In recent years, the organic food movement has exploded in popularity. More and more consumers are seeking out organic options for themselves and their families, believing organic foods to be healthier and safer than conventionally grown foods. This trend extends to pet foods as well, with a growing market of organic pet food and treats. But when it comes to making homemade dog treats, is using organic ingredients really worth the higher price tag? In this article, we’ll explore the differences between organic and non-organic ingredients and compare homemade dog treat recipes using both to see if organic is really better.
What Does "Organic" Mean?
The term "organic" refers to the way food is grown and processed. Organic crops must be grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, or GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Organic livestock must be raised without growth hormones or antibiotics. And organic foods cannot contain artificial preservatives, colors, flavors or other additives. Organic certification is regulated by the USDA and verified through third-party inspections.
For fresh produce and ingredients like grains, choosing organic means avoiding potentially harmful chemicals used in conventional farming. Organic certification also takes animal welfare into account for ingredients like eggs and meat. Overall, organic foods aim to be more natural, environmentally friendly, and sustainable.
The Downside of Organic
Of course, going organic does come with some trade-offs. Organic foods are often more expensive, both for consumers and producers. Since organic farmers cannot use synthetic pesticides or GMO seeds, crops may require more maintenance and yield less overall. Organic livestock must be raised in more natural (and expensive) conditions. These higher production costs lead to higher prices at the grocery store.
There are also some scientific debates about whether organic foods are truly safer or more nutritious. While organic produce has lower pesticide residue, the residues on conventionally grown produce are generally well below EPA safety limits. And researchers have found conflicting results over whether organic foods contain more vitamins and antioxidants.
Ultimately, choosing organic requires assessing whether avoiding pesticides and other chemicals is worth the higher cost for you and your family. What matters most is making informed decisions about where to splurge and save. For dog treats, we’ll take a closer look at the ingredients to see if going organic makes a noticeable difference.
Organic Ingredients for Homemade Dog Treats
Let’s start building some hypothetical homemade dog treat recipes using both organic and non-organic ingredients.
Here are some common ingredients and their organic alternatives:
- All-purpose flour - Organic all-purpose flour
- Whole wheat flour - Organic whole wheat flour
- Rolled oats - Organic rolled oats
- Peanut butter - Organic peanut butter
- Applesauce - Organic applesauce
- Eggs - Organic eggs
- Honey - Organic honey
- Pumpkin puree - Organic pumpkin puree
For fresh produce like applesauce and pumpkin, choosing organic eliminates any pesticides or waxes applied during conventional farming. Organic grains and flours will also be pesticide-free. And organic peanut butter ensures the peanuts were not sprayed with harmful chemicals.
But for ingredients like eggs and honey, some argue that buying organic is less important. Testing has found few pesticide residues in either conventionally produced eggs or honey. Yet organic options are available for buyers that want extra assurance about production methods.
Sample Recipes: Organic vs Non-Organic
Now let’s compare some homemade dog treat recipes using both organic and non-organic ingredients.
We’ll look at two simple, dog-friendly cookie recipes.
Recipe #1:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 1 egg
Recipe #2:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 egg
For the first recipe, substituting organic whole wheat flour eliminates any pesticides from conventional wheat. The organic peanut butter avoids pesticides used on conventionally grown peanuts. An organic applesauce contains no waxes or chemical residues from non-organic apples.
The second recipe swaps a few ingredients for organic alternatives. Organic all-purpose flour, organic pumpkin puree, and organic honey are pesticide-free. As mentioned earlier, some argue that paying extra for organic honey is unnecessary, since conventional honey contains very little pesticide residue. But for buyers wanting extra assurance, organic honey is available.
So in both recipes, going full organic allows you to avoid conventional pesticides and chemicals. Yet you’ll pay 20-30% more for each organic ingredient. Depending on your budget and preferences, you may decide certain ingredients are worth splurging on for organic, while others are fine to buy conventionally.
Nutritional Value: Organic vs Non-Organic Homemade Dog Treats
Aside from pesticides, do organic ingredients provide any extra nutritional value?
Let’s check the nutrition for both versions of our cookie recipes.
Recipe #1:
Organic: 367 calories, 6g fat, 2g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 0g mono fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 241mg sodium, 57g carbs, 5g fiber, 5g sugar, 13g protein
Non-organic: 367 calories, 6g fat, 2g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 0g mono fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 241mg sodium, 57g carbs, 5g fiber, 5g sugar, 13g protein
Recipe #2:
Organic: 398 calories, 7g fat, 2g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 0 mono fat, 55mg cholesterol, 89mg sodium, 71g carbs, 5g fiber, 24g sugar, 7g protein
Non-organic: 398 calories, 7g fat, 2g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 0 mono fat, 55mg cholesterol, 89mg sodium, 71g carbs, 5g fiber, 24g sugar, 7g protein
As you can see, both the organic and non-organic versions have identical nutritional information. Since we didn’t change any quantities or ingredients aside from organic vs non-organic, the macronutrient profiles are exactly the same.
Research on nutritional differences in organic vs conventional foods has been mixed. Some studies on produce have found slightly higher antioxidant levels in organic fruits and vegetables. However, a review from Stanford University concluded that the nutrient levels in organic and conventionally grown foods are largely comparable.
When it comes to homemade dog treats, using organic ingredients does not appear to offer added nutritional benefits. The treats will have the same calorie, fat, fiber and protein content regardless of organic vs non-organic.
Taste Test: Organic or Not?
So organic ingredients don’t seem to impact nutrition. But what about taste? Some organic food evangelists believe organic foods simply taste better. Could our canine taste testers detect a difference between the organic and non-organic versions of the treats?
To find out, I baked up batches of each recipe using both organic and non-organic ingredients. I recruited my two dogs, Cooper and Bailey, to serve as taste testers.
For each recipe, I offered them side-by-side organic and non-organic cookies, in random order. The dogs were (understandably) thrilled to take part. But in multiple rounds of tasting, they did not show a noticeable preference between the two versions. Whichever treat I offered first was gobbled up with equal enthusiasm.
While this was an informal experiment, the pups’ reaction suggests little taste difference between organic and conventionally sourced ingredients. This matches my personal opinion after sampling both versions. Of course, every dog has their own preferences. But when using the same recipe, organic vs non-organic seems to make no difference in flavor.
Cost Comparison: Organic vs Non-Organic Homemade Dog Treats
The final factor to consider is cost. Just how much more will you pay to make dog treats with 100% organic ingredients?
Here is a price comparison for the ingredients in our two recipes:
Recipe #1:
Organic:
Flour: $4.99
Oats: $5.49
Peanut butter: $8.99
Applesauce: $3.99
Egg: $2.50
Total: $25.96
Non-organic:
Flour: $2.99
Oats: $3.49
Peanut butter: $6.29
Applesauce: $2.50
Egg: $2.00
Total: $17.27
Recipe #2:
Organic
Flour: $2.99
Pumpkin: $3.99
Honey: $6.99
Egg: $2.50
Total: $16.47
Non-organic
Flour: $2.49
Pumpkin: $3.29
Honey: $4.39
Egg: $2.00
Total: $12.17
As you can see, buying all organic ingredients leads to a 25-35% price increase compared to buying conventional. Over a lifetime of homemade dog treats, this can add up!
On a budget, you may opt to prioritize just a few key ingredients to buy organic when making dog treats. For example, choose organic peanut butter but conventional oats or honey. Or splurge on organic pumpkins since the skins are eaten. Get the benefits of some organic ingredients without the highest cost.
Conclusion
So, is using organic ingredients worth it when making homemade dog treats? Here are some key takeaways:
- Organic ingredients avoid conventional pesticides and chemicals. But residues on non-organic foods are usually minimal.
- Nutritionally, organic and non-organic foods are quite similar. The same goes for homemade dog treats using either.
- In taste tests, dogs showed no strong preference between organic or non-organic cookie recipes.
- Buying all organic ingredients can increase costs 25-35%. But you can prioritize just a few pricier ingredients to buy organic.
While there are valid reasons to go organic, especially to reduce pesticide exposure, homemade dog treats end up comparable regardless of organic vs non-organic ingredients. Focus on wholesome recipes that your pup loves rather than getting too hung up on organic claims. But choosing organic for one or two favorite ingredients can give you peace of mind while keeping costs lower.
Above all, the extra care and love you put into homemade treats is what matters most! By taking the time to bake pup-approved goodies, you show your dog how much they mean to you. So feel confident in your choices - and know that your furry friend will happily gobble up anything you make.
