Freshpet: Facts, Recalls & Verified Foods
Freshpet is made by Freshpet, Inc., founded 2006 — it scores green on 4 of 5 WSAVA-aligned criteria we track (0 red, 1 undisclosed), 2 FDA recalls on record, and 0 of the 4 Freshpet foods we've verified carry an AAFCO feeding-trial statement.
· 4 Freshpet food labels checked
The scorecard
WSAVA-aligned criteria
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association's nutrition guidelines suggest questions to ask any pet food maker before you buy. Here are this brand's answers, each with its source, or marked undisclosed when we could not confirm one.
4 of 5 criteria confirmed yes · 0 confirmed no · 1 undisclosed. Undisclosed is common, especially for smaller brands — it means we couldn't confirm an answer from a public source, not that the answer is unfavorable.
Names Lisa Weeth, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), a full-time Freshpet employee. Page also lists PhD-holding staff scientists including Gerardo Pérez-Camargo, DVM, PhD and Eden Ephraim, PhD.
source & quote
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10-K states Freshpet owns and operates its own 'Freshpet Kitchens' facilities in Bethlehem, PA and Ennis, TX.
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says: Freshpet conducts AAFCO feeding trials (not stated whether all or some foods). Vet page (fp2) adds 'we do both' lab analysis and feeding trials, 'often complementing lab analysis with feeding trials to measure palatability and digestibility'. None of the 4 AAFCO statements we read on its labels says "animal feeding tests".
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covers: finished-product pathogen testing; same bullet list also says 'Rigorous ingredient testing for nutrients, contaminants, and pathogens' (ingredient testing, toxin/contaminant testing). Freshpet vet-facing page.
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3 PubMed papers (animal/pet filtered) list Freshpet in an author address; we checked 3 and 3 really name the company. A floor, not a total.
source
These five checks come from WSAVA's guidelines on selecting pet foods — not our own opinion score. WSAVA does not approve or list brands. See how all 50 brands we track answer WSAVA's questions → · Our methodology →
The company
Who makes Freshpet
Ownership and history, each sourced independently — private-label and co-packed brands often hide the actual manufacturer behind the name on the bag.
Parent company
Freshpet, Inc.
source
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Headquarters
Bedminster, New Jersey, USA
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The cost
What Freshpet costs, against everything else we have priced
None of the 4 Freshpet foods we have verified is currently price-matched to a live retail listing, so we will not state a cost per 1,000 kcal for this brand. The composition figures below are verified regardless.
What Freshpet actually puts in its food
The ingredients this brand reaches for most across its 4 verified foods, counted once per recipe. Each links to what the ingredient is, what the evidence says, and how common it is industry-wide.
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Carrageenan
In 3 of 4 Freshpet foods (75%).
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Peas
In 2 of 4 Freshpet foods (50%).
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Sweet potato
In 1 of 4 Freshpet foods (25%).
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Fish oil (EPA + DHA omega-3)
In 1 of 4 Freshpet foods (25%).
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Tapioca
In 1 of 4 Freshpet foods (25%).
The safety record
FDA recall history
From the FDA's Animal & Veterinary recall list, last checked 2026-10-19, plus older FDA notices we added by hand. Freshpet recall page →
One lot of Freshpet Select Fresh From the Kitchen Home Cooked Chicken Recipe dog food, 4.5 lb bags
Potential Salmonella contamination
One lot of Freshpet Select Small Dog Bite Size Beef & Egg Recipe dog food, 1 lb bags
Potential Salmonella contamination
The FDA's online recall list is complete for recent years but leaves out many notices from before about 2023. We add older FDA recall notices by hand when we find them.
The labels
What we've verified from Freshpet's labels
Computed directly from the official-label data we've extracted for this brand — never estimated.
Foods verified
4
4 dog
Feeding-trial validated
0
of 4 (0%)
Formulated to meet
4
AAFCO paper calculation
Label transparency
47%
avg. fields disclosed
The foods
Foods from Freshpet we've verified
Every one links to its own Verified Label — guaranteed analysis, AAFCO statement, and (where priced) cost per day.