Puppies require healthy, high-quality foods as they grow through this developmental stage. One of the best ways to ensure your puppy gets nutritious food is to look for dog food with the USDA Organic Label.
In truth, it’s pretty challenging to find purely organic puppy food on the market, despite what brand labels and product names say. Some pet foods contain human-grade food, while others boast free-range, ethically sourced ingredients.
So, to make your search easier, we’ve scoured the ingredient lists of many dog food brands and compiled a list of reviews of completely organic puppy foods and those that primarily use organic ingredients in their recipes.
We’ve also included helpful information that clears up the confusion about the marketing terms and keywords pet food companies use to describe their recipes as healthy, high-quality food.
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A Glance at Our Winners in 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | OrgaNOMics Salmon & Duck Dinner Grain-Free | CHECK PRICE | ||
Best Value  | Tender & True Organic Chicken Recipe | CHECK PRICE | ||
Premium Choice  | Side By Side Cooling Complete | CHECK PRICE | ||
| Evanger’s Organics Turkey | CHECK PRICE | |||
| Primal Puppy Dog Food | CHECK PRICE |
The 8 Best Organic Puppy Food
1. OrgaNOMics Salmon & Duck Dinner Grain-Free Pate Wet Dog Food – Best Overall
| Main Ingredients: | Salmon, duck, organic carrots, organic peas, organic sweet potatoes |
| Special Diet: | Sensitive digestion, limited ingredient diet, gluten-free, weight control, grain-free |
| Calories: | 347 kcal/can |
While the first couple of ingredients of this dog food may not be organic, OrgaNOMics Salmon & Duck Dinner Grain-Free Pate dog food still offers plenty of organic goodness, with the rest of their ingredients being organic. This dog food offers your puppy all the protein they need to grow healthy and strong with the addition of real salmon and duck, while the lack of grains makes this a suitable food for those pups with gluten sensitivities.
Plus, because this is a wet food, it provides your dog with extra moisture, so they stay hydrated after all that playing and running. Dog parents were pleased with this food, as they said many of their picky eaters loved it, and dogs with digestive issues seemed to have an easier time digesting it.
However, because this food is grain-free, it does contain peas, which may be a concern to some. A handful of dogs also suffered from diarrhea after eating this food.
- High-protein
- Wet food offers extra hydration
- Good for picky eaters and those with digestive problems
- Contains peas
- A few pups developed diarrhea after eating
2. Tender & True Organic Chicken & Liver Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food– Best Value
| Main Ingredients: | Organic chicken, organic chicken broth, organic chicken live |
| Special Diet: | For all life stages |
| Calories: | 350 kcal/can |
If you’re looking for an affordable formula that is USDA-certified organic, try the Tender & True Organic Chicken and Live Recipe. It’s a canned food that’s also certified by the Global Animal Partnership for its humanely raised chicken. It does not include artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
It’s made in the USA and features organic chicken as the first ingredient. It’s suitable for all life stages and is grain-free. Since most dogs don’t require grain-free diets, it’s best to consult your veterinarian before serving your dog a grain-free meal. Most puppies love the flavor of Tender & True, but several complained that the cans arrived damaged.
- Organic chicken and chicken meal are top ingredients
- Suitable for all life stages
- Relatively affordable
- Cans often arrive damaged
- Not appropriate for pups with chicken allergies
3. Side By Side Complete & Balanced Pork & Rabbit Wet Dog Food – Premium Choice
| Main Ingredients: | Pork bone broth, pork heart, whole rabbit |
| Special Diet: | Pea-free, weight control, non-GMO |
| Calories: | 860 kcal/package |
The Side By Side dog food recipe is a premium option that’s more expensive than other wet dog foods. However, the preparation of this food is meticulous, so it’s understandable why it’s so expensive. The food is prepared in small batches and is gently cooked over low heat to preserve its nutritional value. The recipe is also packed with plenty of protein, which is essential for puppies.
It contains no animal by-products, peas, corn, wheat, or soy. All the animal proteins in the recipe are pasture-raised and hormone-free. Another benefit is that Side By Side is great for all life stages, so your puppy can enjoy this meal and continue eating it as an adult.
However, it can get pretty expensive to feed it to your dog for every meal, especially for large breeds. So, you can also use it as a meal topper to save on costs.
- Slow-cooked to preserve nutrients
- Made in small batches for quality control
- High-protein diet
- Suitable for all life stages
- Very expensive
4. Evanger’s Organics Turkey with Potato & Carrots Canned Dog Food
| Main Ingredients: | Organic turkey, organic chicken broth, organic potatoes |
| Special Diet: | No corn, no wheat, no soy, gluten-free, grain-free, pea-free, non-GMO |
| Calories: | 384 kcal/can |
This high-quality recipe has a very simple ingredient list that’s easy for puppies to digest. It meets the requirements for nutritional levels for dogs of all life stages, so your puppy can enjoy this food into adulthood. Evanger’s recipe doesn’t have the USDA Organic Label, but it has received organic certification from Oregon Tilth, which is an Accredited Certifying Agent (ACA) for the USDA’s National Organic Program.
It also has been certified and endorsed by the Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC) as kosher. The vegetables used in this recipe are those that most dogs prefer to eat, so picky eaters can also enjoy this meal. However, the biggest issue you might encounter is the food’s texture. It’s a smooth pâté, so it’s great for senior dogs, but it may not be as appealing to some puppies as chunky formulas. Some customer reviews also mentioned that the pâté can be a bit dry, and they sometimes have to add additional water.
- Very simple ingredient list
- Approved as Kosher
- Contains ingredients most dogs enjoy eating
- Suitable for all life stages
- Bland texture
- Some cans may contain drier pâté
5. Primal Puppy Dog Food, Freeze Dried Dog Food
| Main Ingredients: | Chicken (with ground bone), chicken liver, beef (with ground bone) |
| Special Diet: | No lentils, legumes, or synthetic vitamins |
| Calories: | 285 kcal/cup |
Primal Puppy Dog Food features cage-free chicken as the first ingredient, and it’s a USDA-certified organic formula. It also contains salmon, beef, organic squash, organic carrots, and organic apples. You can add water to the pellets to make them more appealing to your puppy or serve them as a topper or treat.
The formula doesn’t contain legumes, lentils, synthetic vitamins, or soy. The freeze-dried raw ingredients are safe for puppies, but since most raw foods are only suitable for adults, you may want to speak to your veterinarian to ensure Primal is okay for your pup.
Most pet parents were happy with the Primal Puppy Dog Food, but since it’s lower in calories than many puppy formulas, it may not be suitable for high-energy canines.
- Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient
- USDA-certified organic
- Can be served as a meal, treat, or topper
- Low in calories
- Raw food my not be suitable for all puppies
6. Newman’s Own Organics Chicken Dinner For Dogs
| Main Ingredients: | Organic chicken, organic chicken broth, tricalcium phosphate |
| Special Diet: | No wheat, no corn |
| Calories: | 473 kcal/can |
Like other Newman’s Own products, 100% of the Newman’s Own Organic Chicken Dinner profits go to charity. The formula is certified by the USDA as organic and contains no artificial flavors or additives. Organic chicken is the first ingredient, but the organic pea flour and guar gum are too prominent in the recipe.
They aren’t unsuitable ingredients, but they’re near the top of the recipe, which means they are present in larger quantities than the subsequent ingredients. However, dogs seem to love the flavor, and some customers mentioned that the chicken formula is similar to the discontinued chicken and rice formula.
The biggest issue with the Newman’s Own recipe is the availability. Several flavors are no longer produced, and several customers mentioned that the cans often arrive damaged.
- USDA-certified organic
- Contains no artificial flavors or additives
- Organic chicken is the first ingredient
- Limited availability
- Cans often arrive damaged
7. The Honest Kitchen Beef Recipe Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food
- Use code 15DOGSTER to SAVE 15% on your first order over $30 on thehonestkitchen.com
| Main Ingredients: | Dehydrated beef, dehydrated sweet potatoes, dehydrated potatoes |
| Special Diet: | High-protein, grain-free, gluten-free, no corn, no wheat, no soy, human-grade, non-GMO, pea-free, chicken-free |
| Calories: | 514 kcal/cup |
The Honest Kitchen is another pet food company that doesn’t fully utilize organic ingredients in its dog food. However, they’re slowly working toward adding more organic produce to their recipes. This recipe uses non-GMO and hormone-free foods. It also contains organic flaxseed and dried organic coconut.
Although the Honest Kitchen’s recipes aren’t fully organic, the company prides itself in using high-quality food prepared in human-grade facilities. It features ranch-raised beef, and all the food is gently dehydrated to retain nutrients and flavor.
The Beef Recipe is suitable for dogs of all ages, and puppies, in particular, will enjoy it because it’s relatively easy to digest. It also doesn’t contain any chicken, so it’s completely safe for puppies with chicken allergies.
- Rich in flavor and nutrients
- Hon-GMO and hormone-free
- Chicken-free
- Contains organic flaxseed and dried organic coconut
- Prepared in human-grade facilities
- Not fully organic
8. Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food
| Main Ingredients: | Chicken, chicken livers, organic carrots |
| Special Diet: | Grain-free, gluten-free, no corn, no wheat, no soy, raw, pea-free |
| Calories: | 127 kcal/oz |
Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food doesn’t use organic meat products, but all the produce in the recipe is organic. It’s comforting to see all the organic whole foods in the ingredient list, but it’s also a little concerning because it’s a long list of ingredients.
Many ingredients, such as ground alfalfa, apple cider vinegar, and kelp, aren’t naturally appealing to dogs. However, we can’t confidently say that most puppies will enjoy eating this recipe. You can rest assured that you’re still feeding your puppy high-quality ingredients. Although the chicken isn’t organic, it’s free of antibiotics, hormones, and steroids.
The formula is a high-protein diet, which is what puppies generally need. Due to the high percentage of protein, we recommend consulting your veterinarian first to ensure that this recipe is safe for your puppy to eat regularly.
- Uses organic produce
- Chicken is free of antibiotics, hormones, and steroids
- High-protein diet
- Complex ingredient list
- May contain too much protein
- Contains flavors dogs don’t naturally like
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Organic Food for Puppies
What Makes Food Organic?
The “organic food” label is subjective, and different countries have various standards for what conditions and procedures qualify food as organic. Here’s a breakdown of the USDA’s requirements for organic meat, organic produce, and mixed-ingredient organic food.
Organic Meat
The USDA acknowledges meat as organic when the animals are raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviors, such as grazing and foraging. The animals must also only consume 100% organic feed and forage. Lastly, farmers cannot give the animals any antibiotics or hormones.
Organic Produce
Organic produce has strict requirements as well. First, the produce must grow on soil with no USDA-prohibited substances added to it at least 3 years before harvesting. Also, the process of growing the produce must not include synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
In some cases, a grower may have to use a synthetic fertilizer. To use it legally, the grower must first receive approval from the USDA before administering it to the produce.
Mixed-Ingredient Organic Food
When it comes to organic food with mixed ingredients, it must contain 100% organic ingredients and be free of artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. There are some minor exceptions if a food contains non-agricultural ingredients. For example, baking soda doesn’t have to be organic in baked goods.
Some formulas include a “Made with Organic” label. That doesn’t mean that the food is 100% organic. It means that at least 70% of the food’s ingredients are organic.
Human-Grade vs. USDA Organic
Many pet foods boast the use of human-grade ingredients. While this sounds nice, human-grade food doesn’t live up to the standards of the USDA Organic certification. For example, consider all the junk food options that humans can eat. There are also many types of foods that humans can eat that make dogs sick, such as garlic, grapes, and chocolate.
It’s also important to note the term “human-grade” is unclear and doesn’t have a set definition. According to the Association of American Food Control Officials (AAFCO), “human-grade” isn’t an official standard in animal feed regulations.
Therefore, human-grade food is still a bit ambiguous. However, it’s different from ingredients the USDA defines as “edible.” “Edible” food must be completely safe for humans to eat. Overall, if you’re interested in buying human-grade pet food, just make sure that you read through the pet food brand’s ingredient information to get a clear understanding of how it defines its human-grade ingredients.
Non-GMO vs. USDA Organic
The difference between non-GMO food and USDA Organic food is relatively simple. As we’ve mentioned earlier, USDA Organic food doesn’t contain any GMOs, antibiotics, herbicides, toxic chemicals, or other prohibited products. All animals must eat certified organic foods and feed and live in conditions that accommodate their natural habits.
Non-GMO foods simply mean that the food doesn’t contain any GMOs. So, it doesn’t necessarily have to pass all the strict requirements of USDA Organic food to receive a non-GMO label.
Does My Puppy Need Organic Food?
Receiving the USDA Organic stamp of approval takes a lot of work, and it’s also difficult to find pet food companies that sell completely organic dog food. So, is the search worth it? The answer is nuanced. Dog food with the USDA Organic Label will only contain organic ingredients, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the ingredients are highly nutritious for dogs.
For example, the Tender & True Organic Grain-Free Chicken & Liver Recipe lists organic tapioca starch as one of its main ingredients. Even if tapioca starch is organic, it’s still not very nutritious. Non-organic freeze-dried broccoli could add more nutritional value to a recipe.
Currently, there isn’t enough research that definitively states that organic food is significantly better than other types of dog food. However, foods with the USDA Organic Label give owners peace of mind, knowing the food was prepared in high-quality conditions.
So, if you can afford the higher prices of organic dog food, your puppy will likely enjoy it. Organic dog food can also be helpful for dogs with severe food allergies and sensitivities.
If you’re having trouble accessing organic puppy food or are concerned about expenses, it’s reasonable to buy a brand containing high-quality ingredients at a more affordable price. There are plenty of non-organic puppy food recipes that exceed or adequately meet nutritional requirements. Every dog is unique in their nutritional needs, so we recommend reaching out to your vet for advice.
If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
How We Selected These Organic Puppy Foods
This buyer’s guide was carefully crafted by our writers and editors in collaboration with our team of in-house veterinarians. The puppy foods reviewed here are rated on a combination of factors: brand reputation, customer reviews across multiple retail outlets, personal experience, and in some cases, feedback from our own dogs! Together, we choose and review only the best puppy foods available, to help you make the most informed decisions that foster the well-being of your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online since 2004, which means we have a lot of experience with puppy foods. We are a team of passionate dog owners who care about our pups as much as you do yours. We want the best for every canine on the planet. Dogster’s writers, editors, and veterinarians are deeply invested in the well-being of our pets, and we believe that all pet owners share this dedication to providing only the highest quality products and services for our dogs.
Final Thoughts
We discussed several excellent brands, but our favorite organic puppy food was the OrgaNOMics Salmon & Duck Dinner Grain-Free Pate dog food. It features lamb as the first ingredient and 90% of the protein comes from animal sources. Our best value pick was the Tender & True Organic Chicken and Liver Recipe. It’s USDA-certified organic and contains no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Overall, organic puppy food is an excellent option if you want to give your puppy the best. However, speaking to your veterinarian about portioning tips to ensure your puppy stays fit and healthy is best.
- You Might Also Be Interested In:10 Best Natural Dog Foods – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Switlana Sonyashna, Shutterstock
