Guide · prices checked October 21, 2026
Human grade dog food: what the label claim means and who makes it
AAFCO defines “human grade” as a voluntary claim used by 9 brands on their own pages as of October 21, 2026. Its definition covers every ingredient and the finished product—not just the ingredients named in an ad.
brands that use the words9on their own pages, October 21, 2026
AAFCO: the claimVoluntarynot required on labels
What AAFCO says
What does AAFCO mean by human grade?
According to AAFCO, every ingredient and the finished food must be stored, handled, processed, and transported in compliance with applicable federal human food law. The requirement follows the food through production; it is not simply a description of where the meat came from.
AAFCO says the term applies to the whole product. Even a claim about “human grade ingredients” is acceptable only if the finished product meets that standard. Making the claim is voluntary.
The claim covers the finished food and its handling, not just an ingredient list.
Every ingredient
“The feed term specifies that every ingredient and the resulting product must be stored, handled, processed…”
Voluntary
“Human Grade Pet Food claims are voluntary”
Who uses the words
Which brands use the claim?
The table records brands’ own wording, not an independent certification. The Farmer’s Dog says its meals meet human-grade standards. Ollie and JustFoodForDogs use wording about human-grade ingredients, while PetPlate describes its food as human-grade.
Those differences in wording matter. Under AAFCO’s definition, an ingredient claim still requires the whole product to qualify. Read each statement as the brand’s claim rather than a separate finding about its facilities.
These are brand claims; the wording alone is not independent verification.
| Brand | Their words |
|---|---|
| The Farmer's Dog | “Yes. The Farmer’s Dog meals are made to human-grade standards…” |
| Ollie | “Quality nutrition starts at the source. That’s why we only use premium, human-grade ingredients.” |
| Spot & Tango | “100% Human-Grade Ingredients Beef A high-quality source of protein that helps support strong muscles and…” |
| Open Farm | “… Nutrient-rich recipes for dogs, made with real, human-grade ingredients—gently cooked for exceptional quality…” |
| Maev | “Maev is human-grade, meaning Maev only sources USDA-certified proteins from USDA-inspected facilities—the…” |
| JustFoodForDogs | “100% Human-Grade Ingredients” |
| PetPlate | “100% human-grade and vet nutritionist-designed.” |
| Sundays for Dogs | “Human-Grade Ingredients No synthetics, no artificial flavors, and no substitutes.” |
| Darwin's | “… is still 100% fresh, raw, and frozen, but the human-grade ingredients included are conventionally raised and…” |
What it costs
What do brands using the claim charge?
For a 30 lb adult, estimated daily costs run from $12.16 for JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato at its one-time price to $21.74 for Venison & Squash at its catalog price, both listed on the JustFoodForDogs store on October 21, 2026.
The claim does not set one price level. Both price per pound and calorie density affect the daily bill: a less calorie-dense recipe needs a larger portion to supply the same calories.
Compare the cost of equal calories, not equal pack weights.
- JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato477 g · Cooked$12.16
- Maev Raw722 g · Raw$14.25
- JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato807 g · Cooked$15.42
- JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash853 g · Cooked$21.74
Calorie-based rows only; brands without an open price or calorie figure are listed apart.
| JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato | $12.16 |
|---|---|
| Maev Raw | $14.25 |
| JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato | $15.42 |
| JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash | $21.74 |
Reading the label
What else should the label tell you?
Calories
kcal ME per kg as fed
Statement
complete and balanced, and for which life stage
Claim
“human grade”: the brand’s words
Price
per pound, then per day for your dog
Start with calories, expressed as kcal ME per kg as fed. AAFCO also calls for calories per familiar unit, such as a cup or can. This is what turns a dog’s calorie estimate into a daily portion.
Next, read the brand’s nutritional adequacy statement and intended life stage. JustFoodForDogs lists Beef & Russet Potato for adult maintenance, not growing puppies. Keep that separate from the brand’s human-grade claim, then compare price per pound and price per day.
Calories, life stage, and daily cost answer different questions from the brand’s claim.
Same dog
How much would the same dog eat?
The comparison uses an estimated 744 kcal a day for a moderately active, neutered 30 lb adult. The FEDIAF, AAHA, and WSAVA methods give a range of 694–794 kcal. The calculation method converts that target using each recipe’s label calories.
That means about 4.8 oz of Sundays for Dogs Beef versus 25.5 oz of Maev Raw daily. Quiz-only prices remain separate from published-price comparisons. These portions are starting points; adjust if the dog gains or loses weight.
Different portion weights can supply the same calories; use your dog’s needs, not another recipe’s scoop.
| Brand and recipe | Type | Grams a day | Per day | Per month | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato | Cooked | 477 g | $12.16 | $370 | One-time price; the first subscription box is $91.00 |
| Maev Raw | Raw | 722 g | $14.25 | $433 | Subscription price; one-time $206 |
| JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato | Cooked | 807 g | $15.42 | $469 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| The Farmer's Dog Turkey | Cooked | — | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
| Ollie Fresh Chicken | Cooked | 573 g | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
| Ollie Pork | Cooked | 483 g | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
| Spot & Tango Beef & Brown Rice | Cooked | 431 g | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
| Maev USDA Beef | Raw | 676 g | — | — | no open price |
| Sundays for Dogs Beef | Air-dried | 137 g | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
Partner links
Brands on this page with a partner link
- JustCheck price at JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Food Gently cookedFor Dogs - PetCheck price at PetPlate (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Plate Gently cooked - We Feed RawRawCheck price at We Feed Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
- Viva RawRawCheck price at Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
- Darwin'sRawCheck price at Darwin's (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Buttons open the brand’s store in a new tab. They are partner links: if you buy, this site may earn a commission at no cost to you. Order and prices on this page do not depend on it.
Questions
Short answers
Does AAFCO require a human-grade claim?
No. AAFCO says human-grade claims are voluntary. When a brand uses the term, AAFCO’s definition applies to every ingredient and the finished product.
Does a brand’s human-grade claim mean complete and balanced?
They are separate claims. AAFCO’s definition of human grade concerns ingredients, production, and handling; read the brand’s nutritional adequacy statement to see whether it claims the food is complete and balanced for your dog’s life stage.
Can a brand claim only human-grade ingredients?
AAFCO says a claim about human-grade ingredients is acceptable only when the product as a whole is human grade. The ingredient wording does not remove the finished-product requirement.
Does a brand’s human-grade claim mean fresh food?
The brands using the claim include cooked, raw, and air-dried foods. AAFCO’s definition of human grade describes the ingredient and production standard, rather than one food format.
Why compare brands claiming human grade by calories?
Foods differ in calorie density, so equal weights do not necessarily provide equal calories. Comparing the same dog’s calorie target shows how portion size and price per pound combine into a daily cost.
Sources
- 1FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2025europeanpetfood.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 2AAFCO: AAFCO Human Grade Standards AMSaafco.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 3AAFCO: Caloriesaafco.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 4The Farmer's Dog: Our Foodthefarmersdog.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 5Ollie: Nutritional Factsollie.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 6JustFoodForDogs: Fresh Chicken and Rice Dog Foodjustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 7PetPlate: Entreespetplate.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 8JustFoodForDogs: Beef Russet Potatojustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 9JustFoodForDogs: Real Meat Venison Dog Food Recipejustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026