Dehydration is much gentler than canning or extrusion, which generally involve very high heat and pressure, and are used to manufacture most types of pet food including most kibbled diets. Canning and extrusion involve such high temperatures, that many of the natural nutrients in the raw ingredients are actually destroyed, meaning the manufacturer must replace them with dozens of artificial vitamins and minerals, in order to make the finished product meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles. Take a look at the list if ingredients on regular pet food and compare the contents of the vitamin-mineral premix (usually composed of the ingredients that are rather difficult to read or pronounce!) and compare them with a raw or dehydrated food. You’ll notice that minimally processed diets contain very few added vitamins and minerals, because so much of the natural nutrition in the raw ingredients has survived the gentler, more minimal production process.

 

Honest Kitchen is legally allowed to use the term ‘Human Grade’ on their labels.  Unlike most conventional pet foods, which are produced in a pet food rendering plant, Honest Kitchen's production takes place right alongside, and on the same equipment as, products like breakfast cereals, bakery mixes and milkshake powders – within a human food production plant. Of course, the equipment is cleaned after every single production run, regardless of what was last made! Our production is 100% US based and under FDA inspection, so the entire process actually takes place under the same standards in place for human food products.  Nothing at all is different between what the plant makes for you to eat, and what it produces for our pets.