Open Farm Gently Cooked Dog Food

Open Farm Gently Dog Food is considered a moderate risk dog food with a score of 6/10. 

There are 2 recipes that have a moderate amount of carbohydrate, averaging 23% on a dry matter basis (meaning with the moisture removed, for comparison with dry foods). Points were deducted as this is higher than expected for a cooked dog food. Average protein is 41%, which is acceptable.

Despite having some better quality ingredients, these foods lose ingredient quality points because of excessive added vitamins and minerals. Ideally, these nutrients should come from whole food sources and their inclusion on a label is usually due to poor quality or overly processed raw ingredients. Vitamin and mineral excesses, especially vitamin D and copper, can also result from vitamin premixes. 

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.  

Ingredient quality is also lower because the foods all contain sunflower oil. Seed oils provide calories and taste, but they are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which can cause systemic and gut inflammation.

These foods are cooked, so each recipe loses an ingredient safety point for moderate processing. The company describes the Gently Cooked food as “sous vide in a gradual cooking process to remove bacteria while retaining more flavor, nutrients and ingredients.” However, they don’t mention the cooking temperature or time and it’s likely there is some nutrient loss from the cooking process. 

Safety points in this line are also affected because it uses ingredients like barley, known to contain higher pesticide or herbicide residues, in the top 5 ingredients. Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers pose a significant health risk to plants, animals and soils. However, there are no GMO ingredients used in these recipes.

There’s a concern about coconut oil in this line of foods. Coconut oil may be harmful to gut health and has been shown to cause undesirable changes in the gut lining.  

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. 

It’s noteworthy that the company has industry respected certifications Animal Welfare Certified beef and chicken products.