Pet owners embrace natural food trend

For many people, their pets are their best friends who deserve the best care possible. This includes feeding them a high-quality food to ensure they are getting all the nutrition they need to be healthy inside and out.

Last year, U.S. consumers spent nearly $15 billion on food for their pets, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. As more people choose organic and natural foods for themselves, they are also choosing natural foods for their pets. Industry research shows that natural and organic pet food products are growing at 20 percent a year.

That growth promises to be even stronger with the arrival of natural pet foods on supermarket shelves. Previously, such foods were available only from pet specialty and natural food retailers.

"The growth of natural products is making its way to the pet food aisle, as more and more responsible owners are making the same healthy food choices for their pets as they are for themselves," said Warren Eckstein, a pet and animal expert.

This story provided by NewsUSA.