Is Human-Grade Dog Food Worth It? Vets Weigh in on Their 9 Favorite Brands

A big buzzword in the pet food industry right now is “human-grade.” When I googled it, I received an onslaught of results: freeze-dried, fresh dried, air dried, wet, raw, kibble, treats! But is human-grade dog food worth it? And what does the label even mean for our sweet pups? In an industry estimated to be worth $194 billion by 2032 (and $60 billion in the U.S. alone), human-grade dog food companies are competing with over 600 traditional brands for pet parents’ attention. We know this is overwhelming—and you want the best for your dog—so we asked eight different vets for their take on human-grade dog food and their recommendations if you decide to try it out. Some are fans, others are not. Before you buy, read on for all the details on human-grade dog food.

Meet the Experts:

• Dr. Jamie Whittenburg, DVM, is the lead veterinarian at Senior Tail Waggers and director of Kingsgate Animal Hospital. With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Whittenburg has had research published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, launched her own vet clinic in Texas and is USDA-accredited.
• Dr. Nell Ostermeier, DVM and veterinary spokesperson at Figo Pet Insurance, practices integrative veterinary medicine and focuses on the health of senior animals. She runs a small animal vet clinic in Oregon.
• Dr. Lindsay Butzer, DVM, is a veterinarian and PetMeds partner with a huge social media following. She loves sharing tips about giving your pets their best life and is one of our go-to experts for all things dog.
• Dr. Rebecca Greenstein B.Sc., D.V.M., is the Veterinary Medical Advisor for Rover. She has 10 years of experience as an emergency veterinarian and is now the Chief Veterinarian at Kleinburg Veterinary Hospital in Ontario.

It’s easy to think of human-grade dog food as people food. This is not the case! The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a nonprofit third-party that sets guidelines for pet and animal food, says people food must meet rigorous federal regulations from the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Foods meeting FDA and USDA standards are “edible.” If a pet food product meets the same standards and qualifies as “edible,” the AAFCO says it can be labeled “human-grade,” though it adds, “Edible is a standard; human-grade is not.”

The AAFCO doesn’t enforce their standards, by the way. Making sure pet food manufacturers comply with the standards is up to individual states! So, brands with labels saying they are AAFCO-certified are really just saying they’ve followed the parameters set by the AAFCO for that type of food.

Dr. Jamie Whittenburg, DVM,  lead veterinarian at Senior Tail Waggers, notes “human-grade” still means nothing when it comes to actual human food. She considers this phrase more of a marketing tactic than anything else. “Being ‘human-grade’ does not guarantee better ingredients, does not eliminate the risk of potential contamination and does not have anything to do with whether or not the diet is balanced or formulated appropriately for a dog,” Dr. Whittenburg told us.

“Feed-grade” is the term used for food deemed safe for animals, but unsafe for people (or at least, doesn’t meet the FDA, USDA or AAFCO requirements to be considered “edible”). If you’re confused, consider this: A Hershey’s chocolate bar is edible and human-grade (meets federal standards), but not feed-grade (unsafe for dogs).

Now, feed-grade doesn’t mean worse food. All it takes is one ingredient that’s unsafe for humans to qualify pet food as feed-grade. So, some high-quality feed-grade dog food could in fact be more nutritious for your pup than low quality human-grade food. It all comes down to ingredients and their sourcing.

One example of dry kibble that is arguably healthier for dogs than some human-grade food is Open Farm’s dry food. Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, a veterinary epidemiologist, is a fan of Open Farm because of their nutritious options (dry and wet foods, treats, supplements, broths, toppers). We challenge you to find a more transparent dog food brand. Open Farm’s partners include Certified Humane, Oceanwise, The Global Animal Partnership and Terracycle. Their whole goal is the highest quality ingredients from the most sustainable sources and full transparency throughout the process. This is feed-grade food we can get behind.

Many human-grade brands were started by dog parents trying to cure their pets’ digestive problems. For those dogs, human-grade food was better than feed-grade food. Some vets, like Dr. Nell Ostermeier, DVM, CVA, FAAVA, an Integrative Veterinarian at AKC Pet Insurance, think feed-grade diets can take a toll on dogs. “All kibble is highly processed. So, if you choose to feed your dog kibble only, you are choosing to feed all processed food, all the time,” Dr. Ostermeier said, adding a kibble-only diet could dehydrate dogs over time. “This does not make sense from a health perspective for dogs or humans.”

Dr. Venn-Watson agrees. “Unfortunately, many commercial dog brands contain low-quality ingredients, unhealthy fillers and harmful preservatives,” she said.

On the other hand, Dr. Whittenburg pointed out there’s no evidence that AAFCO “edible” handling guidelines offer significant benefits to dogs. “There are many things to consider when choosing a pet food, including formulation, feed trial testing and the unique needs of your individual dog,” Dr. Whittenburg told us. Relying on the human-grade label alone isn’t enough.

The bottom line is the best food for your dog depends on…well, your dog!

The purported benefits of human-grade dog food are hydration, additional nutrient intake and a potential for improved digestion. “Human-grade food or whole food, that is gently cooked, can provide a high level of nutrients and hydration for your dog,” according to Dr. Ostermeier, DVM, a veterinary spokesperson at Figo Pet Insurance. Plus, there’s much less processing done to human-grade dog food than kibble or canned food. (Technically, cooking counts as processing. Most human-grade brands state their meals are minimally processed.)

JustFoodForDogs, a human-grade brand, organized a study to compare their menu to commercial kibble. The results indicate their formulas were “up to 40 percent more digestible” compared to dry food. Dogs in the study also absorbed more nutrients when they ate JustFoodForDogs meals.

Human-grade food can also supplement a feed-grade diet to ensure your dog ingests plenty of the good stuff. Say your pup requires a prescription commercial dry food. There are tons of fruits and vegetables you can feed her to fortify her diets with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, while sticking to the prescription. (Obviously check with your vet before trying this!)

It’s all about ingredients and processes. Focusing on the ingredient list, quality control standards and nutritional team behind a dog food brand is most important. “If the brand does not provide sourcing information or information on veterinary formulation, it may not be the safest or best food to feed your dog,” Dr. Ostermeier said. “If the food is formulated and balanced according to AAFCO standards, it can be fed as your dog's entire diet.”

Dr. Lindsay Butzer, a veterinarian and PetMeds partner, said nutritionally complete dog foods contain an intentional mix of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. “Look for statements on the packaging along the lines of ‘meets nutritional requirements of dogs established by AAFCO’ or ‘complete and balanced nutrition for dogs based on AAFCO feeding trials.’”

When checking out ingredient lists, Dr. Linda Simon, a veterinarian at Senior Tail Waggers, advised reading through an “edible” lens. “Ingredients used in these recipes should be fresh and wholesome, mimicking what you or I might eat. This can include meat (rather than meat and bone meal), grains, legumes, fruits and veggies… The foods should not contain fillers, artificial colors, preservatives or similar ‘bad’ ingredients.”

Dr. Whittenburg urged dog parents to make sure a dog food brand is “formulated by a board certified veterinary nutritionist and feed trial tested to ensure it is high quality.” One thing all vets agree on is that meat or a high-protein ingredient should be listed first.

Several of our vet sources recommended The Farmer’s Dog. One reason is this brand went “above and beyond the AAFCO standards of nutrition by conducting live feeding trials on actual dogs of all shapes and sizes over a six-year period,” according to Dr. Lindsay. Plus, The Farmer’s Dog can tailor meal plans to a dog’s age, weight, breed, health issues, activity level and more.

Working with board-certified veterinary nutritionists, The Farmer’s Dog formulated recipes using whole ingredients that taste delish to dogs (and humans, apparently). Their site states, “Our meals are prepared in USDA kitchens, where each recipe is gently cooked at low temperatures according to USDA-facility standards.” They also never use feed-grade ingredients.

“Another strong option in the human-grade food department is Ollie,” Dr. Lindsay said. This brand offers meals depending on your dog’s life stage, plus full ingredient lists are displayed and meals are slow cooked. Ollie offers both grain and grain-free options, too, as some dogs benefit from incorporating more grains into their diets. Plus, the Ollie website says their recipes don’t contain by-products, fillers, artificial flavoring, or preservatives, and they used a “board-certified veterinary nutritionist who helped us formulate our balanced and complete, human-grade recipes, abiding by the AAFCO standards.”

Finally, Dr. Lindsay recommended JustFoodForDogs if you’re in the market for more DIY recipes. Their meal kits give you more control over what your dog eats while ensuring the pup gets all the nutrients she needs. JustFoodForDogs could also be ideal for pets with certain allergies or weight concerns, as the brand offers a feeding calculator and various meal sizes for portion control. With nine veterinarians and board-certified specialists on their team and systematic feeding trials, this is an excellent human-grade food option.

Another noteworthy human-grade dog food brand is PetPlate, which prepares dog meals in USDA-certified kitchens. They also feature a guide on reading pet food labels.

Many human-grade brands were started by dog parents trying to cure their pets’ digestive problems. For those dogs, human-grade food was better than feed-grade food. Some vets, like Dr. Ostermeier, think feed-grade diets can take a toll on dogs. “All kibble is highly processed. So, if you choose to feed your dog kibble only, you are choosing to feed all processed food, all the time,” Dr. Ostermeier says, adding a kibble-only diet could dehydrate dogs over time. “This does not make sense from a health perspective for dogs or humans.”

Several more of our vet experts say commercial dog food brands with low-quality ingredients like meat meal, meat by-products, fillers and preservatives aren’t ideal for dogs. Human-grade food without those harmful ingredients can be good for dogs, as long as the recipe meets canine nutritional needs.

On the other hand, Dr. Whittenburg pointed out there’s no evidence that AAFCO “edible” handling guidelines offer significant benefits to dogs. “There are many things to consider when choosing a pet food, including formulation, feed trial testing and the unique needs of your individual dog,” Dr. Whittenburg tells us. Relying on the human-grade label alone isn’t enough.

Dr. Katie Merkatoris, DVM, a veterinarian expert at JustAnswer, says the lack of long-term data from AAFCO feeding trials makes recommending human-grade dog food diets difficult. She also mentioned that in the past few years, vets have found that grain-free and “boutique” diets were to blame for “severe, irreversible heart disease in dog breeds that do not typically have these issues.” Dr. Merkatoris advises against human-grade (and raw food) diets until we have more evidence of long term benefits, adding, “This is not to say there are not well balanced human-grade diets, but they are not all created equally.”

If your pet has an existing health condition, tread lightly around human-grade food. Russell Breuer, the co-founder and CEO of Spot & Tango, says, “Dogs with kidney disease, for example, may require lower protein diets, and dogs with allergies or intolerances to common human-grade ingredients like chicken, beef, grains, or dairy, may not be a good fit.”

Rob Anderson, a comedian and New York Times best-selling author, is not a fan of human-grade dog food since his French bulldog, Governor, reacted badly to it. Anderson made the switch when he was between vets. Governor loved the taste, but Anderson says, “Over time he started to get health issues I couldn’t pinpoint.” Governor lost his hearing within six months of starting the new food and around the one-year mark, his movement worsened. Vets assumed Gov was simply a senior dog in decline (he was nine at the time). Anderson demanded an MRI that revealed inner ear fluid, inflammation and several infections. For Governor, a vet-recommended switch to Purina wet food (and some antibiotics and steroids) helped him bounce back, regrow some fur and put on necessary weight. 

Always check with your vet before transitioning your dog to a human-grade diet.

While several vets we spoke to recommended human-grade dog food, they emphasized the need to ensure the recipes are balanced and nutritious. Feeding your dog human food from your fridge was not among their recommendations.

“It’s critical to remember that dogs aren’t simply small humans, so we shouldn’t try to feed them as such!” Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, the Veterinary Medical Advisor for Rover, says. “They are their own species, with unique digestive tracts, gut bacteria, nutritional needs, and macros. While I’m all for human-grade ingredients, any non-commercial boutique or homemade diet you choose to feed your pet should be vetted…by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to make sure it’s both complete and balanced.”

Pet Food Industry says a big trend in pet ownership in the past few years is the humanization of our dogs and cats. We see our pets as family members, which is good, but pet food brands capitalize on this to encourage us to buy their products. Canine nutritional needs have nothing to do with human nutritional needs. So, while the “human-grade” label makes us feel good, it doesn’t automatically make the stuff inside more nutritious for dogs.

The brands on our list that come closest to human food are JustFoodForDogs, The Farmer’s Dog and The Pet’s Table. These human-grade dog food options are cooked at low temperatures, frozen while fresh and then thawed before serving. It’s like reheating a casserole!

We can’t reiterate enough that the healthiest dog food for your dog is one that meets their unique needs. “Healthy” is a relative term. There isn’t a single food that works for every dog.

Dr. Richter, founder of Ultimate Pet Nutrition and author of “Longevity for Dogs,” says, “It is always best to consult with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist that is well-versed in fresh, whole food diets to determine what is best for your individual dog.” If you are set on the human-grade route, Dr. Richter recommends human-grade foods that are minimally processed, such as freeze dried, raw, or dehydrated.

Several human-grade dog food brands on our list provide raw, freeze-dried options for pups. Dr. Woodley, who recommended We Feed Raw, says, “In my experience, I’ve seen raw-fed dogs thrive with shinier coats, healthier skin, better dental health and fewer chronic issues like allergies and digestive upset.”

However, other vets are wary of raw food diets. Dr. Greenstein says, “Raw food diets have no proven benefits and in fact, carry some significant risks.” She adds that raw diets typically aren’t nutritionally balanced or complete, meaning dogs are missing out on key nutrients. There’s also always the risk of food-borne illness in raw meat.

Dr. Richter, who created a raw food brand, says, “Chances of bacterial contamination of raw diets can be mitigated by appropriate processing methods such as high pressure pasteurization (HPP) that eliminate bacteria.” Look for the HPP label on any raw food item you purchase. 

While some studies have found dogs on raw diets had lower levels of inflammation than dogs who ate kibble, others have found raw diets are more likely to contain bad bacteria and lack balanced nutrition. Most of these studies have very small sample sizes, so please check with your vet before trying a raw food brand.

If you’re on the fence, talk to your vet. They know your pet’s health history and can make recommendations based on what your dog needs. If you want an answer here, we defer to Dr. Simon, who concluded, “As a general rule, I suggest to my owners that they feed the best diet they can afford. However, if this means feeding a supermarket brand or a food that is not ‘human-grade’ I have no concern for the health or welfare of the animal.”

• Dr. Gary Richter, DVM, is the founder of Ultimate Pet Nutrition, a raw pet food brand. He is also the owner and medical director of Holistic Veterinary Care in California, and published his book, “Longevity for Dogs,” in 2023.
• Dr. Linda Simon, is a veterinarian at Senior Tail Waggers and has a decade of experience as a vet. She specializes in veterinary surgery and senior animals.
• Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH, is a veterinary epidemiologist and a health industry entrepreneur who has previously worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
• Dr. Katie Woodley is a holistic veterinarian and gut health specialist who launched The Natural Pet Doctor to help pet parents find natural solutions to their pet’s health issues.

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