Pet Food & Food Safety

A deeper dive into the safety of raw and processed diets and hygiene tips and tricks for feeding raw.

The Safety of Raw Feeding

More information on salmonella, the risk of infection for pets and people, and food safety tips and best hygiene practice to prevent infection.

The Safety of Processed Food

An overview of pet food standards and their dietary requirements, and how the manufacturing process impacts the nutrient profile of processed pet food.

Food Safety Tips

These safety tips apply to all food handling, including all pet food and food intended for human consumption.

Raw Feeding and Risks

Both raw and processed diets come with risks. As pet owners, you have to weigh these up and decided what is best for your pet. At Raw Essentials we chose to raw feed because we believe that feeding a highly-processed, high carbohydrate diet to our domestic carnivores carries risks.

Raw Food in Supermarkets & Pet Stores

We are regularly asked for advice on raw-feeding by people who are unable to access our products. A growing number of raw food options have become available in the supermarkets and in large pet-store chains, but there are issues that buyers need to be aware of.

Grain-Free Diets

As more and more consumers cotton-on to the fact that dogs and cats do best on a species-appropriate diet, pet food manufacturers rush to release products that have the appearance of being species-appropriate, but that can be made on the cheap. Most products in the U.S. are now marketed as 'natural', and now one in every two new products introduced to the market is sold as 'grain-free.'

Analysis of AVMA Statement on Raw Feeding

It is commonly thought amongst veterinarians that raw-feeding poses a significantly greater risk, and on the basis of this, they warn against raw-feeding. This article analyses the 2012 AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) statement on raw-feeding.

Pet Food Labels

Many people think hard about their food choices and we've become a nation of label readers. The information here will help to simplify the reading of pet food labels. But be warned - the current system of pet food regulation is ineffective at informing consumers and protecting pets.

Pet Food Marketing

An overview of common 'natural' marketing trends seen within the pet food industry, and what they mean.

Thiamine & Preservatives

An overview of the various preservatives found in processed pet-food and how they impact animal nutrition.

Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance has been a problem for at least 70 years. Agricultural and medicinal overuse and misuse of antibiotics has caused the issue. We discuss the role that raw feeding cats and dogs could play in this issue.

Organ Meats & Heavy Metal Contamination

More information on the important of organ meats and the excess of cadmium (a heavy metal found in soil) which can enter the food chain via fruit, vegetables and organs of livestock.

Hydatids, Sheep Measles and TB Risks

All our products are processed through facilities which meet MPI-requirements for the production of pet food. These requirements include safe guards against the spread of sheep measles, and the resurgence of hydatids in New Zealand.

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