If you’ve been researching the best diet for your canine pal lately, you may have come across the term “human-grade dog food” more than a few times. What, exactly, does it mean, though?
Is it better for your pup than other dog food? If so, can you buy it online or do you have to make a trip to a special store? Can you just make it yourself?
We’ll look at the answers to all of those questions and more below. Let’s dive in!
Human-Grade Dog Food on Amazon: Top Picks at a Glance
Already know what human-grade pet food is and just want to know which brands to try first? Check out the handy-dandy table below!
Just a quick head’s up, this post includes affiliate links. If you buy anything through them, we’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Top Pick
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Most affordable
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Type:
Air-dried
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Type:
Dehydrated
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Type:
Dehydrated flakes
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Type:
Wet
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Type:
Wet
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Top Benefit:
Heart-healthy recipe
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Top Benefit:
Safe for puppies and older dogs
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Top Benefit:
One 5lb bag makes 33 meals
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Top Benefit:
Limited ingredients
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Top Benefit:
Sustainably sourced proteins
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How does AAFCO define human-grade food for dogs?
Let’s start with how the premier authority on pet food defines human-grade dog food. The Association of American Feed Contol Officials (AAFCO) wrote an entire guidebook on standards for this type of food. Here’s what they say:
In the AAFCO-defined feed term “human grade” the use of the term “human grade” is only acceptable in reference to the product as a whole. The deed term specifies that every ingredient and the resulting product must be stored, handled, processed, and transported in a manner that is consistent and compliant with regulations for current good manufacturing practices (cGMP’s) for human edible foods as specified in 21 CFR part 117.
They go on to explain that the entirety of the food must be completely edible for humans. Before we go on, we should define exactly what “edible” means. I know what you’re thinking, “I already know what it is…it’s something that you can eat!”
While that’s true, the USDA actually has its standard for the word. To be considered palatable for human consumption, all product ingredients must be safe for human consumption, and the product must conform to federal regulations in 21 CFR 110, Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.
So, if we put all of that together, we can see that human-grade dog food must be safe enough (and palatable enough) for a human being to eat. Let’s dig a little deeper, though.
Human-grade Vs. Feed-Grade: It’s All About the Ingredients & Processing
Human-grade dog food is just what it sounds like: safe food for people to eat. It means it’s legally suitable and FDA-approved for consumption by a human.
On the other hand, feed grade is a term used to describe an inferior grade of product that is not fit for human consumption according to FDA standards. It may include chemicals, fillers, and animal parts that even the most adventurous human wouldn’t eat.
Let me put it another way. Most of the mass-produced cheap dog food that you find on grocery store shelves isn’t actually all that healthy. First, much of it is full of corn, which dogs can’t digest well. Even the not-so-cheap stuff uses filler grains that don’t really serve much of a purpose in terms of nutrition.
Second, instead of using quality ingredients and cooking the food as you would for a person, they use waste products from the human food industry (feathers, bones, fat trimmings) cooked in rendering plants.
On the other hand, human-grade dog food contains ingredients that you’d find in people’s food. All these ingredients and the resulting product are handled, processed, and transported to follow good manufacturing practices.
Common ingredients
The most common ingredients in human-grade dog food are proteins from sources like beef, chicken, and pork. They may also include fruits & vegetables such as carrots, spinach, broccoli, potato, etc.
On the surface, these ingredients don’t really sound all that different from those you’d find on the labels of plain old commercial dog food, right? There are two main differences, though.
First, human-grade dog food brands only use the parts of the animal that, well, humans could actually eat. Maybe not always would, but could. Second, the ingredients are processed in a way that would make them safe for human consumption. Let’s discuss that in a bit more detail.
How is it made?
So, how is human-grade dog food made? That really depends on where you buy it.
- For some stores, first, they ask a few questions about your dog and then suggest a meal plan based on their needs (pre-packaged brands don’t do this step).
- Next, they prepare and portion their meals in their own USDA kitchens with no contamination.
- The company then processes the ingredients in a way that retains all vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Finally, they package the food in a way that keeps it fresh until it reaches your door.
For the most part, all of the recipes are free from by-products, artificial flavors, and preservatives. However, keep in mind that many artificial flavorings, colorings, and preservatives technically meet “human-grade” requirements, so do your research. In my experience, though, most companies that specialize in fresh dog food value their reputation, so they wouldn’t risk it by using substandard ingredients.
Where do you buy human-grade dog food?
You have quite a few options when it comes time to shop for human-grade pet food.
- Grocery stores: First, most supermarkets carry at least one brand (Freshpet is the most common, and it’s fairly affordable).
- PetSmart & other pet stores: They tend to have a wider variety than grocery stores, both in-person and online.
- Specialty websites: Sites like The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, & Nom Nom are your best bet if you want personalized recipes.
- Amazon (see below)
Top-Rated Human-Grade Dog Food Brands on Amazon
Surprisingly, Amazon also carries quite a few human-grade dog food brands. Most of these are either freeze-dried or dehydrated, but still great options if you’re on a budget or can’t get to a store. Let’s take a look at some of your best choices there.
1. ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Dog Beef Recipe
Type: Dry
Ingredients:
Beef, Beef Heart, Beef Kidney, Beef Tripe, Beef Liver, Beef Lung, New Zealand Green Mussel, Beef Bone, Lecithin, Inulin from Chicory, Dried Kelp, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Selenium Yeast), Salt, Parsley, Preservative (Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).
Benefits:
- Ethically sourced New Zealand beef (grass-fed and free-range)
- Promotes healthy skin & coat
- Good for dental and oral health
- May improve joint health & mobility in senior dogs
- Heart-healthy recipe
- If your dog has a beef allergy, Ziwi also makes a lamb and a chicken recipe.
2. The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Grain Free Dog Food
Type: Dry (Dehydrated)
Ingredients: Dehydrated beef, chicken, turkey, or fish, dehydrated sweet potatoes, dehydrated potatoes, organic flaxseed, dried organic coconut, dried parsley, dried papayas, dried cranberries, dehydrated pumpkin, dehydrated honey, dehydrated kale.
Benefits:
- 100% Human Grade
- Grain-free
- Made with ranch-raised beef
- Dehydrated for easier digestibility
- Safe for puppies and older dogs
3. Dr. Harvey’s Canine Health Miracle Dog Food
Type: Dehydrated
Ingredients: Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Barley, Organic Triticale, Organic Spelt, Organic Brown Rice, Organic Kamut, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Potatoes, Tricalcium Phosphate, Celery, Peas, Green Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Parsley, Dried Yeast, Lecithin, Alfalfa, Dried Kelp, Ground Flaxseed, Dried Ground Fenugreek, Dried Ground Fennel, Dried Ground Ginger, Dried Ground Peppermint, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Acetate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid
Benefits:
- Affordable (one 5-lb bag makes 33 meals)
- 100% human-grade
- Kidney Support formula
- No preservatives, dyes, chemicals, and fillers
- Beneficial to dogs with digestive issues
4. Portland Pet Food Company Human-Grade Dog Food Pouch
Type: Wet
Ingredients: Beef, Brown Rice, Peas, Carrots, Beef Heart, Eggs, Millet Flour, Vegetable Oil, and Powdered Eggshell. Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein Min 12%. Crude Fat Min 9%. Crude Fiber Max 1%. Moisture Max 64%. Calories 316 kcal/9 oz.
Benefits:
- 7 different recipes
- Each recipe has 11 ingredients max
- All-natural, fully cooked meals in each pouch
- Gluten-free, wheat-free, and grain-free options
- Made for all life stages from puppies to senior dogs
5. Weruva Dogs In The Kitchen
Ingredients: The Dogs In The Kitchen Pooch Pouch Variety Pack includes two each of Chicken Breast Love Me Tender, Chicken & Turkey Fowl Ball, Chicken & Pumpkin Funk in the Trunk, Chicken & Salmon Goldie Lox, Lamb & Pumpkin Lamburgini, Beef & Salmon The Double Dip.
Benefits:
- Grain-free, Gluten-free, & Carrageenan-free
- Sustainably sourced proteins
- Incredibly affordable compared to others human-grade wet food pouches
- High-moisture content to help your dog stay hydrated
- Very easy to use, just open a pouch and pour it into the bowl!
Type: Wet
Conclusion
Human-grade pet foods are produced in a manner that meets food safety standards and is more than nutritionally adequate for dogs. Today, you can feed your furry best friend a high-quality diet with human-grade ingredients.
We are more aware of what dog foods should be comprised of to be healthy and that we should select high-quality proteins and fats, complex carbohydrates, and prebiotics for pups’ good gut health.
For a healthy dog, pet parents should ensure that they do thorough research on human-grade dog food brands. Don’t be fooled by marketing and advertising. Take a close look at the ingredients label and make your own decision.
Have you tried any of the above human-grade dog food brands? Share your thoughts below!
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Last update on 2025-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
