AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials—a non-profit organization that helps set nutritional standards for pet food) defines “natural” as an “…ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources…” that may have gone through physical processes like heating, purification, or extraction but has not been produced by chemical means and does not contain synthetic additives.
There’s no FDA definition of “natural” in pet foods and most states have adopted the AAFCO definition for their pet food regulations.
Also, we uphold a high standard for natural flavors at Fromm.
For Fromm pet foods, “natural flavors” means a concentrated flavor enhancer derived from the breakdown of protein sources into their basic amino acids. This natural flavor enhancement boosts the aroma and taste of the recipe.
As such, our natural flavors are safe for pets and make their eating experience more enjoyable.
The only precaution would be if your pet has a food allergy or severe sensitivity to any particular ingredient. In that case, it’s best to check exactly which natural protein source was used to create the flavor enhancement for a given recipe.
If you have any questions about our natural flavors—or questions about any of our recipes—you are welcome to contact our team. We’re happy to answer your questions!