Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Safety: Our Commitment to Pathogen-Free Meals

You already know that raw food is better for dogs, and the convenience of freeze-dried raw dog food is undeniable—it offers raw nutrition in a shelf-stable format perfect for travel, training, or simple storage.

However, many pet parents rightly wonder: Is freeze-dried raw dog food safety guaranteed, or do the risks outweigh the convenience? This is a vital question, as freeze-drying alone does not eliminate harmful pathogens.

At We Feed Raw, we believe you should never have to choose between convenience and safety. This guide specifically addresses the safety of our freeze-dried raw recipes and explains the unique, validated steps we take to ensure your dog's meals are pathogen-free and optimally nutritious.

What Is Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food?

Our freeze-dried recipes contain 85% muscle and organ meat plus 15% non-GMO fruits and vegetables. Apart from the slightly different ingredient composition compared to our frozen raw recipes, the biggest difference between the two formulations is the preservation method.

The Freeze-Drying Process: Preservation, Not Safety

Freeze-drying involves three stages: freezing the food, applying a vacuum, and then gently heating it to transform the ice directly into vapor (sublimation). This process removes nearly all moisture, resulting in a lightweight, shelf-stable product that retains most of the food’s original nutrients and flavor..

While freeze-drying is excellent for preservation and nutrient retention, it is not a food safety step. Research shows that bacteria and viruses can survive the freeze-drying process and remain dormant, reactivating once the food is rehydrated or consumed.

The Inherent Risk of Unprocessed Freeze-Dried Meats

Many freeze-dried raw products on the market rely only on the drying process and initial sourcing to claim safety.

However, since the food is not cooked or heated to a temperature that kills pathogens, these products carry the same risk of harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli that can be found in any raw meat product. Without an extra, validated safety step, the convenience of the food can mask a potential risk.

Ensuring Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Safety: The HPP Advantage

At We Feed Raw, we eliminate the conflict between raw nutrition and safety by applying a scientifically validated "kill step" before the freeze-drying process begins.

Our Two-Step Safety Protocol

We ensure the freeze-dried raw dog food safety of our recipes through a dedicated two-step process:

High-Pressure Processing (HPP)

Before the food is freeze-dried, our raw ingredients undergo high-pressure processing (HPP). This non-thermal (cold) process applies immense water pressure to the sealed food, which effectively inactivates harmful pathogens like Salmonella and Listeria.

HPP is a proven safety measure that guarantees the food is pathogen-free while preserving the raw state of the enzymes and nutrients.

AAFCO-Approved Formulation

Beyond bacterial safety, we ensure nutritional safety. Our freeze-dried recipes are formulated by a PhD animal nutritionist to be complete and balanced to AAFCO standards for adult dogs, eliminating the risk of nutritional imbalances common in DIY or non-AAFCO-approved raw diets.

Why HPP Is Superior to Drying Alone

HPP is the essential safety step that freeze-drying lacks. While freeze-drying preserves, HPP actively inactivates. This unique combination allows us to confidently offer the ultimate convenience of a shelf-stable meal that has the same high-standard safety assurance as our frozen patties.

Quality and Convenience: The We Feed Raw Difference

Our commitment to freeze-dried raw dog food safety extends to the quality of our ingredients and the convenience we offer pet owners.

Sourcing and Manufacturing Excellence

We source only USDA human-grade meats for all our recipes. Our food is produced in a USDA-certified facility, adhering to strict compliance requirements that minimize the risk of contamination from the production environment.

We take great pride in our transparent sourcing, using high-quality beef and chicken for our freeze-dried recipes.

The Perfect Travel and Topper Solution

Our freeze-dried raw food is shelf-stable and exceptionally lightweight, making it an ideal choice for travel, hiking, or emergency preparedness. It is also an excellent option for use as a carb-free, high-protein topper to enhance the nutritional density of an adult dog's kibble. You simply scoop and serve, or you can add water for rehydration.

Choose the Safest Freeze-Dried Raw for Your Dog: We Feed Raw

When selecting a diet for your dog, especially a minimally processed one, always choose a brand that backs its claims with a validated safety step. Freeze-drying offers amazing convenience, but only when paired with a reliable pathogen inactivation process can you be assured of freeze-dried raw dog food safety.

By choosing We Feed Raw, you receive:

• •Pathogen Safety: Guaranteed by high-pressure processing (HPP)

• •Nutritional Safety: Guaranteed by our PhD animal nutritionist formulation

• •Convenience: Shelf-stable, ready-to-serve meals for adult dogs

Ready to provide your dog with the safest, most convenient raw diet? Take our quiz now to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does the freeze-drying process itself guarantee freeze-dried raw dog food safety?

No, the freeze-drying process alone does not guarantee freeze-dried raw dog food safety. Freeze-drying is a preservation method that removes moisture, which slows bacterial growth, but it does not reliably kill pathogens.

Research shows that bacteria and viruses can remain dormant and reactivate upon consumption. This is why we ensure safety by using high-pressure processing (HPP) on all our freeze-dried recipes before the drying process.

Why does We Feed Raw include fruits and vegetables in its freeze-dried recipes?

We formulate our freeze-dried recipes differently for adult dogs to provide maximum convenience and a wider nutrient profile. These recipes contain 85% meat and organs and 15% non-GMO fruits and vegetables.

This blend ensures the shelf-stable meal provides a broader range of antioxidants and trace minerals, offering a complete and balanced meal ready to serve.

How does high-pressure processing (HPP) ensure freeze-dried raw dog food safety?

High-pressure processing (HPP) is a validated "kill step" we use to ensure freeze-dried raw dog food safety. We apply immense cold water pressure to the raw product to inactivate harmful pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli.

This crucial step eliminates the microbial risk inherent in raw meat without using heat, which preserves the food's raw nutritional value.

What are the best practices for safe storage and handling of freeze-dried raw food?

The biggest convenience of our freeze-dried food is that it is shelf-stable and does not require a freezer. We recommend you store the food in its sealed packaging in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

To maintain hygiene, always wash your hands after handling the freeze-dried raw food, and sanitize your dog's bowls and feeding surfaces regularly.