Hello,

The Dog Food Advisor has one goal: your dogs’ good health. This is why we impartially review dog food, alert you to dog food recalls and monitor safety news in the dog food industry.

Rightly so, reports of recalls and possible problems with dog foods get a lot of publicity. This is understandable and can sometimes do a lot of good.

But it's also worth highlighting the measures dog food manufacturers can and do use to make dog food safe.

We spoke to Braeden Ruud, the co-founder and CEO of Raised Right, a 5-star-rated dog and cat food brand — and a company seen by many nutritionists as a leader in pet food safety.

The result is this article, in which he addresses the key measures dog food producers can put in place to maximize safety: How the Best Dog Food Brands Avoid Recalls.

Here’s a summary of those measures (although we strongly suggest reading the full article).

The Human-Grade Standard

"Each ingredient must pass the higher standards needed for human consumption and the food must be made in a USDA-inspected human-grade facility that is also registered as both an FDA animal food facility and an FDA human food facility. Raised Right is certified human-grade."

Lab Safety Batch Testing

"Testing the food for pathogens like E.coli, listeria, and salmonella is a very important step for food safety. Some companies test each batch they produce, some perform random testing every few months, and some don’t test at all. Raised Right implements rapid swab testing during each production run, with every batch tested by a third-party lab."

Hold-Release Program

"To prevent a problem before it becomes one, companies can implement a hold-release program, where each batch of food doesn’t leave their facility until they receive negative test results. If a batch tests positive for pathogens, it can be disposed of before it leaves their facility and, more importantly, before any dog eats it. Our food doesn’t ship unless it passes the lab safety test."

Nutritional Analysis Testing

"While it’s important to make sure the food you’re feeding your dog is made as safely as possible, it’s also important to know that the food contains the nutrients necessary to meet AAFCO’s standards for a complete & balanced diet. 

"While most dog foods are formulated using computer software that contains the nutritional data of each ingredient to balance the recipes, some companies go a step further and do nutritional analysis testing on their finished product to prove that their formulation method works."

Transparency

"Transparency breeds trust, but it also makes brands raise standards. If they’re going to be open about their ingredients and lab results, then these need to be of the highest quality. Raised Right chooses to openly post the test results from each batch on our website for everyone to see. An interactive map allows you to trace each ingredient to its source."

You can read everything Braeden says in the article here. You can also browse our list of Best Fresh Dog Foods.

Have you tried Raised Right? We’d love to know your thoughts on it or any other brand you've tried.

Don’t forget, you can get an exclusive 20% of your first 16-bag box of Raised Right with the code PETS20.

Take care,

The DFA Team
The Dog Food Advisor
Saving Good Dogs From Bad Dog Food