Maximizing Nutrients and Digestibility: The Role of Ingredient Sourcing and Processing in Pet Food

Ingredient sourcing and processing are the two biggest factors that separate nutritious dog and cat food from food that simply fills a bowl. Whole food ingredients can lose their nutritional value when cooked at extreme high heat; which is why how a meal is prepared matters just as much as what goes into it.

We're not the only ones who think so. Here's how Dr. Joe Inglis, BVSc, MRCVS — veterinarian, animal nutrition expert, and collaborator on the Tom&Sawyer VetChef line — puts it:

"When selecting the best food for your furry companion, the sourcing and processing of ingredients are critical factors that can greatly impact their health." - Dr. Joe Inglis, BVSc, MRCVS.

Dr. Inglis is a UK-based Veterinarian and expert in animal nutrition. He is also the founder of VetChef and collaborator on the Tom&Sawyer VetChef line of recipes found at www.vetchef.pet

In this blog post, you'll learn what whole food ingredient sourcing looks like in practice, how gently-cooked dog and cat food preserves nutrients, and what to look for when choosing the right food for your pet.

When it comes to choosing the best dog food or cat food for your pet, there are many factors to consider. One of the most important is ingredient sourcing and processing methods.

The quality of ingredients and the way they are processed or cooked can have a big impact on the palatability, digestibility, and nutritional value of pet food.

What Ingredient Sourcing Means for Your Dog's Food

Ingredient sourcing refers to the process of obtaining the raw ingredients used in products. In our case, this is the sourcing of our ingredients to use in our delicious, gently-cooked meals!

"High-quality, responsibly sourced ingredients not only enhance the nutritional value of pet food but also ensure safety and palatability. By prioritizing ingredient quality and careful processing, we can provide pets with the nourishing meals they deserve, ultimately supporting their overall well-being and longevity." - Dr. Joe Inglis, BVSc, MRCVS.

It involves selecting and purchasing ingredients from suppliers, whether they be local, regional, or international, and then ensuring that they meet certain quality standards.

Ingredient sourcing also involves verifying the origins of the ingredients, checking for potential contaminants, and ensuring that the ingredients are handled and stored properly to maintain their quality and ensure food safety.

The sourcing process is an important part of making our meals at Tom&Sawyer, as the quality and safety of the ingredients can affect the final product's nutritional value, palatability, and safety for pets.

How Tom&Sawyer® Sources Its Dog Food Ingredients

Ingredient sourcing is crucial for the making of our high-quality pet meals. The quality and safety of ingredients can vary widely depending on the source, which is why our chefs pay close attention to the sourcing process.

Finding trustworthy suppliers that can deliver fresh, high-quality, and safe ingredients for our meals is a priority for us at Tom&Sawyer. We do our best to find suppliers that are local, and specifically, Canadian! However, some of our ingredients must be sourced internationally. No matter where our suppliers are, they must follow strict guidelines for the cultivation, harvesting, and transportation of ingredients.

Another important aspect of ingredient sourcing is verifying the origins of the ingredients and checking for potential contaminants. For example, ingredients need to be free of heavy metals, pesticides, or other harmful substances that could pose a risk to pet health.

Our suppliers also need to ensure that the ingredients are handled and stored properly to maintain their quality and safety. This includes monitoring factors such as temperature, humidity, and exposure to light, which can all affect the stability of certain ingredients.

Other factors that are important to us here at Tom&Sawyer:

1) Ingredients need to be non-GMO. While there is not enough research to say definitively that there are negative long-term health consequences to non-GMO foods for our pets, we just don’t feel it is worth the risk!

2) Certified Organic when possible! Oftentimes, organic can mean more sustainable farming practices, and may reduce exposure to synthetic fertilizers or chemicals that could pose health or allergy risks for our pets.

Photo by Karsten Winegeart

3) Human Grade Ingredients: We don’t want to feed our pets anything that we wouldn’t eat ourselves, and that is why our ingredients must be human grade!

Overall, ingredient sourcing plays a crucial role in the production of high-quality and safe pet food. By selecting and purchasing ingredients from reputable suppliers and verifying their quality and safety, we can ensure that pets receive the maximum nutritional benefits from their food while minimizing the risk of adverse health effects.

Why Cat and Dog Food Processing Methods Affect Nutrient Quality

Processing in this context of pet food refers to the methods used to turn raw materials into a finished pet food product. This can involve several steps, such as grinding, mixing, heating, cooling, and packaging.

One of the primary goals of processing is to ensure that the final product is safe and free from harmful pathogens, bacteria, and other contaminants that could pose a risk to pet health. This is achieved through methods such as cooking, which can help eliminate harmful bacteria, and sterilization, which can kill any remaining microorganisms.

“Processing in pet food is always a careful balancing act. On one hand, you need to apply enough heat to ensure food safety; on the other, too much heat can damage nutrients, especially amino acids, and reduce their digestibility and availability. What many people don’t realize is that, in some cases, the right amount of processing can actually improve nutrient availability. The key is precision: understanding how each ingredient responds to heat and handling. When brands take the time to optimize these conditions, they’re able to protect the functional ingredients that matter most for a pet’s health.”
— Dr. Kelly Swanson, PhD, Pet Nutrition Researcher from the University of Illinois

Just as Dr. Swanson states, processing also plays a critical role in ensuring that pet food meets certain nutritional requirements. For example, some nutrients in pet food may be more easily absorbed by pets if they are cooked or processed in a specific way, whereas other nutrients may be better absorbed when ingredients are not cooked. At Tom&Sawyer, we consider the processing or cooking of each individual ingredient based on what we want it to deliver to your pets meal!

Therefore, processing can help improve the digestibility and palatability of pet food, making it more appealing to pets and easier for them to digest and absorb the nutrients they need.

How Tom&Sawyer's Gently-Cooked Process Works

Gently-cooked dog food is prepared at lower temperatures than other foods, enough to eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens, but not so high that the nutrients get cooked out. At Tom&Sawyer, every ingredient is cooked individually to its optimal internal temperature, which means your dog or cat gets the nutritional benefit each ingredient was chosen to deliver.

The way that pet food is processed can also have a big impact on its nutritional value. Here are some key factors to consider when it comes to processing methods:

1) Heat Processing or Cooking: Most pet foods are heat-processed at extremely high heats, for example, dry food kibbles. This can destroy some of the nutrients in the food and may reduce the digestibility of the nutrients left. We use gentle cooking methods to preserve the nutrients and in many of our ingredients, this can actually make the nutrients inside more digestible for your pet!

2) Freshness: Fresh food is more nutritious than food that has been sitting on a shelf for months. This is why we make our meals in small batches. By flash-freezing our meals, we also negate the need for harmful preservatives. Our meals can be kept frozen for up to 24 months, but once thawed, our meals are safe in the fridge for up to four days.

3) Additives: Many pet foods contain artificial preservatives or other additives that can be harmful to your pet's health. As mentioned above, we freeze our meals to remove the need for harmful additives. Natural preservatives can also include vitamin E or rosemary extract, which help keep the fatty acids from going bad!

Why Ingredient Quality and Cooking Method Matter for Dog Food Digestibility

The quality of the ingredients and the way they are processed can have a big impact on the digestibility and nutritional value of pet food. Here are some reasons why ingredient sourcing and processing methods matter:

1) Digestibility: High-quality, whole-food ingredients are more digestible than lower-quality ingredients. This means that your pet will be able to absorb more of the nutrients in the food, which can lead to better overall health.

2) Nutrient Density: Foods that are made with high-quality, whole-food ingredients are more nutrient-dense than foods made with lower-quality ingredients. This means that your pet will be getting more of the important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that they need to stay healthy.

3) Allergies and Sensitivities: Food allergies in dogs and cats are more common than many pet owners realize. By choosing high-quality, whole-food ingredients, you can avoid some of the common allergens, such as corn or wheat. Novel proteins like kangaroo are a good example of a dog food for dogs with allergies that sidesteps the most common triggers entirely.

Choosing the best food for your pet involves more than just looking at the nutritional information on the label. It's important to consider the quality of the ingredients and the way they are processed. By choosing high-quality, whole-food ingredients and minimally processed foods, you can help ensure that your pet is getting the maximum nutrients from their food and avoid potential allergens and sensitivities.

What to Look for When Choosing a Dog or Cat Food Brand

When evaluating any pet food label, the ingredient list and the guaranteed analysis are two key tools for understanding what you are feeding your pet.

1) The Ingredient List

The ingredient list provides a window into the meal’s composition. Dog and cat food ingredients are listed in descending order by weight on the label, meaning the items at the top of the list are present in the highest quantities.

• Whole Food Focus: Look for whole food ingredients making up the majority of the list, and especially at the top of the list.
• Supplements: Essential vitamins and minerals that ensure a complete and balanced cat and dog food should naturally appear towards the end of the list.

2) The Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis gives you some quantitative information about the major nutrient groups in the food. This is where you can find details regarding the minimum percentages of protein and fat, and the maximum percentages of fiber and moisture in the pet meal.

3) Beyond the Label

While the label is informative, it’s also important to consider and evaluate the manufacturer’s commitment to quality and transparency, as this directly affects the final nutritional value.

• Processing Method: The way dog and cat food is cooked has a direct impact on how many nutrients your pet actually absorbs from every meal. Gently-cooked dog and cat food is prepared at precise low temperatures that eliminate harmful bacteria while keeping the nutrients in whole food ingredients intact. The difference shows up in digestibility, coat health, energy levels, and stool quality.
• Production Standards: Finally, look at where the food is made. Dog and cat food prepared in a Human Grade facility is held to the same production standards as food made for people: stricter safety protocols, better ingredient handling, and greater accountability at every step.

Key things to check:

• Is it made in a Human Grade or federally inspected facility?
• Are the ingredients non-GMO and free of artificial preservatives?
• Is the cooking method clearly explained and does it protect nutrient quality?

A brand that can answer yes to all three is one worth trusting with your dog or cat's nutrition.

As always, it's important to consult with your veterinarian to determine the best diet for your individual pet's needs.

Written by: Hannah Godfrey
Animal Nutritionist
BSc.H. | MSc. | Ph.D.
www.tomandsawyer.com