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Many pet food brands claim their goods are human-grade, but what does this term imply? Compared to regular dog food, is human-grade dog food better for your dog’s health? The Farmers Dog is among the top brands offering human-grade options that meet AAFCO standards and cater to your pet’s nutritional needs.
The term “human-grade” has recently become popular in the pet food market. With over 600 established brands vying for the attention of pet owners, the human-grade dog food market is expected to reach $195 billion by 2027. This is a lot of information, so we consulted with multiple veterinarians to get their thoughts on human-grade dog food and any advice they might have for you if you decide to give it a go. Let’s see what pet meals mean when they say they’re human-grade, including what they use, how they’re made, what kinds of packaging they come in, and if they help pets.
What does it mean to be human-grade pet food like farmers dog?
You might mistakenly believe that human-grade dog food is meant for humans. This is false! According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials, food for human consumption must adhere to stringent federal standards set by the FDA and the USDA. “Edible” refers to foods that fulfill all requirements. The AAFCO states that a pet food product can be branded as “human-grade” if it satisfies the same criteria as “edible,” but it clarifies, “Edible is a standard; human-grade is not.”
Factories that make food for humans and those that feed animals are different. Production facilities for animal feed have always been exempt from regulations about sanitation and substances used in human meals. I’ll be coming up on it shortly.
If a pet food brand says its food is human grade, that means it’s subject to the same standards as dog or cat food. The government entity responsible for overseeing pet food production is the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
Pet food items were once prepared in the same factories that made feed for cattle, using feed-grade components. However, with the development of the pet food market, they have come to understand that pet owners desire the healthiest options for their beloved animals. Using human food to feed animals is a regressive practice that our great-grandparents engaged in.
How Human-Grade Dog Food like farmers dog benefits Your Pet?
Pet food production is not subject to the same stringent regulations as human food. Produced with a focus on maintaining compliance with relevant standards, human-edible foods are more likely to use premium ingredients and be free of contaminants than their pet-oriented counterparts.
While AAFCO and the FDA set minimal standards for pet food, manufacturers can use ingredients and methods that go beyond those standards. This remains true whether the pet food is marked as human-grade or not.
The most significant issue with the term “human-grade” is that it does not specify whether dog food comprises all the necessary nutrients. You wouldn’t know if a diet of human-grade potatoes, chicken, and supplements would satisfy your dog’s nutritional requirements unless you had further information whether human-grade or not, dog food must have a statement on the label indicating that it is complete and balanced.
The farmers dog and other 4 Human-Grade Dog Food Choices
After deciding that a dog food designed for humans is what your pet requires, the next step is to figure out what kind of food your pet can eat. These brands provide dog food that is suitable for human consumption and meets the nutritional requirements set by the AAFCO. Dogs can choose from various dry and wet options in addition to several variations of dehydrated human-grade dog food from these brands.
1. Farmer’s Dog
We agree that the farmers dog is an excellent choice for your puppy because veterinarians adore it. Everything is prepared from scratch, cooked slowly (i.e., at a low temperature), and then frozen to ensure freshness until it reaches your doorstep. They even have a do-it-yourself option, giving you recipes to follow and then adding their exclusive Nutrient Mix. Proteins used in The Farmer’s Dog have been USDA-approved, and the dog has also passed AAFCO inspection. While it is true that you will need to fill out a questionnaire before you can see the recipes they suggest for your puppy, this isn’t always a negative thing because everything is based on your dog’s age and health. You may either reheat or serve the pre-portioned meals right away.
Human-grade food apart from Farmers Dog
2. Ollie
Ollie is an excellent substitute for processed dry food for dogs that are finicky eaters but still require some crunch. Sure, they offer great human-grade recipes certified by AAFCO, but you’re free to combine different flavors of their baked dry food. Ollie’s crew makes their wares in small batches at their Minnesota facility using fresh ingredients purchased from the United States (the lamb they use comes from the United States, New Zealand, and Australia). The shelf life of perishable foods is extended by up to four days if placed in the refrigerator.
3. JustFoodForDogs
If you’d like some say over the human-grade components used to make your dog’s food, JustFoodForDogs is another fantastic choice. Their dishes appear well-suited to certain health concerns, and veterinarians created them. Additionally, this business claims to be able to undercut competing brands’ prices by sourcing directly from human-grade suppliers. In addition to their substantial research, part of their aim is to continue researching the best ways to provide dogs with excellent nourishment. They’ve already discovered that their food is 40% easier for dogs to digest than conventional kibble from the shop. Lastly, if you want to try out a recipe but don’t want to commit to a plan, you can purchase it anyway.
4. Spot & Tango
Spot & Tango offers both fresh food and kibble. Fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains are all part of the “human-grade” fresh food free of additives and preservatives. The kibble looks like regular dog food after being dried and baked in a vacuum at low temperatures. Keep the opened kibble in a cool, dark spot and utilize it within three or four weeks. The perishable fresh food items will be sent frozen after being portioned and packaged separately.
5. Nom Nom
The pet food industry-standard AAFCO guidelines are the basis for the recipes developed by Nom Nom’s in-house veterinary nutritionist. Despite the lack of a review for Nom Nom, the company employs a full-time veterinary nutritionist. The meals should be refrozen before consumption because they are delivered frozen. The separate packaging of the meals makes meal preparation and storage much simpler and less hassle, so be sure you have enough room in your freezer for them. If your second order is delayed, you can prepare ahead of time by taking advantage of Nom Nom’s seven complimentary backup meals that come with your second order.
Is feeding your dog “human grade” dog food a sign of adore?
The growing acclimatization of pets to human culture has led many pet owners to label food that satisfies human food safety requirements as human grade and offer their pets this type of food as a kind gesture. Some companies are making dry foods with many ingredients that are safe for humans in line with this idea. Furthermore, the number of canned foods with identical components to human food is increasing, leading to competition between human and pet food.
Dogs and humans have different dietary needs
One important question to address when evaluating dog food is, “Does the food contain all the nutrients my dog needs without excess or deficiency?” Dogs and humans have different calorie and nutritional requirements. No dog could sustain healthy development or body composition if fed a human diet since dogs would either be deficient in or too supplied with certain nutrients. “Human grade” doesn’t necessarily mean feeding the same food as humans, so be careful what you give your dog.
Final Thoughts
Consult your veterinarian if you still have doubts. Based on your pet’s specific needs, they will give recommendations after reviewing his medical history. We conclude that owners should feed their pets the best food they can afford. Just like you, we take great pride in the well-being of our dogs. Because of this, we have decided that the farmers dog is the best brand out of all of them. They provide balanced, freshly prepared pet food using easy recipes guided by science and love. Other choices are also good, so you can select them too.
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