Lately, some pet food manufacturers have been touting their products as human grade, but how do you know that the food you feed your pet is actually human grade? What exactly does “human grade” even mean?
You may have a general notion that human grade food is better for your dog or cat since it’s fit for humans as well. But did you know that pet food manufacturers can claim their foods and treats are “human grade” without any third-party verification?
Another problem with “human grade” labeling is how loosely the term is used. There is no universal legal definition for “human grade” — it can mean different things in different contexts.
If you’re looking to truly understand what your pet is eating, we’ll explain why you should look for the Human Grade Certification Seal in this article.
What does it mean if a pet food claims it’s “Human Grade”?
The problem with pet food manufacturers labeling their products as “human grade” is that there is no universally agreed-upon definition for that term. Anyone can print “human grade” on their packaging without any third party checking to see what that means.
Human grade could mean the ingredients individually are human grade, that it was manufactured in a facility that makes food for humans, or that a human might be able to eat it. Therefore, it is entirely possible that a product can be deceptively labeled “human grade”, and that it was made in a facility meant for animal foods or contains feed grade ingredients.
The Human Grade Certification program was founded to establish a clear definition of human grade.
Human Grade Pet Food Certifications
The Human Grade Certification Seal provides the comfort that you’re getting what you expect when seeing a human grade label.
How to tell if your pet food is actually human grade
When it comes to human grade pet food, the industry is like the Wild West. There is no standardized definition, and anyone can claim their product is human grade.
While most pet food makers have integrity, some companies may use the human grade label simply for marketing purposes without any real internal standards for what it means. For these reasons, it’s hard to believe any product is human grade just because it has those words on the label.
If your pet food says “human grade” on the packaging, ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the packaging actually explain what that means?
- Was any third-party involved in verifying the “human grade” claim?
- Who decided to label the product “human grade” and why?
- Are the ingredients clearly labeled?
- How was the food processed, and in what types of facilities?
Answering these questions on your own isn’t feasible. That is why the Human Grade Certification program was started.
What does the Human Grade Certified Seal mean?
If you see a product with the Human Grade Certified seal on it, it means the pet food maker has certified the following 3 points:
- Each and every ingredient is edible by humans.
- The pet food or treat was made in a factory or kitchen that meets standards for producing food meant for human consumption.
- The Human Grade Certified seal goes a step further: The seal also means the manufacturer certifies that their product has no added artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. These additives can be harmful to your pet’s health and don’t contribute vital nutrients.
Human Grade Pet Food
There is a lot of confusion in the pet food market about what “human grade” means or should mean and whether human grade food is actually more nutritious for pets.
Much is unknown about the optimal diet for pets. The best diet also depends on your pet’s preferences and individual health traits. Pet owners are becoming more sensitive about what they feed their pets, and many want to avoid highly processed foods made from subpar ingredients.
The official Human Grade Certified Seal empowers pet owners to know what their pet is eating and helps make educated decisions about the health of their animals. Consumers who decide to pay the premium for human grade pet foods should feel confident they are getting what they pay for.
Pet owners who buy human grade pet products with the Human Grade Certified Seal can feel more confident that what they buy actually meets their expectations.