We make more decisions on what our dogs eat than ever before, largely because there is more choice. When we hear some of the terms that are used to describe dog food and treats, do we really understand them? Let’s break down the term human-grade dog food and what it really means in practice for our dogs.
What is Human-Grade?
Human-grade dog food is a term that has become popular to describe food that is technically edible for people, and at the same time can be delicious and nutritious for your dog. That’s a really simple definition, and once you delve into the terminology you will learn that there is a bit more to it.
In the regulations surrounding animal feed, “human-grade” doesn’t have a specific meaning other than something that is edible for humans. “Edible” is a measurable term. It means the food has passed certain regulations that would also be used to categorize the sort of food you’d find in the supermarkets. Manufacturers can only claim that their dog food products are “human-grade” if they meet the stringent requirements of human food, otherwise, they are misbranding their product.
So, what does this mean in practice?
We love our dogs, and we want them to have the best chance of a happy and healthy life. You wouldn’t feed your loved ones with food that isn’t fit for their consumption, and surely our pups deserve a rich diet to help them to be fit and healthy.
Why is Most Dog-Food Not Fit For Human Consumption?
Time for some home truths about most dog food and treats.
Most commercially available dog food is far from natural and healthy. In fact, the opposite is true. The raw materials used to make highly commercial pet food are simply the remains of Human food. Everything that is left from processing fresh raw materials into high-value products for Human consumption, is then used for dog food.
Imagine inviting your friends over and using what’s in your trash to make them dinner...awkward. This is how the pet food industry works.
The remains of food that are legally not appropriate for human consumption, leftovers from slaughterhouses, and low-quality fats from the oil industry are all used, along with the remains of the fruit and vegetable industry. They are usually devoid of any nutritional value at this stage, but they make it into pet food.
Many manufacturers then add synthetic materials like minerals, vitamins, preservatives, flavors, humectants, and coloring, to cover up for the lack of rich nutrients. Pets are the mammals on earth with the highest incidence of cancer. Is it any wonder when poor nutrition is so predominant?
The raw materials used in the pet industry are cheap, poor-quality, and have a higher incidence of contamination. These are the reasons why they're not deemed suitable for humans to eat.
In Europe, the legislation that regulates Human and Animal food is, in fact, mutually exclusive. They explicitly forbid one product to be labeled for both Human and Animal consumption.
These legislations are outdated and are a remnant of a time when it was accepted that dogs would have to eat poor-quality, second-rate food. They have remained outdated due to the fact that powerful industry leaders like to leave it that way. Their products are cheap to make, and sell well.
Although we can understand that the majority of dog food shouldn’t be eaten by humans, some technically could. Brands like LOONAWELL can’t ever fully express themselves and promote their products for both Humans and their pups. Although scientifically nutritious for both, we would be operating outside the legislation.
An additional complication is the regional differences in regulation. In the US, the claim “human-grade” has been regulated (the “edible” definition described above). While in Europe, there isn’t a legal definition. This can make it very difficult for wholesome and dedicated pet food brands to progress.
Can a Dog Owner Eat a LOONAWELL Treat?
Yes, absolutely. You might like it, or even find it delicious, but as we’ve explained in this article, we can’t promote the treats for both dogs and humans.
There is also the potential to generate confusion. Just because one small pet food brand makes treats that are suitable for human consumption, it isn’t safe to assume all brands are. This is certainly not the case. Even some luxuriously-branded treats are far from being suitable for human consumption.
Why Are Some Companies Using The “Human-Grade” Branding?
There are only a small number of companies using human-grade ingredients. The reason is simple; high cost.
It is very hard to compete in the market when you use high-quality raw materials. The companies, like LOONAWELL that use human-grade raw materials, are trying to bring new opportunities to the consumer and to raise awareness of the poor quality foods that the majority of pets have to put up with, and the risks of these low-quality ingredients. That is a titanic effort when 99% of the market is controlled by brands that do not have high standards for pets’ diets, and therefore very low prices.
To give a human-grade diet to a dog, you are almost always providing them with a far superior experience, both in terms of enjoyment, and their health. Dogs should not have to deal with offcast food that is deemed of no value to humans. They’re living things, too.
At LOONAWELL, our raw materials are exactly the same used in Human nutrition.
We start with organic fresh fruits and vegetables and use only the best organic grains and oils, and that is the reason why we don’t need to add synthetic ingredients. Our raw materials are rich in vitamins and minerals and smell absolutely fantastic.
At the core of LOONAWELL is the fact that every single ingredient we use needs to have a positive impact on your dog’s health. This core value sets us apart from every other brand. LOONAWELL is science and knowledge-driven, but not cost-driven.
At LOONAWELL, we set out to create genuinely healthy products, and science dictates the fact that we can’t do that with bad-quality ingredients. We also wanted our healthy products to be a culinary experience for our dogs, without the addition of any artificial flavors, humectants, and preservatives.
We want you, the dog owner, to be able to read an ingredient label without a scientific degree! Try reading your dog’s food and treats label and tell me how many ingredients you actually recognize. Not many, I bet.
At LOONAWELL, we taste every ingredient and final product. Personally, I love these delicious tasting sessions. We wouldn’t have achieved food that actually tastes good if we were to use poor-quality raw materials.
We have achieved all our goals and produce organic, human-grade quality dog treats. Your dog will love them, and so will you.
CHF. 6.50 If you are new to our LOONAWELL organic products and are unsure which kind of treat your dog will like the most, then this is the right product for you. With the Welcome Pack you receive one sachet from each… Read MoreWelcome Pack
