The Rise of Fresh Foods

Commercial data show that use of raw and fresh-cooked foods is on the rise. Raw diets have been around since the 1990s, and cooked frozen foods were first introduced around 2010. Part of the support put forward by veterinarians to discourage use of these foods is the lack of supporting evidence. However, there are clear biochemical differences between minimally processed and ultraprocessed foods such as extruded kibble and canned diets. And indeed, there is evidence to suggest that feeding fresh diets leads to different physiologic responses. It is incumbent on veterinarians to improve their conversations with interested pet owners.