "people food" but for the much more loosely regulated dog food industry as well.
Industry "regulatory" agencies (if you can call them that) recommend that all dog food labels include the manufactuer in addition to the brand name. Unfortunately, many do not. A brand that we fed our puppy, for example, did not include the "Manufactured by" statement, so I called the brand to find out the details. It turned out that this Organic brand DID use a manufacturer who was involved in the Dog Food recalls even though they claimed to be "natural".
The best advice? Prepare homemade dog food recipes using ingredients purchased from your local Farmer's Market.
Your second best choice is to buy dog food brands who list the manufactuer's information along:
-Calorie Statement - chances are these brands follow other Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
-Contain the term "Organic" (not just "Natural")
-Say they are 100% Balanced or a similar term ALONG WITH a message about their AAFCO affiliation
-Add vitamins and minerals to their food - most commercial dog food is cooked and therefor loses much of its nutritional value
-Contain no artificial colors or chemical perservatives (explicitly stated on the label)
-have their main advertised ingredient listed FIRST on the ingredient list (i.e. Lamb Dog Food has lamb listed first)
Jeff
www.organic-pet-digest.com
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6-09-2008 @ 8:46PM
Jeff - Your Dog Care Guide said...
I apologize, the web address in the last post should have read:
Jeff
http://www.organic-pet-digest.com
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