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The Awakening: See What Happens When Pets Uncover The Truth Behind Their Food
Our food is getting healthier, so why isn’t our pet’s? This was the question that inspired Freshpet in creating a new standard…
Aug 14, 2019
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Formulation and Cooking Process

 

Q: Is the food formulated by a veterinary nutritionist and does the company employ a nutritionist?  How do you make sure you provide pets with all the nutrients they need during their different life stages?
A: Freshpet has a nutrition panel and employs qualified individuals with strong technical abilities in the nutrition and food science industry which also includes one of our team members in the research and development department who has a degree in Veterinary Medicine and a Ph.D. in Applied Biochemistry and Food Science.

Q: Do you perform nutritional feeding studies to confirm the acceptability, digestibility and nutritional performance of the product?
A: Freshpet conducts AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) feeding trials to confirm the nutritional adequacy of our products.  We also conduct regular palatability testing to make sure that our products are delicious as well as nutritious.

Q: Is the food raw or cooked?  And how do you ensure your product does not contain harmful bacteria, such as salmonella?
A: Freshpet products are gently cooked with temperatures exceeding pastuerization. Micro swabs and pre-operational inspections of our equipment and work areas are carried out by qualified individuals to ensure cleanliness and sanitation prior to startup and cooking of our batches.  In-house and 3rd party micro labs are used for pathogen (i.e. Salmonella) and non-pathogen testing.  The micro testing is extensive for food, food contact areas, and the plant environment.

Product is subject to numerous documented quality checks and is reviewed by management prior to product being released for shipment.  These checks include but are not limited to: analytical testing including moisture, protein, fat, and pH, organoleptic evaluations, visual inspections, modified atmosphere testing, and seal integrity on our pouches and film.

Additionally, pre-requisite programs for pest control, foreign material control, and environmental monitoring have been established to ensure the integrity of our products from start to finish.