What Does Ultra-processed Pet Food Mean?
🐾 Fresh Food vs. Ultra-Processed Pet Food 🐾
If you've been with us for a while, you've likely heard us refer to pet food as fresh, less-processed and ultra-processed. But what does that mean? Here's an easy way to remember! 👇
🐶🐱 We already know our furry family thrives on fresh, wholesome ingredients and they survive on ultra-processed food, so let's use a simple example to understand the difference between fresh food and ultra-processed pet food. 🍟
🥔 Fresh Food 🥔
Think of fresh food like a fresh, whole potato 1️⃣ It's natural, unprocessed and packed with nutrients in its purest form. We can eat them as they are. Fresh pet foods are the same, they contain whole, unaltered ingredients full of essential nutrients and have not been processed.
🥣 Mashed Potatoes 🥣
Now imagine mashed potatoes 2️⃣ They're still potatoes, but they have been processed. Meaning they've been heated or dried to remove moisture and we've altered their original form. They might have added ingredients like butter or milk. This is similar to processed pet foods, which are made from real ingredients but undergo processing and may have other ingredients added.
🍟 Potato Chips 🍟
Finally, potato chips 3️⃣ represent ultra-processed foods. They're far from their original potato form, often containing various additives or synthetics and preservatives. Ultra-processed pet foods, like kibble are similar. They are heavily processed and far from their natural state, often times containing artificial colors, synthetic flavors, and preservatives.
🤔 The Takeaway? While not all processing is bad and many less-processed pet foods are a quality source of nutrition, ultra-processed kibble is the farthest thing from natural, fresh whole food. Ultra-processed kibble might be convenient, but it often lacks the nutritional benefits of fresh, whole foods. For our pets, a minimally processed or fresh diet represented by the 'fresh potato' versus the 'potato chips' can mean a happier, healthier life.
If you've been with us for a while, you've likely heard us refer to pet food as fresh, less-processed and ultra-processed. But what does that mean? Here's an easy way to remember! 👇
🐶🐱 We already know our furry family thrives on fresh, wholesome ingredients and they survive on ultra-processed food, so let's use a simple example to understand the difference between fresh food and ultra-processed pet food. 🍟
🥔 Fresh Food 🥔
Think of fresh food like a fresh, whole potato 1️⃣ It's natural, unprocessed and packed with nutrients in its purest form. We can eat them as they are. Fresh pet foods are the same, they contain whole, unaltered ingredients full of essential nutrients and have not been processed.
🥣 Mashed Potatoes 🥣
Now imagine mashed potatoes 2️⃣ They're still potatoes, but they have been processed. Meaning they've been heated or dried to remove moisture and we've altered their original form. They might have added ingredients like butter or milk. This is similar to processed pet foods, which are made from real ingredients but undergo processing and may have other ingredients added.
🍟 Potato Chips 🍟
Finally, potato chips 3️⃣ represent ultra-processed foods. They're far from their original potato form, often containing various additives or synthetics and preservatives. Ultra-processed pet foods, like kibble are similar. They are heavily processed and far from their natural state, often times containing artificial colors, synthetic flavors, and preservatives.
🤔 The Takeaway? While not all processing is bad and many less-processed pet foods are a quality source of nutrition, ultra-processed kibble is the farthest thing from natural, fresh whole food. Ultra-processed kibble might be convenient, but it often lacks the nutritional benefits of fresh, whole foods. For our pets, a minimally processed or fresh diet represented by the 'fresh potato' versus the 'potato chips' can mean a happier, healthier life.