OC Raw Freeze Dried Dog Food Review

OC Raw’s Freeze Dried Dog Food is considered a low risk dog food, scoring an average 8.8 for the 6 foods in the line. No points are deducted for light processing. The foods are higher in carbohydrates than some freeze dried foods, averaging around 15% – and some of the recipes lost ingredient quality points for carb content as high as 21%.  Protein averages more than 45%.  

OC Raw’s manufacturing is done in their family owned commercial kitchen.

OC Raw’s Freeze Dried line has 6 recipes. These are 90% raw meat or fish-based formulas (including bone and organ meats) with 10% produce. The foods all have a lower percentage of fat than protein, which is desirable in a raw food. While meats are described as free-range, there’s no information provided about how the animals are fed. Produce is not specified as organic.

Some of the recipes lose points for containing ingredients such as beets, alfalfa or spinach that are known to be high in pesticide or herbicide residues.These chemicals pose a significant health risk to plants, animals and soils. Foods reported as high residue foods are penalized when they’re not organic.  

While the company states their produce is GMO-free, it’s not certified, and some recipes lost points due to foods like alfalfa or apples that are known to be genetically modified. There are limited safety studies on GMO foods and they’re less nutritious than non GMO. 

There are no added vitamins or minerals except for calcium carbonate in some recipes. This indicates higher quality ingredients with nutrients that come from whole foods, without the need for fortification. 

The company doesn’t say whether fish is wild-caught or farmed. Wild caught fish is more nutritious and has a better fatty acid balance than farmed fish. 

The food does not provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio, which is a concern since AAFCO allows a very inflammatory ratio of 30:1.