Human Grade Dog Food: What Is It & Why You Should Care

What is human grade dog food?

Unlike marketing buzzwords that carry no actual weight, the term “human grade” has been defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), an independent organization that develops standards for pet food, including ingredient definitions, label requirements and nutritional profiles.

Per AAFCO, for dog food to be labelled human grade, “every ingredient and the resulting product must be stored, handled, processed and transported in a manner that is consistent and compliant with 21 CFR part 117 (FDA rules governing human-food production) and those applicable federal human food laws as required by ingredient, process and/or facility type.” 

Put simply, human grade dog food is held to the same stringent safety and quality standards as human food—and is made according to the same regulations. This applies to its ingredients, the facility it’s manufactured in, and the way it is handled and stored.

Why is it better?

Although the research on human grade dog food is still in its early stages, there are a number of proven and potential benefits. Here are just a few of them:

It’s safer

Human grade dog food is manufactured in a facility with the same sanitation and quality control standards as human food. Unlike many pet food-grade facilities, these are held to strict federal regulations to ensure the food is safe for consumption, and are inspected daily by the USDA. There is no mandated USDA inspection frequency for finished pet food products or pet food facilities.

These rigorous safety checks and protocols ensure there’s no cross contamination, which is critical for dogs with specific allergies. They also minimize risk of contamination from harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli.

It’s better quality

Most dry and canned dog food is made to the standard of commercial animal “feed,” which isn’t held to the same quality control requirements as human grade, fresh dog food. Animal feed can also include ingredients that aren’t legally permitted in human food, like diseased meat that has undergone a high-heat process called rendering. (“Chicken meal,” “beef meal” and “meat meal” are all rendered products often found in kibble). Research has also shown that many kibble ingredient lists are not accurate—some contain ingredients that aren’t listed on their label, others are missing ingredients they claim to include. You won’t run into any of this with human grade food—especially human grade fresh dog food.

It’s good for your dog’s gut

Multiple studies have confirmed the highly digestible nature of human grade dog food ^1,2,3. In all instances, researchers theorized that because the ingredients are typically less processed, more nutrients stay intact and are available for absorption. The fact that dogs eating human grade dog food tend to have lower stool volume supports this theory: Lower stool volume is often an indicator that the food contains more absorbable nutrients and fewer fillers, resulting in less waste to excrete.

It’s more palatable

Although we can’t speak to this one from experience, the fact that human grade dog food contains fresh, whole ingredients with minimal processing suggests that it retains its flavor better than highly processed dog food, making it tastier and more appealing to dogs. Plus, many companies that sell human grade dog food offer a variety of recipes and menu customization—so you can choose the meals you know your dog will like best.

Where can I find human grade dog food?

Thanks to the growing popularity of human grade dog food, many brands now offer it. One of our personal favorites is The Farmer’s Dog. The Farmer’s Dog delivers gently cooked, fresh food featuring human grade meat and veggies directly to your door. Every step of their process, from the sourcing to the cooking to the packaging to the storing, meets the same standards required for human food. The food is made in facilities licensed to produce human food, alongside food made for humans. All the facilities hold a USDA Grant of Inspection and have USDA inspectors on-site to ensure the safety of the food, and every batch of food undergoes multiple safety checks to eliminate the possibility of harmful microbes and pathogens making their way into the food. The facilities are also sanitized after every cooking run to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and allergen exposure.

In addition to boasting all the benefits listed above, The Farmer’s Dog dishes out quite a few more:

• Recipes developed by board-certified nutritionists to be complete and balanced for all life stages.
• Food is lightly cooked to retain nutrients, and is clinically proven to be highly digestible.
• Large selection of recipes and personalized menus so there’s something for every dog.
• Individual serving packs are portioned to your dog’s unique caloric needs, making it easier to manage their weight—a critical factor in long-term health.
• Convenient home delivery and subscription services—no more running to the pet store.

1. Geary EL, Oba PM, Applegate CC, Clark LV, Fields CJ, Swanson KS. Effects of a mildly cooked human-grade dog diet on gene expression, skin and coat health measures, and fecal microbiota of healthy adult dogs. J Anim Sci. 2022 Oct 1;100(10):skac265. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac265. PMID: 35965387; PMCID: PMC9527297.
2. Oba PM, Utterback PL, Parsons CM, Swanson KS. True nutrient and amino acid digestibility of dog foods made with human-grade ingredients using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay. Transl Anim Sci. 2019 Dec 6;4(1):442-451. doi: 10.1093/tas/txz175. PMID: 32705002; PMCID: PMC6994059.
3. Do S, Phungviwatnikul T, de Godoy MRC, Swanson KS. Nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics, microbiota, and metabolites in dogs fed human-grade foods. J Anim Sci. 2021 Feb 1;99(2):skab028. doi: 10.1093/jas/skab028. PMID: 33511410; PMCID: PMC8611730.