Human-Grade Cat Food: What Does It Mean?

The term “human-grade” is not officially defined. In the U.S., the USDA and FDA regulate food for people, but they do not have a label called “human-grade.”

The USDA only says food is either edible (safe to eat) or inedible (not safe to eat). For pet food, we can think of “human-grade” as the same as human-edible.

The AAFCO (the group that sets pet food standards in the U.S.) says:

• To call pet food “human-grade,” all ingredients must be safe for people to eat.

• The food must also be made, packed, stored, and transported under the same rules that apply to human food.

In simple terms: Human-grade cat food = every ingredient is safe for people + made in human food facilities.

What We Really Mean by Human-Grade Cat Food

“Human-grade” cat food means the food is made with ingredients that are safe for people to eat. It also means the food is handled, cooked, and stored in the same way as food made for humans.

This is different from “feed-grade” cat food, which is only approved for animals.

In short: human-grade cat food = safe enough for people, made for cats.

But when you think about it, this definition doesn’t help much. It only removes ingredients that are unsafe for pets, but it doesn’t say anything about the quality of the ingredients.

Is Human-Grade Cat Food Better?

The quality of foods labeled “human-grade” can be very different.

Some may use mostly low-quality ingredients, with only one item coming from a human food facility. Others may be truly human-grade, with all ingredients safe for people and made under human food safety rules.

Just seeing the words “human-grade” on a label doesn’t mean the food is high quality. You need to look closer at the ingredients and how the food is made.

When choosing human-grade cat food, don’t stop at the label. Check where the ingredients come from, whether the company provides proper certifications, and if their kitchens or factories are safe, transparent, and open about their process.

The more open a brand is about sourcing and production, the more confidence you can have that the food is truly high quality.

References

https://www.petmd.com/cat/nutrition/what-human-grade-cat-food

Dr. Jennifer Coates