Let's get one thing straight: at Nurturing by Nature, we're committed to providing your Dogs and Cats with what we believe is the most natural, healthiest, and biologically appropriate diet. We do source high quality ingredients from suppliers we trust & yes often the ingredients if not sold to us would be sold at well known supermarkets & restaurants throughout the UK but Nurturing by Nature’s Raw Pet Food is not for Human consumption. Our ethos can be read about here.
So please don't start putting our Frozen Raw Pet Food on your plate no matter how good it looks; Raw pet food is NOT suitable for human consumption our APHA licence states just such.
Why Is It Classified Differently?
Here's where things can get a bit complicated. A locally sourced trout, freshly frozen from the Wareham Trout Farm is the same trout you would buy for your table. The quality is the same but when Nurturing by Nature purchase ingredients for our raw pet food, we MUST & DO strictly adhere to our APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) approval licence. This means that the moment we place an order for ingredients, be them fillet steaks or Tripe, these ingredients are immediately reclassified to CAT 3. To prevent such ingredients entering into the human food chain.
With supermarket ready human grade ingredients it’s sometimes a challenge for some to understand why such strict measures are important but we have been in this industry since the early 2000’s (our story) & we know the importance of such measures. Not all Raw Pet food manufactures have the same high standards as we do & some whose values are less community focussed than ours, can easily be led to higher profit margins. Having been to the slaughter houses on inspection visits we know that other suppliers buy lower quality ingredients in favour of profits.
"CAT 3" might sound like insider jargon, but it's a term used by the APHA to signify that these ingredients are not allowed back into the human food chain. You can learn more about it here.
What's The Deal with Butchers?
You might wonder, "Well, what about purchasing pet food from butchers?" Well if caught by trading standards to be making Pet food there are big fines that can be handed out.
Unless your butcher holds a dual APHA license. Even if they do, they must follow stringent safety protocols, ensuring that their products meet specific guidelines to keep both pets and humans safe.
You may say that this sounds ridiculous & some may sympathise with you, however not all around us are honest & APHA need to ensure the safety of the whole country.
Nurturing by Nature & other likeminded Raw pet food manufactures have to go to great lengths & costs to ensure that we comply with APHA licence guidelines. Purchasing products from one such licences supplier ensures that you buy your pet food, safe in the knowledge that all criteria is met.
A Measure of Safety, Not Quality
This classification isn't a reflection on the quality of the raw pet food. In fact, many raw pet foods, like ours, are crafted from high-quality, human-grade ingredients. The APHA's regulations are merely safety measures designed to protect humans.
When it comes to your pets, we advocate for a raw diet as the healthiest and most natural choice. But let's not muddle the waters: even if raw pet food uses top-notch ingredients, it's not something you'd want to include in your Sunday roast. Always adhere to safety guidelines, whether you're buying or preparing raw pet food, to ensure the well-being of all members of your household.
At Nurturing by Nature, we're here to help you navigate the often-confusing world of pet food, making it easier for you to provide your furry friends with the best diet possible. Keep those tails wagging and those whiskers twitching, but remember: some food bowls are best left to our four-legged family members.
