Freshpet Achieves Clean Label Project Certification for Its Entire Dog Food Line

Freshpet Sets New Standard in Dog Food Quality

In a significant milestone for the pet food industry, Freshpet, Inc., a frontrunner in fresh pet food, has announced that its entire selection of dog food products in the U.S. and Canada has earned the prestigious Clean Label Project's Purity Award. This accolade positions Freshpet as the first and only pet food brand to have its complete product line certified for exceeding stringent safety and quality standards for ingredient purity.

The Clean Label Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the integrity of consumer products. Through rigorous testing for over 100 contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, and other potentially harmful industrial chemicals, the Clean Label Project assesses the quality of ingredients that consumers cannot normally see on product labels. Freshpet's entire portfolio successfully passed these extensive independent lab tests, certifying that its recipes contain minimal levels of contaminants compared to traditional pet foods.

Scott Morris, Co-founder and President of Freshpet, remarked, "Twenty years ago, we set out to create a fundamentally different kind of pet food, made from real, simple ingredients and prepared in our own kitchens. The Clean Label Project's Purity Award validates our belief that we could deliver cleaner, higher-quality nutrition for pets."

The certification reveals a stark contrast in safety levels when compared to many popular dry dog foods. Recent findings from the Clean Label Project's Dog Food Category Report indicated that conventional dry dog foods often contain substantially higher levels of harmful heavy metals than both fresh and frozen dog options. For example, popular dry dog foods averaged 13.3 times more arsenic, 20 times more lead, and significantly higher levels of DEHP, a chemical used in the production of plastics, compared with products like Freshpet's.

Moreover, the Clean Label Project's tests revealed that Freshpet's freshly prepared recipes maintain the lowest levels of harmful substances, even when benchmarked against human consumable products. As such, Freshpet stands out, ensuring not just the health of the dogs they serve, but reassurance for pet parents who want the best for their companions.

Further emphasizing these high standards of food safety, Freshpet adopts gentle cooking methods, avoiding high-temperature processing that can lead to the formation of acrylamide—a potential carcinogen. This commitment is reflected in their vegetarian and animal-protein-based recipes crafted from recognizable ingredients such as fresh chicken, beef, and salmon, along with wholesome vegetables and grains.

In addition to ingredient safety, Freshpet emphasizes transparency and sustainability in its operations. They ensure safety checks at every production stage, conducting more than 20 quality tests on their products. This level of commitment does not go unnoticed, as Freshpet’s rigorous safety measures resonate with health-conscious consumers and veterinarians alike. Dr. Lisa Weeth, a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist at Freshpet, stated, "Independent verification from the Clean Label Project gives veterinarians and families data to help them make informed decisions when choosing a fresh diet over conventional options."

The Clean Label Project aims to shed light on the hidden dangers that conventional pet foods may harbor. It has spurred discussions about the need for higher safety standards and greater transparency in the pet food industry—concerns raised frequently by pet owners in today's market.

Freshpet’s commitment to innovation extends beyond product quality; it influences practices in sourcing, sustainability, and community partnership. The brand strives to transform the lives of pets through nutrition while doing so in a responsible manner. Currently, Freshpet products are available in a wide array of grocery, natural food, and pet specialty stores in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, alongside being accessible online.

In summary, Freshpet is not only redefining food safety in the pet industry but is also paving the way for future standards that prioritize a healthier, higher-quality diet for pets across North America. Freshpet’s groundbreaking achievement and its continued dedication to providing clean, nutritious meals for pets reflect a pivotal shift towards better practices in the pet food market, fostering a brighter, healthier future for our beloved companions.