Why We Are Not a Raw Diet Company
Freeze drying is one of the gentlest ways to preserve whole food, which is why it is often used by raw pet food companies looking to retain the nutritional integrity of their ingredients. However, while we harness the power of freeze drying to create minimally processed, highly nutritious treats, we do not consider ourselves a raw food company.
We have developed a proprietary safety process that follows USDA-approved pathogen control guidelines to ensure that every batch we make is free from harmful bacteria. In the final phase of freeze drying, we increase the temperature inside our dryers to achieve an internal product temperature of 165°F—the same temperature standard used to cook meat for human consumption. This process eliminates pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and Avian Influenza, giving our products the same level of safety as cooked food.
In addition, Whole Life Pet operates in an FDA-inspected and approved Human Grade facility. This means that our production environment, ingredient sourcing, and processes meet the same rigorous safety and quality standards as food made for human consumption.
While we do begin with some raw ingredients, the end result is a shelf-stable, fully safe, and pathogen-free treat that pet parents can trust.
Our Commitment to Poultry Safety
We take extra precautions when it comes to poultry, including chicken and turkey:
- No raw poultry EVER enters our facility.
- Our trusted supplier , Tip Top Poultry in GA, processes and pre-cooks all chicken and turkey before it reaches us.
- Every shipment arrives with
Certificates of Analysis (COAs), verifying that the poultry is free from bacteria.
Independent Lab Testing & Batch Quarantine
We don’t just trust our process—we verify it. Every batch we produce is quarantined and independently tested for harmful bacteria by Microbac labs. Only when we receive negative test results do we allow our products to leave our facility.
Third-Party Audited Facility: BRC-AA Certification
Our facility undergoes rigorous third-party audits and is BRC-AA certified, one of the highest food safety ratings in the world. What does this mean?
- BRC is a globally recognized safety and quality standard that provides a framework for food manufacturers to achieve the highest levels of safety, covering a wide range of areas including HACCP, traceability and quality management systems.
- AA rating is the highest possible score, demonstrating our commitment to excellence.
- This places Whole Life Pet among the few elite pet food manufacturers, who meet the most stringent safety requirements that exist.
At Whole Life Pet, your pet's health comes first—every time.
