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Just Food for Dogs Review (Fresh)
Just Food for Dogs Review (Fresh)
By Mike Sagman
Updated: March 21, 2024
Just Food for Dogs Fresh Dog Food earns The Advisors top rating of 5 stars.
The Just Food for Dogs product line includes the 9 fresh cooked dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Just Food for Dogs Fish and Sweet Potato was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is cod. This item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.1
Cod is a marine species of fish native to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America.
The second ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The third ingredient includes potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient lists green beans, a healthy vegetable notable for its vitamin, mineral and natural fiber content.
The fifth ingredient is broccoli, a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. Its notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.
Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.
The sixth ingredient is safflower oil. Safflower oil is nutritionally similar to sunflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3s, theyre considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Safflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
The seventh ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With 2 notable exceptions
First, we find dried seaweed meal, a product made from a family of brown algae known as Fucaceae (Rockweed). Although it does contain a number of healthy nutrients, seaweed meal is primarily used as a source of inexpensive carbohydrates (about 60% dry matter).
This item is only rarely used to make pet food and is more typically found in feeds for cattle, horses, hogs, hens and sheep.
And lastly, with the exception of iron, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Just Food for Dogs looks like an above-average moist dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 38.9%, a fat level of 11.1% and estimated carbohydrates of about 42%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 33.4% and a mean fat level of 15.7%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 42.9% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.
Below-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical moist dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a fresh cooked dog food containing a moderate amount of meat.
Just Food For Dogs Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Just Food For Dogs through April 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of JustFoodForDogs Grain Free and Grain Inclusive Dog Food
Just Food for Dogs includes both grain-free and grain-inclusive fresh dog foods using a moderate amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Just Food For Dogs review: A customizable fresh food delivery service that doesn't require a subscription
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As someone who has worked in the pet industry for two decades as an assistant in veterinary offices and as a pets editor and writer I know more about the best dog food than most.
I've always fed my dog premium kibble and canned foods, but in the last year, I tried out companies that cook and ship fresh pet food, including Just Food For Dogs. In this Just Food For Dogs review, the company provided samples to feed my 10-year-old miniature poodle, Jger.
Just Food For Dogs review
Just Food For Dogs is great for pet parents who want options. You can choose from five different types of meals:
- Fresh Frozen: thaw and serve
- Pantry Fresh: shelf-stable for up to two years
- Vet Support: frozen and shelf-stable therapeutic diets that require a prescription from your veterinarian
- DIY Homemade Kits: recipes and nutrient blends, to which you add fresh meat and other ingredients to make homemade dog food
- Custom Diets: Formulated for dogs with special needs
Just Food For Dogs also sells its own line of supplements and treats and cat food, too, if you have a feline family member.
How to order Just Food For Dogs
Most fresh pet food companies require you to sign up for a subscription that includes auto-delivery. Not so with Just Food For Dogs. Although autoship is offered, it's not required.
You can buy food online at JustFoodForDogs.com, Amazon, Chewy, and Petco the company delivers to all 50 states. But if you're lucky enough to live near one of the company's eight open-to-the-public kitchens, you can walk in and buy your food. You can also buy food in person at more than 200 pantries located inside veterinary clinics and select Petco and Pet Food Express locations.
Just Food For Dogs makes all its food in its USDA-inspected kitchens, which are in California, New York, and Washington, and are staffed by full-time food safety experts and nutrition consultants who can help you choose the best food for your dog. Remote consultations are also available.
Before choosing my samples, I had a nutrition consultation over the phone. My consult was helpful and quite thorough, but it took some time to go over the many different meal options. With Fresh Frozen meals, you can choose from six recipes.
Pantry Fresh meals are available in eight recipes. Each Fresh Frozen recipe contains just one protein source. Grain-free and gluten-free options like Fish and Sweet Potato and Venison and Squash are also available. My consultant set up my account and placed my first order. Now I can log in and reorder food anytime.
Delivery and feeding
For the purposes of this review, I selected two recipes each from the Fresh Frozen and Pantry Fresh meal lines. The recipes I tried cost about $30 to $37 a week to feed my 20-pound dog.
My first delivery came on schedule. Because I happen to live close to one of Just Food For Dogs' kitchens, I was able to have the food delivered right to my door via one of their vehicles. My fresh-frozen food was packed in an insulated bag with frozen gel packs. I received email alerts letting me know that the driver was on their way.
As you might expect from the company's name, Just Food For Dogs Fresh Frozen meals look like real food. Everything is chopped up and mixed together, but you can see the individual ingredients like ground beef, potatoes, and carrots. The consistency of the PantryFresh food is closer to canned dog food, but with visible chunks of fresh ingredients throughout.
Fresh frozen food must be thawed in the refrigerator overnight before feeding, but Pantry Fresh food can be fed right out of the box. To determine how much to feed your dog according to their weight, check the recommended feeding amounts for each recipe. Just Food For Dogs also offers a handy feeding calculator online. Although you can measure how much to feed by the cup, I found that measuring by weight with a kitchen scale was more accurate.
What makes Just Food For Dogs stand out
My dog loves both the Fresh Frozen and Pantry Fresh food. He races to his bowl and licks it clean every time. In fact, that little stinker recently turned up his nose at one of his favorite canned foods something he's never done before! I can tell that Just Food for Dogs agrees with him by looking at his poops, which are small and formed.
I also love that all the ingredients are inspected and approved by the USDA for human consumption. I also like that the ingredients and nutrition facts for each recipe are printed right on the package. All recipes have been formulated by a team of veterinarians to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance and/or growth. And here's something big: Just Food For Dogs is the only fresh pet food company that has conducted feeding trials on its recipes.
The bottom line
It should come as no surprise that fresh pet food is more expensive than kibble and canned dog food. There is a higher cost associated with using high-quality, human-grade ingredients, employing a team of veterinarians to develop recipes, and conducting feeding trials and other research. But many pet owners consider the health benefits of fresh, minimally processed dog food well worth the cost.
We've reviewed and recommended other fresh pet food brands, including Farmer's Dog, Nom Nom, Ollie, Pet Plate, and Spot and Tango. But no other fresh pet food company comes close in terms of variety and purchasing options. For pet owners looking to feed their dogs the very best, Just Food For Dogs is an excellent choice.
Pros: Fresh food, USDA-approved ingredients, no preservatives or byproducts, six different food types, wide variety of recipes to choose from plus rotating seasonal specials, veterinary support and custom diets available, no subscription required (although autoship option is available), nutrition consultants available
Cons: Expensive, feeding amounts vary depending on the type of food and also by recipe, food packs must be transferred from the freezer to the refrigerator to thaw, fresh food can't be left out all day like kibble
Jackie Brown
Freelance Writer
Pet expertJackieBrown has spent 20 years following her passion for animals as a writer and editor in the pet industry.Her expertise includes dog and cat health, care, nutrition, feeding, grooming, behavior, and training.Jackiewrites regularly for pet and veterinary industry media, includingDogsterandCatstermagazines,The Spruce Pets,Great Pet CareandAll About Cats.She is a contributing writer for "National Geographic's Complete Guide to Pet Health, Behavior, and Happiness" and author of the book "It's Raining Cats and Dogs: Making Sense of Animal Phrases." She is contributing editor of DogsterandCatstermagazines, andthe former editor of numerous pet magazines, including Dog World, Natural Dog, Puppies 101, Kittens 101, and the Popular Cats Series.Jackie earned her bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of California, Irvine. Prior to starting her career in publishing, she spent eight years working in veterinary hospitals where she assisted veterinarians as they treated dogs, cats, rabbits, pocket pets, reptiles, birds, and one memorable lion cub. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and miniature poodle Jger, who she grooms at home.Jackiecan be reached atjackiebrownwriter.wordpress.com.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Just Food For DogsReviews
Retail gold! Just Food for Dogs just opened a retail store!
My goldendoodle has always been disinterested in food, unless she has a guest over. She can go days without eating anything at all, which is very distressing to me. I've tried every quality dog food on the market. Plus, she is sensitive to chicken, which makes it even more challenging. Just Food for Dogs is the only food I've found that she is genuinely eager for. She loves this fresh, human-grade food, which my vet has recommended. Now, incredibly, Just Food for Dogs has opened a retail store very near me, in Wilmette. Wow! What a beautiful store, and what a great variety of meals and treats for dogs. The person who helped me was very knowledgeable and friendly. Now I don't have to hassle with boxes and dry ice and foam, I can just pop over and browse the selections, including meals for dogs with special concerns. Love this dog food. And I love the new store! Such a pleasure to see it. I hope they will open more locations!
Date of experience: March 09, 2022
