The Truth About "All Natural" Dog Treats

Walk down any pet-store aisle and you’ll see the same word everywhere: “Natural.”
It’s printed in bold fonts, stamped with leaves or barns, and often priced like it means something special.
But here’s the truth — in the pet-treat world, “natural” doesn’t always mean what you think it does.

1. “Natural” Is Barely Regulated

In human food, the FDA loosely defines “natural.”
In pet products, that definition is even more flexible.
As long as an ingredient originated from a plant, animal, or mined source — even if it’s been heavily processed — it can legally be called natural.

That means a bag labeled “All-Natural Chicken Treats” could still contain:

  • Rendered chicken meal instead of real meat

  • Added flavoring agents to imitate freshness

  • Preservatives derived from “natural sources” but still synthetic in effect

The word sounds clean. The product might not be.

2. The Greenwashing Problem

Brands know most owners want better for their dogs.
So they use marketing language — “farm fresh,” “crafted,” “premium,” “natural” — to create a healthy image without changing the formula.
This tactic is called greenwashing: making a product look eco-friendly or wholesome through design and wording, not through actual ingredient quality.

Typical signs of greenwashing in dog treats:

  • Vague ingredient lists (“natural flavors,” “meat by-product”)

  • Brown paper packaging or farm-style fonts with no sourcing details

  • Claims like “Made with real chicken” when chicken powder is the last ingredient

3. What to Look for Instead

If you want genuinely clean treats, skip the buzzwords and focus on the facts printed in the ingredients panel.

Here’s what matters:

What to Check Why It Matters
Short ingredient list Fewer ingredients = less room for fillers or chemicals.
Named proteins Look for “beef liver” or “salmon,” not “meat meal” or “animal protein.”
No preservatives or added flavor A quality drying process (like freeze-drying) preserves food naturally.
Transparent sourcing Honest brands tell you where ingredients come from.
Processing method Freeze-dried or raw-inspired methods retain nutrients without high heat.

If a brand hides behind vague terms or flashy claims, it’s hiding something bigger.

4. How We Define “Natural” at Primal Treats

For us, natural means nothing added and nothing artificial — ever.
Each treat starts with a single, whole ingredient: wild-caught, pasture-raised, or organic produce.
We use freeze-drying instead of high-heat baking or preservatives to keep nutrients intact and shelf life stable.

No flavor powders. No color dyes. No shortcuts.
Just real food, gently preserved.

5. The Bottom Line

When it comes to your dog’s nutrition, clarity beats claims.
Don’t trust what’s printed on the front of the bag — read what’s on the back.
The closer the treat is to its natural, unprocessed form, the better it is for your dog’s body and mind.

That’s the standard we hold every bag of Primal Treats to.

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