Why Is Fresh Food Getting More Popular?

Growing Demand for Fresh 

Estimates suggest up to 20% of US pet food sales are for fresh food products, with growth far out-pacing dry and canned.  As consumers become more aware of the risks associated with steady diets of ultra-processed pet foods and the benefits of fresh whole food diets, more are switching to fresh food for themselves and their pets.  Pet owners switching from kibble to fresh food report dramatic differences in their pet’s energy and overall health within just a few weeks.  Even pet owners who only supplement with fresh food realize some benefits.

Health Benefits [link to Health Issues]

  

Most fresh pet foods are made with human food ingredients that have met all nutrition and safety standards for human consumption.  The health benefits are significant:

• Human food ingredients contain far fewer heavy metals and other contaminants.  Standards for pet food are far less strict, and in many cases there is no limit at all for pet food.  
• Fresh whole food contains a variety of nutrients that are destroyed in high heat or pressure processing.  These nutrients include natural amino acids (including taurine), enzymes, antioxidants, natural vitamins, phytonutrients, and more  – all contributing to a healthier immune system and lower risk of health issues such as diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, inflammation, etc.
• Fresh food diets are lower in carbohydrates and rarely contain no added sugars.  Carbohydrate levels in some kibble is as high as 80% which is known to contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other health issues.  Over 50% of dogs and cats are considered obese, and the majority of these pets are being fed highly processed diets with carbohydrate levels well above the 20% maximum generally accepted by integrative health experts.
• Preservatives, some known to be carcinogens, are never added to fresh food products.  This means they must be frozen to prevent spoilage, making them less convenient than kibble.  But the added effort to freeze and thaw is far outweighed by the health benefits.  
• Additives such as flavoring and colors are not added to fresh food diets.  There is no need to add meat flavoring to a product that contains real meat.  And no need to add coloring to products containing freshy whole naturally colorful ingredients. 

What to Feed?

If it fits your budget, fresh and frozen foods offer the highest quality nutrition and the least risk of contaminants.  Any fresh is better than none, so even using fresh pet food as a topper or treat can help to reduce the load on the kidney and liver, and help to boost the immune system. Consider that while the upfront cost of fresh food is higher, the long-term cost is less as your pets have less health issues.