A balanced and nourishing diet is essential for maintaining and promoting optimal dog health. Our editors are also dog parents, so it’s our duty to make informed dietary choices that support our dogs’ day-to-day well-being.
While researching dog food brands, the term “human-grade” kept popping up. But what does it actually mean?
Human-grade dog food is made from ingredients deemed suitable and safe for human consumption. It‘s subject to the same FDA and USDA regulations governing the manufacturing, packaging, and quality of food for humans. In other words, if you wouldn’t eat it, don’t give it to your dog.
Something else we discovered along the way: just because you see “human-grade” on the bag doesn’t automatically mean the pet food in question is nutritious or safe.
With so many options available — fresh, dry, wet, canned, freeze-dried — navigating the world of human-grade pet food can be challenging. Three brands consistently receive stand-out customer reviews: Ollie, The Farmer's Dog, and Maev. Are they worth the hype? And if they are, which is the best? We compared them according to the same objective criteria, and one brand clearly came out on top.
No spoilers. That said, here are the results...
Human-Grade/Nutrition:
Let's start by tackling the obvious question: Just what do these brands provide dog owners – and most importantly, your pups?
Ollie’s recipes are made from human-grade ingredients and cooked in human-grade kitchens. They offer dry, gently baked dishes as well as fresh, slow-cooked recipes but it’s not raw.
The Farmer's Dog food is made from whole, human-grade food. Freshly cooked pre-made, pre-portioned servings, but also not raw.
Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog both provide a balanced blend of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals tailored to individual dogs' needs.
Maev is a raw food, which is an unprocessed, human-grade mix of lean protein, vitamin-rich organ meat, fresh produce, and personalized supplements. No high-pressure or high-temperature processing like Farmer’s Dog or Ollie.
Where Maev stands out is – once again – how it’s prepared. Dogs are biologically primed to eat raw meat, which is why a raw food diet is so good for our canine companions. High in moisture content and flash-frozen to preserve all of its nutritional value, Maev is low in carbs and high in protein. The perfect food to help your dog live its best life.
So Maev takes the cake in this category!
Convenience:
Most human-grade dog foods like Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog arrive fresh. And because they donʼt use preservatives, you must treat it like real food. When you open the box, you need to place a few packs in the fridge and store the rest in the freezer.
When you’re ready to feed your dog, you have to put it in the fridge to thaw. The Farmer’s Dog asks that you defrost in the fridge for 12 hours and Ollie suggests that you thaw it in the fridge at least 24 hours before it hits the dog’s bowl. All this freezing and shifting to the fridge for defrosting is such a pain.
But the good news is….Maev’s 100% unprocessed dog food is flash-frozen raw, so it stays in the freezer until you’re ready. There’s no mess, no prep, and no thawing necessary. It’s super easy to serve: simply shake, open, and pour right out of the bag.
It tumbles into the bowl in a colorful cascade of tasty dog food. No filler, no additives, no toxins, no mess. You can actually see the real ingredients for yourself. It makes feeding time such a breeze for busy pet parents.
Variety:
Ollie is the winner with 5 options: pork, beef, chicken, baby shrimp, veg, as well as 2 offerings — both dry dishes and slow-cooked recipes.
The Farmer’s Dog has 4: turkey, chicken, beef, and pork.
Maevspecifically focuses on two options — beef and chicken. What makes Maev different is that your dog’s food can be customized for their particular needs by selecting supplement toppings like Weight & Digestion, Hip & Joint, Skin & Coat, Anxiety & Calming. So while Maev has less protein options, they focus more on health goals.
In terms of variety, we’ve got to give this one to Ollie.
Benefits:
Ollie's nutritionally balanced recipes support healthy skin, coat, and immune function. Their recipes are formulated for digestibility and can reduce the risk of food sensitivities.
The Farmer’s Dog promotes healthy weight management and sustained energy levels. The use of real food ingredients helps lower the risk of food intolerance and digestive issues.
Maev does all of the above but also bolsters your dog’s oral health; helps with hip and joint issues; eases canine anxiety issues; and can help your pup’s early development, which improves trainability and recall.
It’s clear that Maev is a serious player. Their dog food features USDA lean proteins, whole fruits and vegetables, and scientifically-studied supplements that support what Maev calls The Big 7: Essential Health Benefits for your dog:
- Weight & Digestion - Gut Health + Better BMs
- Hip & Joint - Mobility + Reduced Inflammation
- Anxiety & Calming - Balanced Energy + Less Hyperactivity
- Skin & Coat Health - Softer Fur + Less Shedding / Itching
- Immune Function - Gut Barrier Integrity + Less Allergies
- Oral Health - Plaque Removal + Better Breath
- Early Development - Trainability + Recall
Most dog parents see, feel, and smell results in 28 days or less.
All brands have a number of benefits, but Maev is actually redefining dog food. So, our top choice here is Maev!
Experts/Transparency:
One of the biggest aspects of selecting the right dog food is having a trusted vet endorsement.
Ollie's team of veterinarians and pet nutritionists bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the development of their dog food products. Ollie's vet-designed recipes meet AAFCO guidelines.
The Farmer's Dog’s dog food is complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards — and okay to feed for all life stages. Recipes are formulated by on-staff, board-certified vet nutritionists based on decades of research and veterinary hospital practices.
PhD vet-formulated, Maev works with veterinary nutritionists, food scientists, and engineers to elevate your dog care and fill every bowl with maximum nutrition. Maev’s raw food is AAFCO-Approved and rigorously tested for E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Micro (APCs).
With a promise of 100% transparency and traceability, you can always trust and depend on Maev. That’s why Maev gets our vote here.
And The (Best Human-Grade Dog Food) Oscar Goes To… Maev
It wasn’t an easy decision. But after a thorough evaluation of all brands, Maev is our top choice overall. Its simplicity and quality provide your dog just the food they need to be your bright-eyed, shiny-coated, energetic friend-for-life.
What Sets Maev Apart:
- Customizable raw diet for all stages of your dog's life
- 100% USDA-certified, human-grade, raw diet built by veterinarians
- Meets AAFCO industry requirements
- Made in the USA
Maev’s flexible subscription means no more lugging home huge sacks of dog food. They’ll deliver as much and as often as you need. And if you’re worried about freezer space, simply split your subscription. You can add, swap, modify your orders, or unsubscribe at any time — completely hassle-free.
Maev’s human-grade raw food is unprocessed, vitamin-rich, super fresh, and totally safe — precisely the balanced nutrition your dog deserves.
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