OPEN FARM Freeze dried RAW dog fooD

Open Farm Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food is considered a low risk dog food with an overall score of 8.8/10. The food lost no points for light processing and scored 10/10 for ingredient safety. It’s good to see that all the produce is organic, suggesting better quality.

Two of the recipes have carbohydrate levels a little higher than we expect to see in freeze dried dog food, and they have lost points for it. There are no added starches or grains so they are probably derived from the vegetables in the recipes. The average protein level is 40%, which is a good level for these dog foods.

All of the recipes in this line lose points for excessive added vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals from whole food sources are preferred because they include the full spectrum of cofactors, which makes them safe and bioavailable. When there are 5 or more added vitamins or minerals, it implies the ingredients are of poor nutritional value. It’s surprising to see this in a freeze dried raw food that doesn’t lose nutrients during processing, because no heat is applied. 

It’s also worth noting that the line contains sodium selenite as a source of selenium. Dogs need selenium, and it’s usually added in very small amounts. However some research suggests that sodium selenite may be associated with potential toxicity, so selenium yeast is the preferred form of this mineral.  

The food contains an average of 10% carbohydrates, which likely come from the produce ingredients, including a couple of starchy vegetables like carrots and squash. The foods all have a somewhat lower percentage of fat than protein, which is desirable in a freeze dried food. 

The produce in the freeze dried food is all organic so there are no GMO ingredients and minimal herbicide/pesticide residue. 

The company describes meats as humanely raised and animal welfare certified. The whole fish ingredients are wild-caught, which is more nutritious than farmed fish. The beef is pasture raised and grass-fed, also making it more nutritious. This attention to quality standards is commendable.  

It’s noteworthy that the company has industry respected certifications for its animal products. Some beef products are Global Animal Partnership Certified (GAP), Step 4 meaning the animals are raised on pasture, and others are Animal Welfare Certified beef products. Some chicken and turkey products are GAP Step 1 certified for living in permanent housing and provided with the space, and some are Step 2 certified for living in an enriched indoor environment.

But it’s disappointing to see the amount of glam ingredients in these recipes. These are expensive or desirable ingredients like blueberries, kale or apples are often added to appeal to consumers but may be in miniscule amounts. If these foods are below salt or other low concentration ingredients, they contribute little or no nutritional value for your dog. In this case, spinach, kale, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, squash and salmon oil are all listed further down the list after salt. 

Also, there’s salmon oil from Iceland in several of the recipes but it isn’t specified as wild-caught so it’s likely from farmed fish, which is less nutritious than wild-caught.

All of the Open Farm recipes have the omega-3:omega-6 ratio posted on the website within the nutritional profile of each food. It’s hoped that all manufacturers will list this important information since AAFCO allows a very inflammatory ratio of 30:1.