where to buy freshpet

Where can I find Freshpet in the US?

Freshpet is carried in many stores across the US, including grocery, larger chain retail stores, pet specialty stores, and natural food stores. To find a Freshpet retailer near you, visit our Store Locator.

How current are the store results on the Freshpet Where to Buy tool?

Freshpet inventory will vary from store to store. The store listing results generated by our Where to Buy product locator tool will indicate that Freshpet products have been sold at a particular store within the last few weeks. Note, current inventory levels may vary by store and are not guaranteed. You may wish to first contact the store directly to verify they have a specific Freshpet product available.

quality and safety

How do you ensure the quality and safety of your fresh food?

At Freshpet, we have built our reputation on the simple fact that we take the responsibility of feeding over 13 million dogs and cats each year very seriously. So much so that we built a business on that very premise. This commitment starts with the quality and safety of our recipes. Our Quality Assurance Team carefully vets and approves all our suppliers to ensure every ingredient entering our kitchens meets the highest standards of nutrition and safety.

Throughout the cooking process, our Quality Assurance Team conducts hundreds of quality checks per hour, ensuring each individual batch of food made in our US-based kitchens meets strict safety standards. Before any recipe leaves our facility, we verify that it has been fully cooked to temperatures that eliminate any potentially harmful bacteria and pathogens, packaged under strict sanitary conditions, and is stored in a temperature-controlled environment. Our process ensures that our food is safe to feed your pets, and that your dog or cat can enjoy our meals with total peace of mind.

For additional questions regarding safety and quality, click here.

Is there a risk for parasites or harmful bacteria in this process??

This steam-cooking process effectively eliminates harmful bacteria. Microbial testing is an ongoing critical step for our Quality Assurance team.

Do you own the plant where the food is manufactured?

Yes! we wholly own two manufacturing sites. One in Bethlehem, PA and another in Ennis, TX. On YouTube if you search for Freshpet, you can find different videos that show little bits and pieces of our manufacturing plants. 

Do you test your supplier's ingredients and final products for pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella, or mycotoxins-mold?

Yes. Not only pathogens, but the food and ingredients are tested for heavy metals, pesticides, antibiotics, mycotoxins, nutrient composition, and other contaminants that do not fall under these broad categories. Each ingredient and final product has specific parameters for each of the above that our suppliers (in the case of ingredients) and our manufacturing facilities (finished product) must follow. 

ingredients

Is Freshpet food raw?

Freshpet is not a raw food; our recipes have been fully cooked to temperatures that eliminate any potentially harmful pathogens or bacteria. We take great care in crafting fresh, high-quality recipes for your pets, and always source our animal proteins from USDA-inspected suppliers. We also package our recipes under strict hygienic conditions, and keep them fresh in the fridge, so your furry family member can enjoy our meals with complete peace of mind.

Where do Freshpet ingredients come from?

Freshpet recipes are made with natural and fresh meat, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. We believe in building long-term supplier partnerships to source healthy and sustainable ingredients with many being locally sourced to our Freshpet Kitchens. 96% of our ingredients are from North America. The other 4% are non-domestic, such as Europe and Canada.

We carefully monitor incoming ingredients and work with our partners to ensure they adhere to our high-quality standards.

Is Freshpet food all natural?

Freshpet is made with only all-natural ingredients, with the exception of our vitamins and minerals which are processed to maintain nutritional quantity. Our recipes also never contain any artificial or chemical preservatives, BHA, propylene glycol, flavors, or colors commonly found in traditional dry, canned and semi-moist pet food.

How does Freshpet verify the quality of their meats?

All ingredients undergo thorough inspections, testing, and release criteria prior to use. Freshpet adheres closely to the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) by performing risk assessments and establishing supplier preventive controls to ensure that the ingredients received do not pose a food safety risk.

Why does Freshpet use fresh meats instead of rendered meals?

Freshpet uses only muscle and organ meats held to higher quality standards and have never been pre-processed as it is more nutrient dense and easier for our pets to digest. We also choose to never use any “chicken meal” or “meat meals.” Meat meals can include varying types and qualities of meat and waste products, are highly processed, and can have a shelf life longer than a year.

Why do your products contain salt? Shouldn’t we monitor sodium intake in pets?

Freshpet uses minimal amounts of salt and potassium chloride (lite salt) in our recipes to help combine our fresh meats. Our salt levels are within levels recommended by veterinary nutritionists and our sodium levels are within AAFCO requirements.

Do you have recipes that contain over 10% pulses on a caloric basis (e.g. peas, lentils, beans, chickpeas)?

Our products are mainly meat based. We have products that are grain-free and grain-based; however, in both cases, the grains and pulses are not even added at 10% of the formula.

nutrition

Is Freshpet complete and balanced nutrition?

Freshpet recipes are 100% complete and balanced and exceed AAFCO’s minimum standards for canine and feline nutrition. All formulas are fortified with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to meet the recipe-guaranteed life stages. Our treats are not complete and balanced.

Is Freshpet approved and recommended by veterinarians?

All our recipes are rigorously formulated and approved by Dr. Gerardo Perez-Camargo, our resident veterinarian and Head of R&D, who holds a PhD in Applied Biochemistry and Food Science. Designed to be nutritionally balanced, our recipes either meet or surpass both AAFCO and WSAVA guidelines.

We’re also proud to have established the Freshpet Nutrition Council, a group of board-certified DVMs, DVNs, DACVNs and PhDs who guide, supervise and validate our research. To read more on what vets are saying about Freshpet, click here.

The moisture or amount of water in Freshpet food seems high, why is this?

Freshpet refrigerated food is high in animal protein, so you can expect them to have the same moisture content as fresh, human-grade meats. 70-75% moisture is the natural state of fresh meat. Chicken breast meat contains 74.6% moisture, and fresh turkey meat contains 75.8%. (Reference: USDA database)

Why does traditional dry food seem to have more protein than Freshpet food when I look at the Guaranteed Analysis on the label?

A “Guaranteed Analysis” is used to put a value on four nutrients in your pet’s food: protein, fat, fiber, and moisture. But it doesn’t consider the water content of your pet’s food, which can be a little misleading. Even the Food and Drug Administration admits to this on their website stating, “To make meaningful comparisons of nutrient levels between a canned (or fresh) and dry product, they should be expressed on the same moisture basis.”

To determine the amount of protein on a dry matter basis:

Subtract the moisture percentage from 100% to determine the dry matter percentage

Divide the protein percentage by the percent of dry matter percentage

Multiply by 100

For a simple example, a food with 10% protein and 75% moisture is within the range of Freshpet foods:

100% – 75% moisture = 25% dry matter

10% Protein /25% dry Matter = .4

.4 x 100 = 40% dry matter protein content

This same formula can be used to determine the dry matter fat and fiber contents.

Is the protein level in Freshpet recipes appropriate for all dogs?

For pets that have pancreatic problems or compromised renal function (i.e. kidney), high protein diets made from meat and fish should be avoided. If your pet suffers from these conditions, consult your veterinarian to determine if Freshpet is appropriate.

Does Freshpet cause obesity?

With a highly palatable and nutrient dense product like Freshpet, pet owners need to adhere to recommended feeding guidelines. Freshpet bags only have half of the energy density of dry pet foods and rolls only have around 1/3 of the energy density of dry pet foods. Feeding less energy dense products helps manage a healthy weight in the pet. By knowing the caloric content in our products you may want to adjust those feeding guidelines based on the animal presented.

Do you have specific recipes formulated to meet the Adult Maintenance AAFCO Nutrient Profile, or are they developed and approved for ''All Life Stages''?

Freshpet has different brands and different formulas. Overall products from our Vital brand are formulated to be all life stages as outlined in the AAFCO. Our Freshpet Select, Nature's Fresh, and Home Style Creations brands have adult maintenance formulas and all life stage formulas. 

Has Freshpet published research in peer-reviewed journals?

Yes, we have published three research studies. The most recent one (from 2022) was done with dogs in their homes where we saw an increase in skin microbiome diversity, which could help to manage skin sensitivities. The other publications were done at the University of Illinois. The goal was to quantify the impacts of the different chicken ingredients and processes used to make pet food on the availability of essential amino acids. Results show that our cooking process not only damage less the amino acids as compared to extrusion (dry diets) and canning (wet foods), but improved the digestibility of some amino acids as compared to raw chicken. This research helps to show that cooking is important for food safety and if done properly, can also improve amino acid availability.

choosing freshpet

Which recipe is right for my pet? Which do I choose?

Freshpet believes in the difference fresh dog and cat food can make to the health of your pet. The choice between Freshpet recipes really depends on the individual needs and preferences of you and your pet.

All Freshpet food is:

Made with all natural, fresh ingredients

Made with farm raised chicken and beef

100% all-natural protein

Free of artificial or chemical preservatives

Minimally processed to retain essential vitamins and nutrients naturally found in our fresh ingredients

Free of corn, wheat and rendered meals

Learn more about our wide selection of fresh food here.

How are Freshpet treats different from other dog treats?

Freshpet treats are all-natural, contain no artificial preservatives, and are less processed than traditional treats. To ensure the freshness of our simple and healthy ingredients, our Freshpet chicken treats must be refrigerated and used within 10 days of opening and our Freshpet turkey treats must be refrigerated and used within 14 days.

feeding and serving

What is the best way to change to Freshpet?

When switching from another brand of pet food to Freshpet, we recommend doing so gradually over a period of 7-10 days.

Can I feed Freshpet to my puppy?

All Vital recipes are AAFCO-approved for all life stages, including puppyhood. In addition, Freshpet offers puppy-specific rolls in both our Select and Vital lines. To learn more about feeding your puppy fresh food, click here.

What makes Nature’s Fresh different?

Our Nature’s Fresh brand is fresh, sustainable pet food made with humanely raised meats, fruits, and vegetables and no preservatives. Go to our Nature's Fresh homepage for complete information on this Kind to the Planet recipe.

Is Freshpet a suitable alternative for home cooked short-term feeding like hamburger and rice?

Freshpet may be a convenient and suitable alternative when recommending to clients a simple single protein/single carbohydrate like hamburger or chicken and rice for short term feeding. It has many attributes of home cooking such as easily digestible, highly palatable, and energy dense that may provide an adjunct to therapy that is consistent, complete and balanced, and certainly easier to prepare for the pet owner.

shelf life

Can Freshpet food be frozen and stored in my freezer for future use?

We recommend serving our food fresh from the fridge for the best results, but you can choose to freeze any unused portions for later use. Be aware that you may see a slight change in color and texture when thawed, but this won’t change the nutritional value or taste of our meals.

Once served, how long is it safe to leave Freshpet food in my dog or cat’s bowl?

Treat Freshpet refrigerated food as if you would freshly prepared foods at home. We recommend that you do not leave refrigerated food in the bowl for longer than 1 hour. Return any unused food to the fridge when you’re finished serving.

How can I tell if the product is fresh when I buy it at the store?

Just like the fresh human food you’d buy at your grocery store, you’ll find a sell by date on each package of Freshpet. Once it’s opened, we recommend using it within:

Rolls: 7 days

Patties: 5 days

Spring & Sprout and Homestyle Creations Bagged Meals: 5 days

Freshpet Select, Deli Fresh, and Vital Bagged Meals: 7 days

Single Serve: 2 days

Turkey Dog Treats: 14 days

Chicken Dog Treats: 10 days

Can Freshpet food be microwaved?

Our food comes fully cooked and made to be served fresh out of the refrigerator – no additional cooking necessary! But some pet parents like to “take the chill off” by putting Freshpet in the microwave for a few seconds. If you do decide to microwave our product, you may see some sparking from the vitamin and mineral supplement that is added to the recipe. This is not harmful to nutritional quality of the food, but please be careful not to microwave Freshpet in its packaging (and especially avoid microwaving the metal rings at the end of our rolls). To determine the ideal microwaving time, please refer to this helpful guide.

How are Freshpet products preserved?

Freshpet products do not contain any preservatives in them, we rely exclusively on maintaining the cold chain to preserve the products.

Do you provide "best if used by" dating and traceability codes on your products?

Yes. You can find this information on the back of the package of any of our foods in the market today. This information is printed on each package in our manufacturing facilities in black ink. 

clean label certfication

What is the Clean Label Project Purity Award, and what does it mean for Freshpet?

Freshpet has received Clean Label Project’s Purity Award across our portfolio, which means our recipes meet their highest purity standard based on independent testing for contaminants. Clean Label Project is a non-profit that tests products beyond traditional food safety standards looking for “hidden” contaminants such as heavy metals (e.g., lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium) as well as pesticides and plasticizers. The Purity Award signals Freshpet’s commitment to purity, transparency, and ingredient quality.

What contaminants does Clean Label Project test for, and how did fresh dog food compare to dry dog food?

Clean Label Project tests for contaminants that may not be shown on labels, including heavy metals and other industrial or environmental contaminants. Clean Label Project’s testing found that dry dog food (on average) had much higher concentrations of contaminants like lead, arsenic, cadmium, acrylamide, and the plasticizer DEHP than fresh dog food. Receiving Clean Label Project’s Purity Award helps validate that Freshpet’s recipes have lower contaminants than many dry dog food products.

veterinary support

Is there a risk for parasites or harmful bacteria in Freshpet's cooking process?

Our steam-cooking process effectively eliminates harmful bacteria. Microbial testing is a critical, ongoing step for our Quality Assurance team in every batch of food we produce.

How are Freshpet products preserved?

Freshpet products are preserved without artifical additives. We rely on maintaining cold chain distribution from production to shipping to in-store fridges in order to preserve our products.

Do you own the plant where the food is manufactured?

Yes. We wholly own two manufacturing sites: one in Bethlehem, PA, and another in Ennis, TX.

Do you provide "best if used by" dating and traceability codes on your products?

Yes. You can find this information on the back of the package on any of our recipes currently in market. It is printed on each package in black ink at our manufacturing facilities.

Do you test your supplier's ingredients and final products for pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella, or mycotoxins-mold?

Yes. In addition to pathogens, our ingredients and finished products are tested for heavy metals, pesticides, antibiotics, mycotoxins, nutrient composition, and other contaminants that fall outside these broad categories. Each ingredient and finished product has specific parameters that our suppliers (for ingredients) and our manufacturing facilities (for finished products) must follow.

Do you have recipes that contain over 10% pulses on a caloric basis (e.g. peas, lentils, beans, chickpeas)?

Our products are primarily meat-based. We offer both grain-free and grain-based recipes; however, in both cases, grains and pulses are not included at even 10% of the formula.

Does Freshpet cause weight gain?

With a highly palatable, nutrient-dense product like Freshpet, pet parents should adhere to recommended feeding guidelines. Freshpet bagged recipes contain only half the energy density of dry pet foods, and rolls contain approximately one-third the energy density of dry pet foods. Feeding less energy-dense products helps maintain a healthy weight in the pet. By understanding the caloric content of our products, you can adjust feeding guidelines based on the animal presented.

Is Freshpet a suitable alternative for home cooked short-term feeding like hamburger and rice?

Freshpet may be a convenient and suitable alternative when recommending a simple single-protein/single-carbohydrate diet, such as hamburger or chicken and rice, to clients for short-term feeding. It shares many attributes of home cooking, such as being easily digestible, highly palatable, and energy-dense, and may provide an adjunct to therapy that is consistent, complete, and balanced, and certainly easier for the pet parent to prepare.

Do you have specific recipes formulated to meet the Adult Maintenance AAFCO Nutrient Profile, or are they developed and approved for ''All Life Stages''?

Freshpet offers multiple brands and formulas. Products from our Vital brand are formulated for All Life Stages as outlined by AAFCO. Our Freshpet and Homestyle Creations brands include both Adult Maintenance and All Life Stages formulas, as well.

Has Freshpet published research in peer-reviewed journals?

Yes, we have published three research studies. The most recent (from 2022) was conducted with dogs in their homes, where we observed an increase in skin microbiome diversity, which may help manage skin sensitivities. The other publications were conducted at the University of Illinois, with the goal of quantifying the impacts of different chicken ingredients and processes used in pet food production on the availability of essential amino acids. Results showed that our cooking process not only causes less damage to amino acids compared to extrusion (dry diets) and canning (wet foods), but also improves the digestibility of some amino acids compared to raw chicken. This research demonstrates that cooking is important for food safety and, when done properly, can also improve amino acid availability.