Pet Owners Embrace Natural Food Trend

For many people, their pets are their best friends who"The growth of natural products is making its way to
deserve the best care possible. This includes feedingthe pet food aisle, as more and more responsible
them a high-quality food to ensure they are getting allowners are making the same healthy food choices for
the nutrition they need to be healthy inside and out.their pets as they are for themselves," said Warren
Last year, U.S. consumers spent nearly $15 billion onEckstein, an internationally known pet and animal
food for their pets, according to the American Petexpert and Purina One spokesman.
Products Manufacturers Association. And as morePurina One Natural Blends dog and cat food is made
people choose organic and natural foods forwith high-quality, natural ingredients formulated to
themselves, they are also choosing natural foods fordeliver a healthy difference in pets' energy level, skin
their pets. Industry research shows that natural andand coat, teeth, gums and digestion. The line features
organic pet food products are growing at 20 percentChicken and Oat Meal and Lamb and Barley formulas
a year.for dogs and a Chicken and Oat Meal formula for
That growth promises to be even stronger with thecats. The ingredients are carefully selected for their
arrival of natural pet foods on supermarket shelves.nutrient content and steam-cooked at the start at an
Previously, such foods were available only from petoptimal time and temperature to help maintain vitamins,
specialty and natural food retailers.minerals and flavors, according to the manufacturer.
Purina One Natural Blends, launched in March, is theAll include protein sources to help support strong
first natural pet food with broad national distribution inmuscles; whole grains for digestive health; and omega
grocery stores and mass merchandisers, as well asfatty acids from natural sources, including canola and
pet specialty retailers.soy oils for healthy skin and coat.