Pet Food Regulations, Nutrition, and the Homemade vs. Packaged Debate

As a devoted pet parent and breeder, I often feel the weight of responsibility when it comes to feeding my dogs. Every time I stand in the pet food aisle or read the latest research study, I ask myself: Am I truly giving them the best? It’s frustrating, because no matter what choice we make, kibble, fresh food, or homemade, there are trade-offs. So, I decided to dig into what’s really going on behind the scenes in pet food manufacturing, recent research on processed diets, and the pros and cons of preparing food myself versus buying it packaged. Here’s what I’ve found.

How Pet Food Manufacturers Are Regulated

Pet food isn’t the wild west, there’s actually a web of oversight in place. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) makes sure that pet foods are safe, properly labeled, and produced with approved ingredients. Thanks to the Food Safety Modernization Act, companies must follow preventive rules and can even be forced into recalls if something goes wrong. At the state level, regulators use the model guidelines created by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). AAFCO doesn’t regulate directly, but their nutrition standards and ingredient definitions set the tone for what ends up on store shelves. Add in

state inspectors and routine facility checks, and you can see how layered the process is, though it’s still imperfect. In fact, a recent bill called the PURR Act is being discussed tocentralize oversight under the FDA and remove fragmented state-level reviews.

What Research Says About Processed Dog Foods

Here’s where it gets tricky. Research in the last few years shows that not all processed foods are created equal. Freeze-dried raw diets tend to have the best amino acid digestibility. Fresh, lightly cooked foods also score high. Extruded kibble, the most common form, lands at the bottom for digestibility. It’s not that kibble is bad; in fact, a well-formulated kibble can meet every nutritional need. But the science does show that less processing often equals better nutrient absorption. Another interesting trend? Plant-based and hybrid foods are being studied more closely. A July 2025 analysis showed significant differences in protein and fat levels compared to traditional meat-based diets. Whether that’s good or bad depends on how carefully the formula is put together. And that’s the frustrating part, the nutritional adequacy of any diet, packaged or homemade, depends on balance, not just the form it comes in.

Homemade vs. Purchased Pet Foods: The Never-Ending Debate

Homemade Diets – Pros Homemade Diets – Cons

• Total control over ingredient quality

• Customization for allergies/sensitivities

• Fresher, often more palatable

• Risk of nutritional imbalance without expert guidance

• Time-consuming and costly

• Inconsistent results if multiple people prepare meals.

Packaged Diets – Pros Packaged Diets – Cons

• Convenient and consistent

• Regulated and nutritionally guaranteed (AAFCO)

• Variety of formulas for medical/dietary needs

• Quality varies widely between brands

• Recalls or contamination risks

• Lower digestibility in some highly processed forms,

So where does that leave us? For me, it’s a constant balancing act. I want the peace of mind that comes with regulated, packaged foods, but I also crave the control and freshness of homemade diets. The reality is, there may never be a perfect solution. What matters most is making informed decisions, consulting veterinary nutritionists when needed, and staying open to both science and practicality. Because at the end of the day, our pets depend on us to

navigate this maze and give them the best shot at long, healthy lives.