I wanted to provide an update to the blog I wrote just this past Sunday regarding Freshpet Dog food. That blog came from a comment from a reader who had an issue of mold in the 'Select' brand of this food. (I have since removed her comment, but I am leaving her YouTube link for viewing) After writing the blog as a warning to my readers, I went to the Freshpet website to contact them myself, as I could not overlook my responsibility to do this. (http://freshpet.com) I explained in detail my reason for contacting them. The next day I received an email from Freshpet's Consumer Affairs Manager thanking me for reaching out to them with my concern.
I was informed that Freshpet co-founder Mr. Scott Morris wanted to speak to me regarding the matter. I will discuss some of the things Mr. Morris and I talked about, but first let me share with you the email I received. I was told, 'Freshpet takes great care in our product formulations and manufacturing processes to make the best pet foods. Products are processed in a modern pet food facility under sanitary conditions to produce safe and nutritious pet foods. Freshpet Select Dog Roasted Meals are pasteurized to destroy bacteria, packaged under hygienic conditions and refrigerated to maintain freshness. As with any fresh food, a damaged bag will allow air to enter and result in mold formation.'
Continuing....'Several factors can cause the problem to occur. We have discovered that if bags are dropped, cut or punctured while in transit or in stocking, this can allow oxygen into the bag and leave our foods susceptible to mold. We'd like to assure you that out of all the bags we sell, only a small percentage are affected by mold. We understand that even at a low percentage that this is an important issue, and we have implemented stronger bags and case packaging to eliminate as many instances as we can of mold...we are very familiar with the case you have referenced. We have no reason to believe that our foods have caused any illness in pets and take these concerns very seriously.'
I received a call from Mr. Morris the next day, which was Tuesday. We spoke at length, well over an hour. He gave me a brief history of the company which was founded in 2006, and emphasized the importance of quality and their 'pets before profit' standpoint. Their foods are 'processed' as little as possible, are pasteurized and each batch, (a batch being 2,000 pounds) are all tested for microorganisms such as bacteria and mold before leaving the facility.
I am big on education, as I believe 'knowledge is power'. I know most of my readers feed a dry food (kibble) to their dogs. Since this is not a 'fresh' or 'refrigerated' food, it's not an issue to leave it at room temperature or have the bag open for a month or have much concern for the way it is handled. Fresh Pet is different. My advice would be to treat it as you would raw meat you buy for your family. Careful handling is imperative, and I would much rather err on the side of being 'overly safe' than to be careless and have an issue. Fresh Pet's website is a wealth of information to help you use their foods properly, and I highly recommend you read it if you are considering feeding your pet this type of food. According to their site, here is the amount of time they recommend to use up the food once opened: rolls/patties - 7 days; bagged meals - 7 days; single serve cups - 2 days; dog treats - 14 days and non-refrigerated food - 2 to 3 weeks. And do not leave the refrigerated food in your dog's bowl for more than 2 to 3 hours.
My dogs eat a mainly raw diet, along with home-cooked. I do give them a little kibble in the evening. Yes, we have the Fresh Pet kibble. I am very careful with my utensils, and clean-up after wards. The raw I purchase comes frozen...I thaw it in the refrigerator, never on the counter-top. I make sure I use it within at the most 4 days of opening, depending on the size of the container. I have never had any problems with mold or with any of my dogs being sickened by it, and I've been feeding raw for nearly three years.
My conclusion from my conversation with Mr. Morris is that there was no fault on Fresh Pet's part regarding this mold issue. I make no apologies for my findings. The evidence presented to me, which I do not feel at liberty to discuss in this blog, determined my personal opinion, and those are based on my extensive background in human and canine nutrition in which the former spans several decades. I always strive to learn as much as I can and research necessary areas to bring my readers easy to understand, no nonsense information you can use to become better pet parents.
Albeit said, I cannot do it all for you. Please check out Fresh Pet's website....they still have the Talk To the Paw, 'paw of approval' for their food. They receive thousands of letters from satisfied customers. I was impressed enough with it in late 2012 to blog about it, and I still stand behind their products...I have been feeding it to my own since before then. Yes, it carries a higher price tag, but it is a quality product, and if you cannot afford to feed it to your dog on a consistent basis, at least consider supplementing their diet with it from time to time, as I feel it is a healthy addition to any canine food program. As always, best of health to you and your furry companions!
