What "Human Grade" Really Means in Dog Treats and Supplements

"Human grade" has become one of the most popular marketing terms in the pet food industry. You'll see it on bags of kibble, freeze-dried treats, supplements, and even raw food blends. But for most dog owners, it's unclear what the term actually guarantees — or whether it's just clever branding.

The truth is, human grade is a real standard with specific legal requirements. But it's also widely misused, misunderstood, and diluted by vague language that sounds impressive without meaning much. If you're trying to make informed decisions about what you feed your dog, it's worth understanding what human grade actually means, how it's regulated, and why it matters.

The Official Definition of "Human Grade"

According to the FDA and AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), a pet food product can only be labeled "human grade" if:

• Every single ingredient is edible for humans — not just safe for pets, but suitable for human consumption
• All ingredients are stored, handled, and processed according to federal human food regulations — this includes things like sanitation, temperature control, and facility oversight
• The product is manufactured in a facility that meets FDA standards for human food — typically a USDA-inspected facility that processes food intended for people

In other words, human grade doesn't just mean the ingredients could theoretically be eaten by a person. It means the entire supply chain — from sourcing to processing to packaging — follows the same food safety rules as the chicken breast or ground beef you'd buy at the grocery store.

Feed Grade vs. Human Grade: What's the Difference?

Most dog food and treats are made with what the industry calls "feed-grade" ingredients. These are ingredients deemed safe for animal consumption but not approved for human food. They might include:

• Rendered meats and by-products (parts of the animal not typically consumed by humans)
• Ingredients processed in facilities that don't meet human food safety standards
• Grains, proteins, or fats that are lower quality or less fresh than what's sold for human use
• Synthetic vitamins and fillers manufactured specifically for animal feed

Feed-grade doesn't automatically mean bad or unsafe. Many high-quality dog foods are feed-grade and nutritionally sound. But the standards are lower, the oversight is lighter, and there's more room for variability in sourcing and processing. Learn more about how to evaluate dog supplement quality.

Why "Human-Grade Ingredients" Isn't the Same as "Human Grade"

This is where things get tricky — and where marketing gets misleading.

A product might claim to be made with "human-grade ingredients," but unless the entire manufacturing process meets human food safety standards, the final product is not human grade. Here's why:

• You can start with human-edible chicken, but if it's processed in a feed-grade facility without human food oversight, the product is no longer human grade
• If even one ingredient (like a synthetic vitamin premix or a rendered fat) is feed-grade, the whole product is feed-grade
• Some brands use "human-grade ingredients" as a loophole to sound premium without meeting the full legal standard

In short: "Made with human-grade ingredients" is marketing language. "Human grade" is a regulatory claim with legal meaning.

What Human Grade Actually Guarantees

When a dog treat or supplement is genuinely human grade, it means:

Higher Safety Standards

The facility is subject to USDA or FDA inspections. Ingredients are sourced, stored, and handled under stricter protocols. There's less risk of contamination, spoilage, or low-quality inputs slipping through.

Better Ingredient Quality

Human-grade ingredients are fresher, cleaner, and more tightly regulated than feed-grade alternatives. You're not getting rendered by-products or mystery proteins — you're getting the same cuts of meat, organs, and whole foods you'd recognize in your own kitchen.

More Transparency

Brands that meet human-grade standards tend to be more transparent about sourcing, processing, and testing. If a company is going through the expense and effort to manufacture in a USDA facility, they're usually proud to talk about it.

Cleaner Labels

Human-grade products are more likely to use whole-food ingredients and fewer synthetic additives, fillers, or preservatives. That's not a requirement of the term, but it's a common outcome of the stricter standards.

Does Human Grade Mean Better Nutrition?

Not necessarily — and this is an important distinction.

Human grade is about safety and quality, not nutritional superiority. A feed-grade dog food could be exceptionally well-formulated with high bioavailability and balanced macros. A human-grade product could use clean ingredients but poor formulation.

That said, human-grade products tend to perform better on nutrition because:

• Fresher, less-processed ingredients often retain more nutrients
• Whole-food sources tend to be more bioavailable than synthetic alternatives
• Brands investing in human-grade manufacturing usually care more about ingredient sourcing overall

So while human grade doesn't guarantee optimal nutrition, it's often a good indicator. Learn more about why bioavailability matters in dog nutrition.

How to Tell If a Product Is Truly Human Grade

Look for clear, direct language on the label or website:

• "This product is human grade" — not just "made with human-grade ingredients"
• USDA facility certification — ideally mentioned on the packaging or in brand materials
• Transparency about sourcing and processing — brands that meet the standard usually advertise it heavily

If a brand uses vague language like "restaurant-quality" or "kitchen-grade," that's usually a sign they don't meet the legal definition. When in doubt, email the company and ask directly: "Is your product manufactured in a USDA-inspected facility under human food safety standards?"

Why Watts Is Human Grade

At Watts, every ingredient we use is human grade, and our product is manufactured in a USDA-inspected facility that follows federal food safety standards for human consumption. That means:

• Our grass-fed beef liver, heart, and kidney come from the same supply chain that provides meat for people
• Our air-drying process happens under the same oversight and sanitation protocols as human food manufacturing
• There are no feed-grade fillers, synthetic additives, or mystery ingredients

We don't just use the term because it sounds good. We meet the legal standard because we believe dogs deserve the same safety, quality, and transparency we expect for ourselves. Learn more about why we focus on organ-based nutrition.

The Bottom Line

Human grade is more than marketing — it's a meaningful standard that ensures higher safety, better ingredient quality, and stricter oversight. But it's also frequently misused, so it's worth being skeptical and asking questions.

If you're choosing between products, look for brands that are transparent, specific, and proud of their certifications. And remember: human grade is a good starting point, but it's not the only thing that matters. Ingredient sourcing, processing methods, and nutritional formulation all play a role in whether a product truly supports your dog's health.