Is Human Grade Food Good For Dogs

What Do People Like And Dislike About Tylees Dog Food

People like the ease of preparation of Tylees recipes. The ingredients are simple and human-grade, so its an automatic upgrade from bargain kibbles.

Many dogs love the taste of the whole, cooked ingredients, and being able to serve it warm was a huge thing for the pickiest dogs. Almost all dogs loved the flavor and texture while many experienced a reduction in allergy symptoms overall.

Surely, the biggest issue with Tylee’s recipes is its premium selling price. On average, servings come out to about $3 per cup, which is uneconomical, to say the least, for most consumers, especially those that buy in bulk kibbles.

But some pet parents believe the high-premium recipes are worth the price because its numerous health benefits save them from vet expenses, especially with the usual skin and dietary issues associated with food sensitivities.

Other common complaints are concerning packaging and storage. Tylees arrives frozen, so its packed in a material designed to slow down thawing. It also comes with dry ice. But it’s recommended that you coordinate the delivery times so that it doesnt sit out all day.

What Human Food Is Good For Dogs

What people food can dogs eat? will generate a much longer list of possibilities than the question What human food is good for dogs? Here is a list of foods that are not only safe for your dog but are also GOOD for them. However, it is possible to have too much of a good thing, so always serve in moderation.

Tylee’s Human Grade Pork Recipe

Rating: 4.1 out of 5

First 5 Ingredients:

Tylee’s Human-Grade Pork Recipe Frozen Dog Food is an excellent super-premium diet for your canine companion that features real, human-grade, whole foods frozen to retain their freshness.

This recipe is actually dual-protein, as it includes beef liver as well. Made of mainly USDA-grade pork, this healthy recipe also includes minimally processed fruits and veggies like carrots, broccoli, kale, butternut squash, pineapple, and dried kelp.

This meal is rich in natural fibers and essential vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your dog’s wellness.

Omega fatty acid-rich ingredients such as salmon oil powder, cod liver oil powder, ground flaxseeds, and rosemary extract are included to support dogs skin, coat, heart, and brain health. Free from cheap fillers, this recipe is great for dogs sensitive to grains, gluten, and artificial enhancers.

This pork recipe is suitable for dogs of all life stages, breeds, and sizes. Simply defrost and serve to your pup to give them the health benefits of a home-cooked meal without the labor-intensive preparation of making it from scratch. This recipe has a minimum crude protein of 12% and minimum crude fat of 8%.

Pork heart is the first whole food in this recipe. It is highly nutritious and flavorful. Hearts contain a concentrated source of the super-nutrient CoQ10, as well as taurine, an essential amino acid.

Also Check: Iams Woof Delights

Are Human Grade Pet Foods Really Human Grade

At the Association of American Feed Control Officials mid-year meeting held in Anaheim, California, USA, a question was asked during the Pet Food Committee meeting on January 23, 2018. It was a seemingly straightforward question: Can we simply remove the word edible from the definition and claims for human grade pet foods, since all human foods are edible?

The question may appear to be simple to a layperson or consumer however, the answer does decide who should or would have jurisdiction over the manufacturing of the pet foods versus jurisdiction over the claims: the US Department of Agriculture , Food and Drug Administration or the state. Additionally, there still appears to be some confusion on how pet food companies can make human grade claims and what the implications are. As a result, the Pet Food Committee asked to pull together a Human Grade Claims Committee to further review implications and potential gaps.

Are All Human Grade Pet Foods Actually Human Grade

On January 17, 2018, Tim Wall broke the story that Just Food for Dogs recalled three dog foods for Listeria. If you visit the Just Food for Dogs website, it proudly states, that 100 percent of the ingredients in our Beef & Potato Recipe are approved for human consumption. Additionally, All of our healthy food for dogs is made by hand in small batches in our Southern California kitchens. Even in its FDA recall letter, the company states, JFFD uses 100 percent USDA and other restaurant-grade ingredients in all of its pet food. All of these claims seem to fit the AAFCO guidelines for human grade claims, correct? Not exactly.

You May Like: Can You Use Food Stamps For Dog Food

Good Enough To Eat The Truth About Human Grade Pet Food

Several years ago a new trend started in pet food. Some pet food companies wanted to advertise that their food is made using “human grade” ingredients. Pet food had always been made with “feed grade” ingredients.

What’s the difference? “Human grade” sounds like what it is. Fit for human consumption. Although, technically, there is no legal definition for this term. “Feed grade” means that the food cannot be legally sold as food for humans. Up until this time, dog food was for dogs. Cat food was for cats. And people food was for, well, people.

Your pets are a part of your family. So, you want to feed them the best food possible. You may like the idea of feeding your pet something that you could eat yourself. But when it comes to pet food, what does “human grade” really mean? Does a food labeled “made with human-grade ingredients” mean the food is better? What, if any difference does this mean for the health of your dog and cat?

Food is either fit for human consumption or it is not. In order for a pet food to be labeled human grade, all ingredients in the final product must be approved for people to eat. Very few pet food companies can make this claim.

What is the difference between human grade and feed grade? Feed grade is used in pet foods. Feed grade means that it cannot legally be sold as human food. One of the reasons is that the finished product may contain by-products.

What Is Human Grade Dog Food & What Does It Mean

When it comes to feeding their dogs, many pet parents find themselves wondering what nutrition choices are the best for their dog among the variety of options and diets out there today. Youve likely heard plenty about grain-free diets and natural dog foods, but you might be wondering: What is human-grade dog food?

Human-grade dog food is currently a loose term to describe food that is edible for people and, therefore, can sound like it could be a nutritious option for your pup. Keep in mind, however, that when it comes to human-grade dog food products, theres more to this term than the connotation that comes to mind, and researching the options available is something that must be done with some care.

Don’t Miss: Which Is Better Purina Or Pedigree

Spot Farms Human Grade Dog Food

Next up is the collection of dehydrated human grade dog food from Spot Farms. They also offer a large selection of formulas, including chicken, turkey, beef, duck, and pork. Every recipe is a farm to dog bowl fresh, as they are made with wholesome ingredients that are sourced from antibiotic, GMO-free, and grain free sources. For example, their pork recipe features antibiotic-free pork that was raised on a family farm in Iowa! Now thats fresh food!

Other ingredients featured in Spot Farms Human Grade Dog Food include fresh fruits and vegetables, like apples, pometranate, spinach, and blueberries, as well as lentils and flaxseed. Made for breeds of all ages and sizes, the human grade food from this manufacturer will offer your dog the nutrients that he needs to thrive. All recipes are grain, antibiotic, and preservative free, and they are also free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Most pet parents say that they are very pleased with the human grade food offered by this manufacturer.

What We Like About It

• Grain and antibiotic free
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
• A variety of recipes are available
• All ingredients are sourced from the USA
• Offers the vital nutrition that your pet needs

Reasons to Complain

• Again, the price is pretty high

Next Topic: Do Aafco Feeding Trials Matter

Next time we will discuss, Do AAFCO feeding trials matter? If there are topics you would like to have discussed, feel free to comment below or reach out via LinkedIn: .

Association of American Feed Control Officials. 2018 Official Publication

CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21

California Health and Safety Code Section 113060

California Health and Safety Code Section 113025

California Human Food Safety Act

• January 2021

  In the January 2021 issue of Petfood Industry, read about forecasted trends for 2022 and other topics.

Read Also: Mixing Canned And Dry Dog Food

How Do You Store Human

Unlike dry kibble that uses preservatives to last, youll need some space in your fridge or freezer for your fresh, human-grade dog food. Pet Plate meals, for example, arrive at your door frozen. Youll need to defrost the container in the fridge or microwave once defrosted, it should be kept in the fridge and used within 5 days.

What Does Human Grade Mean

According to the American Association of Feed Control Officials , there is no strict definition for the term human grade as provided by animal feed regulations. This isnt surprising, however, because human-grade products are generally not intended for use in feeding animals.

The main distinction you have to keep in mind is whether the product is considered edible for humans this is a standard set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture . In fact, there are two ways to categorize food products, according to the USDA:

• Human Grade This term is used to describe finished products that are legally suitable and approved for human consumption .
• Feed Grade This term applies to products that are not considered suitable for human consumption and can legally only be used to feed animals. If any of the ingredients or the processes used in manufacturing the product do not meet human grade standards, the product is deemed feed-grade.

OUR TOP 3 PICKS FOR HUMAN-GRADE DOG FOODS

In addition to there being a clear distinction between human grade and feed-grade products, there is also a difference between products that are deemed human grade and those that are made with human-grade ingredients.

A product can only carry the official human grade label if it is made from human-grade ingredients AND processed in a human food facility.

Read Also: Pedigree Vs Purina One

Human Grade Dog Food: Take Away Points

As with the earlier studies, these results suggest that foods made with human-grade ingredients that are produced with minimal processing perform well when fed to dogs. This is information that dog owners can use when evaluating and selecting healthful foods for their dogs.

In my opinion, we still need controlled studies that tease out and quantify the respective influences of food processing versus initial ingredient quality. However, we do have a growing body of evidence telling us that both processing and ingredient quality matter in pet foods a lot. Moreover, these papers, published in academic, refereed journals, and either conducted or supported by actual pet food companies, provide great examples of industry transparency that is sadly often in short supply. Which brings me to my soap box

1. 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.Journal of Animal Science 2020 4:442-451.

2. Do S, Phungviwatniku T, de Godoy MRC, Swanson KS. Nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics, microbiota, and metabolites in dogs fed human-grade foods.Journal of Animal Science 2021 99

3. Tanprasertsuk J, Perry LM, Tate DE, Honaker RW, Shmalberg J. Apparent total tract nutrient digestibility and metabolizable energy estimation in commercial fresh and extruded dry kibble dog foods.Translational Animal Science, 2021 5

Get The Latest Recipes Right In Your Inbox:

• Email

Keep your dog healthy and fit with this easy peasy homemade recipe its cheaper than store-bought and chockfull of fresh veggies!

I never thought I would be one of those dog owners who made homemade human food for their pups. Not in a million years.

But when Butters recently fell sick with an upset stomach, our vet advised us to feed him a bland diet chicken and rice without any kind of seasoning. So thats what we did we poached a chicken, shredded it in a food processor, and mixed in some white rice and fed him this bland diet for 3 days.

Thats when I started to do some research on homemade dog food, and I have been so amazed as to how many different kinds of vegetables dogs can have. And with the help of Balance IT, you can create so many different recipes for your pup!

Now the best part about making homemade dog food just like making anything at home is that you know exactly what is going into the dog bowl, and not any of that questionable gelatinous gunk from the canned food.

But its important to note that dogs have different nutrient requirements than humans for their proportional body size, such as:

Now this recipe here has a balance of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains, but the ratios can easily be adjusted to suit your pups breed and/or needs.

Read Also: Soften Dog Food

Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe

Jump to RecipeMy easy homemade dog food recipe combines lean ground sirloin, wholesome brown rice, fresh vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and tender herbs

***Please note, I am not a veterinarian, just a very passionate dog owner! The information in this blog post documents our own personal experiences, research, and the recipes that we feed our dogs under our veterinarian’s careful supervision. Please, consult with your vet and use your own personal judgment when considering transitioning to a 100% human grade food diet for your pup. This post was updated with video August 16, 2020, updated with additional recipe links 9/14/2020, updated 1/7/2021 with metric measurements.***

Caru Daily Dish Wet Dog Food

For picky eaters, wet dog food is an excellent choice, as the texture and flavor is more like what a dogs ancestors ate. Caru Daily Dish Wet Dog Food offers all the benefits of wet dog food and a human grade dog food in one tasty meal.

This manufacturer offers a variety of different formulas, such as beef stew, chicken stew, beef and chicken stew, turkey stew, pork stew, chicken with duck stew, turkey with lamb stew and many more! All recipes are made with natural, wholesome, grain free, non-GMO ingredients. Each formula is prepared in small batches and cooked at a low temperature to maintain the nutritional content of the food.

Every batch also contains protein to support strong muscles and cardiovascular health, vegetables for improved digestive health, and omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and a lustrous coat. Caru is a family owned and operates company and every recipe is made in the USA. Pet parents say that they are very pleased with this dog food brand and that they have noticed a definite difference in their pets health.

What We Like About It

• Various recipes available
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
• No byproducts
• All ingredients are safe for pet and human consumption

Reasons to Complain

• As tends to be the complaint of most human grade dog foods, the price is pretty steep

Also Check: Can You Buy Dog Food On Food Stamps

Is It Safe For My Dog To Eat Human Food

Just because an ingredient is intended for people does not automatically mean it is safe for your pet. Anything edible for humans can be dangerous for your dog. According to the AAFCO Human Grade Dog Food Resources, the classification of food as dog food for humans has absolutely nothing to do with the safety of dog food.

Cooked Chicken With Brown Rice

This protein and fiber rich meal is nutritious and healthy. Make sure you start out with a very small portion to test for allergies and to see if your dog’s stomach can handle it. Some dogs get itchy and have diarrhea from poultry, so a test sample is very important. Be sure to boil the chicken thoroughly and then season with very little salt and pepper. Raw chicken can be deadly and avoid toxic seasoning like onions and garlic powder. Cook brown rice with lots of water to ensure it is moist and soft

You May Like: Can You Buy Ice Cream Cake With Food Stamps

Dog Food Vs Human Food: What You Should Feed Your Dog

When it comes to your dogs food, do you know what youre really serving? With so many options out there, it can be easy to grab the first economy bag you see on the shelf and call it a day. But as a responsible pet parent, its your job to do the research and serve healthy, nutritious meals worthy of this important family member.

In this post, well dive into the truth behind some commercially-prepared dog food, what to know about feeding your dog human food, and a great solution for those pet parents who have been wanting to try out a human-grade diet for their pup.

Use these links to jump ahead, or keep reading to learn everything you need to know: