About HACCP

By Brett Flahr

Feeding your pet a raw diet is one of the best things you can do for their health. But as a raw pet food manufacturer, one of the most common concerns I hear from pet parents who want to make the switch is about food safety. Is raw pet food safe for my pet? Can raw pet food make my pet sick? Are raw pet food manufacturers regulated?

The truth is there are no short or easy answers to these questions. Raw pet food absolutely can be safe and there are many reputable manufacturers across Canada who follow strong food safety protocols for that purpose. But with more and more pet owners switching to raw, the industry is also growing quickly and with that growth comes the risk that some manufacturers are less focused on these quality controls than others.

At the same time, there is little to no regulation in the manufacturing of pet food in Canada. That means it’s up to each pet food manufacturer, including makers of kibble and raw, to set their own standards. One way to do that and validate it with third party certification is to implement a HACCP protocol. “HACCP” stands for Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points. It represents an internationally recognized food safety standard to help improve product quality and consistency, and reduce the risk of contamination from bacteria, food-borne pathogens, and other unwanted additives. It’s rare in the raw pet food industry but HACCP is actually an integral part of the human food supply chain because all manufacturers of human food are required to implement a HACCP protocol.

So why doesn’t every pet food manufacturer have a HACCP protocol? Putting a HACCP protocol in place is no easy task. It takes a large investment of time and money. It can require building renovations, changes to equipment and manufacturing processes, staff training, and the hiring of outside consultants. Plus, the HACCP requirements of every facility are different meaning that even though many elements of a HACCP protocol are the same across companies, every company has a customized plan to handle their specific needs. For example, raw green tripe, although densely nutritious and loaded with beneficial enzymes for your pet is also considered a “high risk” food because it contains a large number of bacteria. While bacteria are balanced in the gut of a healthy living animal, once butchered and processed, raw green tripe is considered a food safety hazard, especially if it is not handled properly which can allow unhealthy bacteria to multiply. So, a HACCP protocol for a facility that handles raw green tripe is specially tailored for that particular ingredient. This is just one example of a customization but implementing any HACCP protocol this can be daunting for small raw pet food manufacturers with limited resources. 

However, as the raw pet food industry in Canada matures, HACCP is starting to gain some traction. While there are only three raw pet food companies in Canada (out of approximately 60) that currently have a HACCP certification, as pet parents, retailers, and veterinarians learn more about what it means I expect that number will grow.

So, what exactly does HACCP mean for you and your raw fed pet? Here are answers to some of the questions I get the most.

Does HACCP mean raw pet food is guaranteed safe?

The short answer is, no. However, following a certified HACCP program not only greatly reduces the risk of bacterial contamination or other food safety hazards in the first place, but also reduces the risk of these events going unnoticed. That’s because in-house lab testing is often part of a fully implemented HACCP program.

Is it safe to buy raw pet food from manufacturers that aren’t HACCP certified?

It can be, but it’s important to do your research. Most raw pet food manufacturers in Canada follow Good Manufacturing Practices, which helps to ensure products are consistently produced and follow a quality standard. Many are also aware of HACCP protocols and although they may not be certified, will incorporate elements of HACCP programs into their manufacturing process, like monitoring the temperature of meat during transportation and production, and using food-grade stainless steel instruments. These are simple steps every manufacturer can take to improve food safety. One way to verify the safety and quality of a raw pet food brand is to ask for a facility tour. Transparency and access to your manufacturer is a good sign that they have nothing to hide. The truth is, most of today’s manufacturers started out making raw food at home, growing it through friends and neighbors, and eventually turning it into a commercial operation. Be wary of anyone shopping an unbeatable deal or ‘selling out the back of their car’. Some things are just too good to be true and with so many reputable raw brands available in Canada today, it may not be worth the risk to buy mystery meat from a stranger.

What’s involved in the administration of a HACCP program? 

The administration of a HACCP program is not easy and requires many steps for successful implementation. 

One of the key features of an established HACCP program is traceability, making detailed record-keeping at every stage of the production process extremely important. Traceability gives us the ability to trace any food safety or quality issue at any point along the production line. This record-keeping needs to be extremely thorough so you are able to track exactly at what point in the process the contamination or problem occurred. A proper HACCP program allows the manufacturer to identify precisely where a problem has occurred and make changes to avoid future problems.

In a HACCP certified facility, production floor staff are also food safety trained and a quality assurance person is on site at all times during production hours. Ingredients are sourced from CFIA federally inspected facilities and inspected on arrival for temperature and any evidence of tampering or transport damage that may lead to a contamination event. There is also an onsite laboratory where products and ingredients are tested to ensure quality and safety. All manufacturing equipment is disassembled and cleaned daily using food safe enzymatic cleaning agents. HACCP certified facilities are also subject to unscheduled inspections from a HACCP quality assurance inspector to maintain status. 

How can I make sure I safely handle raw food?

As in the case of human food, it’s important to remember that handling raw meat requires some extra care. Bacteria is naturally part of our environment. The act of cooking with heat helps kill bacteria so it’s only common sense that raw meat is more susceptible to contamination. Following a few simple safety procedures can help reduce the risk of spreading bacteria and help keep both you and your pet healthy!

We always recommend washing your hands before and after handling raw meat for your pets, especially before handling anything else or eating your own food. You should also sterilize any knives, surfaces or utensils used in the preparation or handling of your pets’ food. It is also a good idea to use a stainless steel dish and utensils to serve the food any uneaten food and wash your pet’s bowls thoroughly with warm water and soap. Store raw pet food in a sealed container in the fridge. Opened food can store safely for up to four days in the refrigerator.

If you do some research and choose a company that follows a HACCP system in manufacturing your pets’ raw food, you can feel confident that there have been many steps taken along the way to help prevent the risk of making your pet sick. By also following the safe handling guidelines for yourself at home, feeding a raw diet really can be safe and is definitely the best thing we can do for our pets to ensure they live a happier and healthier lives.