Our Standards
We exist because Sawyer deserved better than 'feed'
Most pet food is legally classified as animal feed. Ours isn't.
Build my pet's plan
What 100% Human Grade Pet Food means:
At Tom&Sawyer, our meals are prepared to the same standards as the food on your own plate.
Ingredients
Only human grade ingredients are found in our recipes.
Facility
Prepared in a licensed and government inspected human-food facility.
Preparation
Prepared following human-food safety rules.
Handling
Handled and stored to human-food regulations at every step.
Documentation
Full documentation at every step.
Sanitation
Sanitation practices that prevent cross-contamination.
Tom&Sawyer Human Grade vs Feed Grade Pet Food
- Ingredients
- Human-grade ingredients like lean muscle meats, whole foods like fruits and vegetables, and other ingredients you'd buy at the grocery store.
- Ingredients held to the same standard as livestock feed. By-products, meat meals, and in some cases, 4D meats (dead, dying, diseased or disabled).
- Preparation
- Every meal is cooked in a licensed, government inspected human-food facility, following human-food safety rules at every step.
- Held to animal feed standards — a lower bar than the regulations governing the food on your plate.
- Oversight
- Fully documented with strict sanitation protocols, and human-food regulatory standards from raw ingredients to the finished meals.
- Governed by animal feed regulations — a standard designed for livestock, not the family member eating from your bowl.
“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.”
How it's made
- 1
It starts with food
Real, human grade, non-GMO ingredients sourced from restaurant-quality suppliers.
- 2
Individually cooked ingredients
Each ingredient is prepared to its own optimal temperature and time, to preserve (or improve) its natural nutrients.
- 3
Recipes tested for efficacy
Multiple rounds of lab testing confirm every recipe is nutritionally complete & balanced.
Questions about our standards
What does “Human Grade” mean at Tom&Sawyer?
At Tom&Sawyer, Human Grade means our meals are produced to the same safety and handling standards used for human food. This includes the ingredients we source, the licensed human food facility where our meals are prepared, and how the food is stored, handled, and packaged.
You may see other brands use phrases like “human-edible” or “made with human-grade ingredients.” These terms can sound similar, but they don’t always mean the finished food was produced under full human food standards.
For us, Human Grade means those standards apply throughout the entire process — helping ensure greater transparency, traceability, and food safety.
It’s one of the ways we deliver on our promise of human grade, gently-cooked meals for pets.
For more detail and further information, click here.
What are the NRC and AAFCO? Does Tom&Sawyer meet their recommendations?
The National Research Council (NRC) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) are two organizations that establish nutrient recommendations for pet food.
- The NRC publishes research-based nutrient requirements for animals.
- AAFCO uses this research to set practical nutrient standards for commercial pet foods.
All Tom&Sawyer meals are formulated to meet or exceed AAFCO nutrient profiles, which are the recognized standard for complete and balanced pet food. Because our recipes are made with fresh, whole-food ingredients, their nutrient availability closely aligns with the science behind NRC recommendations as well.
Learn more about the differences between nutrients and ingredients by clicking here.