What Does "Human-Grade" Really Mean for Dog Treats?

"Human-grade" is printed on more and more dog treat packets. It sounds reassuring, but most people never get told what it actually means. When I started making treats for Pablo, my test was simple: if I wouldn't cook it for my own dinner, it doesn't go in his. Here's what the term should mean, and how to tell whether a treat lives up to it.

Human-grade vs pet-grade meat

In Australia, meat sold for pets doesn't have to meet the same standard as meat sold for people. Broadly, there are two kinds:

• Human-grade meat is meat that's fit for people to eat. It comes through the same supply chain as the meat at your butcher or supermarket, and it's handled, stored and inspected to food standards.
• Pet-grade meat (often labelled "pet meat" or "not fit for human consumption") can come from lower-grade sources and is held to a different standard. In some states, raw pet meat is even dyed so it can't be mistaken for food for people.

Pet-grade doesn't automatically mean unsafe, and plenty of pet food is made responsibly. But the two are not the same thing, and the difference is worth knowing when you're choosing what your dog eats every day.

Why "human-grade" on a pack can be confusing

Here's the catch: in Australia, there's no single legal definition of "human-grade" for pet food. That means the words can be used loosely. A treat might contain one human-grade ingredient alongside others that aren't, or be made from human-grade meat but processed with additives you'd never use in your own kitchen.

So it helps to think of human-grade as two things together:

1. The ingredients are all fit for people to eat.
2. The way it's made is the way you'd prepare food for people: clean kitchen, food-safe temperatures, nothing added that you wouldn't eat.

Why it matters

• You know where the meat came from. Human-grade meat comes through a supply chain built around food safety and traceability.
• Real cuts, not mystery meat. Words like "meat and animal derivatives" or "meat meal" can cover a lot. Human-grade treats name the actual cut: breast, fillet, liver, necks, feet.
• Less processing. When you start with good meat, you don't need flavourings, colours or preservatives to make it appealing.

5 ways to check a dog treat

1. Read the whole ingredient list. Every ingredient should be something you recognise and could buy at the shops.
2. Look for a named cut. "Chicken breast" or "kangaroo fillet" tells you far more than "chicken" or "meat".
3. Check for percentages. Good makers tell you how much of the treat is actually meat.
4. Watch for fillers and helpers. Glycerine, sugars, starches, "binders" and preservatives are signs of a more processed treat.
5. Know who makes it. Where is it made? Can you contact the maker and ask how it's done? A small maker should be happy to tell you.

What human-grade means at Canivoro

For us, it means our treats are made the way you'd cook at home:

• Human-grade meat only, from Australian suppliers who sell meat for people.
• Named cuts and short recipes. Chicken breast, kangaroo fillet, grass-fed beef liver, free-range chicken necks, and a few whole foods like pumpkin and blueberries.
• Made by hand in our Sydney kitchen, in small batches, slow-dried at food-safe temperatures.
• Nothing added: no additives, no preservatives, no glues or binders.

And every batch still gets tasted by Pablo, our Chief Taste Officer, before it goes in a pouch. You can read how it all started, or browse all of our treats. Good places to start are our Chicken Breast Jerky (one ingredient) and our Kangaroo Prime Jerky (99% kangaroo fillet).

Quick questions

Is human-grade dog food better?
It means the ingredients start at a higher standard and you know more about what your dog is eating. What matters most is still that your dog's overall diet is complete and balanced, so treats should stay a complement to their main meals.

Can I eat human-grade dog treats?
The ingredients are fit for people, but treats are made and seasoned (or not seasoned) for dogs. They're Pablo's, not ours.

Are human-grade treats more expensive?
Usually, yes. Real cuts of meat cost more than by-products and fillers, and drying meat down takes a lot of meat to make a small pouch. Many dog parents find it's worth it for something they give every day.

This article is general information from a dog treat maker, not veterinary or legal advice. If your dog has a health condition or special diet, please check with your vet before introducing new treats.