Evidence-based research

The science behind fresh dog food

Fresh food from JustFoodforDogs is backed by over a decade of feeding trials and peer-reviewed studies with university partners. Our ongoing research on digestibility and mycotoxin contamination shows our recipes are up to 40% more digestible than kibble and tested mycotoxin-free.

We're one of the few fresh pet food companies to publish independent research on our recipes, and our goal is to continue uncovering new ways to support your dog's health and longevity through every stage of doghood.

Ask before you buy

Do the recipes address your dog’s nutritional & dietary needs?

Is your dog food company investing their profits back into research?

Are they making relevant health claims or using marketing jargon?

How invested is your dog food company in your dog’s health?

JustFoodForDogs is deeply invested in your dog's health — every recipe is backed by frequent feeding trials, peer-reviewed studies, and ongoing nutrition research, not just marketing claims.

Read Our Core Values

Ask before you buy

Do the recipes address your dog’s nutritional & dietary needs?

Is your dog food company investing their profits back into research?

Are they making relevant health claims or using marketing jargon?

How invested is your dog food company in your dog’s health?

JustFoodForDogs is deeply invested in your dog's health — every recipe is backed by frequent feeding trials, peer-reviewed studies, and ongoing nutrition research, not just marketing claims.

Read Our Core Values

Feeding trial results

Our commitment to scientific, canine-based research includes the largest-scale humane feeding trial ever conducted by a pet food company at an independent university, using family dogs of different ages and breeds living in home settings.

Our university-led feeding trial showed that JustFoodForDogs supports immune system health.

JustFoodForDogs Trials

30 family dogs

tested in-home settings

12-month

trial length

25 blood parameters tested

Tested 3 times: 0 months /6 month /1 year

AAFCO Feeding Trials

6-8 dogs

tested

6 month

trial length

4 blood parameters tested

Testing only required once at the end

View Feeding Trial Certificates

Feeding trial results

Our commitment to scientific, canine-based research includes the largest-scale humane feeding trial ever conducted by a pet food company at an independent university, using family dogs of different ages and breeds living in home settings.

Our university-led feeding trial showed that JustFoodForDogs supports immune system health.

JustFoodForDogs Trials

30 family dogs

pets tested in-home settings

12-month

trial length

25 blood parameters tested

Tested 3 times: 0 months /6 month /1 year

AAFCO Trials

6-8 dogs

tested

6 month

trial length

4 blood parameters tested

Testing only required once at the end

View Feeding Trial Certificates

Digestibility studies

Is fresh food more digestible than kibble? Yes. JustFoodforDogs human-grade fresh food has been shown to be up to 40% more digestible than kibble.

40%

Up to 40% more digestible than kibble.*

66%

Dogs produced up to 66% less poop than when eating premium kibble.**

JustFoodForDogs is also the only fresh whole-food company to have commissioned digestibility studies at a major university. Our studies were independently published in a peer-reviewed journal by the University of Illinois research team.

Dogs who ate JustFoodforDogs fresh whole food absorbed more nutrients and consumed a larger volume of food (as-fed) than when on a diet of processed kibble.

Additionally, the dogs fed a fresh whole food diet produced up to 66% less poop than when eating premium kibble and up to 41% less feces when fed a feed-grade fresh processed dog food brand.**

*University of Illinois, 2019, Translational Animal Science — comparison to published third-party kibble digestibility studies.
**University of Illinois, 2021, Journal of Animal Science — "Nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics, microbiota, and metabolites in dogs fed human-grade foods."

The future of canine nutrition

A peer-reviewed study found that 75% of dry dog food tested contained a mycotoxin profile. JustFoodForDogs diets contained no mycotoxins.

Researchers at the Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of California, Davis, conducted what they believe to be the first scientific research comparing both grain-inclusive and grain-free diets with respect to mycotoxins.

The study, published in the August issue of the journal Toxicology Communications, found that 75% of dry pet food, or kibble, contained a mycotoxin profile. Mycotoxins accumulate from moldy grains and ingredients commonly used to make dry kibble.

Low-grade levels of mycotoxins have been linked to immunosuppression and chronic disease. JustFoodForDogs diets contained no mycotoxins whether or not they contained grains.

View Mycotoxin Study

Active studies advancing the standards of canine nutrition through evidence-based research:

Markers of Inflammation and Immune Function

Advanced Glycation Endproduct Levels in Various Types of Foods

Skin and Coat Integrity and Health

Fecal Microbiome

The future of canine nutrition

A peer-reviewed study found that 75% of dry dog food tested contained a mycotoxin profile. JustFoodForDogs diets contained no mycotoxins.

Researchers at the Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of California, Davis, conducted what they believe to be the first scientific research comparing both grain-inclusive and grain-free diets with respect to mycotoxins.

The study, published in the August issue of the journal Toxicology Communications, found that 75% of dry pet food, or kibble, contained a mycotoxin profile. Mycotoxins accumulate from moldy grains and ingredients commonly used to make dry kibble.

Low-grade levels of mycotoxins have been linked to immunosuppression and chronic disease. JustFoodForDogs diets contained no mycotoxins whether or not they contained grains.

View Mycotoxin Study

Active studies advancing the standards of canine nutrition through evidence-based research:

Markers of Inflammation and Immune Function

Advanced Glycation Endproduct Levels in Various Types of Foods

Skin and Coat Integrity and Health

Fecal Microbiome

Nutrition research advisory board

Our Nutrition Research Advisory Board is comprised of board-certified specialists who help steer the selection and direction of research funded by the company to inform and guide the future of pet nutrition.

Meet our nutrition team

Dr. Vincent Michels

DVM

Residency Trained in Nutrition
Vice President, Veterinary Services and Research

Dr. John Tegzes

MA, VMD, Dipl. ABVT

Board-Certified Veterinary Toxicologist
Consultant

Dr. Chris Margery

DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)

Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist
Lead Veterinarian, Custom Diet Service

Dr. Lauren Tseng

DVM

Residency Trained in Nutrition
Director of Veterinary Outreach

Nutrition research advisory board

Our Nutrition Research Advisory Board is comprised of board-certified specialists who help steer the selection and direction of research funded by the company to inform and guide the future of pet nutrition.

Vincent Michels

DVM

Residency Trained in Nutrition
Vice President,Veterinary Services and Research

John Tegzes

MA, VMD, Dipl. ABVT

Board-Certified Veterinary Toxicologist Consultant

Chris Margery

DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)

Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist Lead Veterinarian, Custom Diet Service

Lauren Tseng

DVM

Residency Trained in Nutrition
Director of Veterinary Outreach

Meet our nutrition team

Browse our recipes

Fresh Frozen

Frequently asked questions

Every dog is different, but our university-led research has shown that JustFoodForDogs fresh food is highly digestible and supports immune system health. Studies also found that dogs eating our fresh whole food absorbed more nutrients and produced less waste than when eating processed kibble.

Ready to make the switch? See our guide to transitioning your dog to fresh food.

You can review our Feeding Trial Certificates to see the results. JustFoodForDogs pioneered a 12-month, university-led feeding trial with 30 family dogs, evaluating more than 25 blood parameters through complete blood counts and internal organ chemistry panels.

Research shows measurable benefits of JustFoodForDogs fresh food compared with kibble. Our human-grade fresh food has been shown to be up to 40% more digestible than kibble*, with up to 66% less waste**, and independent testing found zero mycotoxins in JustFoodForDogs diets, compared with 75% of dry kibble tested.***

***Western University College of Veterinary Medicine and UC Davis, 2019, Toxicology Communications — comparison of mycotoxin concentrations in grain vs. grain-free dry and wet commercial dog foods.

No. Our feeding trial was conducted with family dogs of a variety of ages and breeds living in home settings, rather than purpose-bred dogs living in research facilities. JustFoodForDogs pioneered this more humane feeding-trial protocol with university partners.

Yes. JustFoodForDogs food is backed by more than a decade of independent, university-led research, with research published in five peer-reviewed veterinary journals. Our university partners include the University of Illinois, Western University, Cal Poly Pomona, Midwestern University and others.