What Is Clean Pet Food?

Clean pet food is generally about choosing products with recognisable ingredients, clear labelling and minimal unnecessary extras.

At Petoody, we use the term clean pet food as a simple way to describe the types of foods and treats we look for when selecting products for our store. It is not an official nutritional or regulatory classification. Instead, we focus on ingredient transparency, thoughtful recipes and whether every ingredient appears to have a clear purpose. Clean pet food is one with an ingredient list that is easy to understand.

That might mean a single-ingredient dried meat treat for dogs, a meat-based treat for cats, or a hay and herb-based treat for rabbits and guinea pigs.

Clean does not have to mean complicated. In fact, it usually means the opposite.

What we look for in clean pet food

A clean treat may include:

• whole meat, fish or organs
• hay, grasses or herbs for pocket pets
• simple fruits or vegetables where appropriate
• functional ingredients that serve a clear purpose
• natural preservation methods where possible

Ingredients we look at more closely

Ingredients we look more closely at include added sugars, artificial colours, artificial flavours, excessive starches, glycerine, maltodextrin, unnecessary fillers and vague ingredient names.

Some of these ingredients are not automatically harmful, but they do make the product less simple. That is why Petoody reviews ingredient lists carefully and gives each product a rating to help customers make a more informed choice.

The goal is not to make pet owners feel guilty. It is to make treat shopping easier.

When you understand what is in a treat, you can choose products that better suit your pet’s sensitivities, preferences and everyday diet.

If you’re not sure what to look for on a label, our guide to how to read a pet food ingredient list explains how to assess ingredients, understand their purpose and compare products more confidently.

How does Petoody rate clean pet food?

Because not every product has the same level of ingredient simplicity, Petoody uses three ratings: Pure, Simple and Curated.

Pure products are generally the most minimal, while simple products may contain a small number of functional ingredients. Curated products have a more complex ingredient profile but have still been reviewed and selected by Petoody.

Want to know how we assess products? Learn more about Petoody’s Pure, Simple and Curated ratings → Petoody Clean Eats Guide

Learn more about clean pet food

Single Ingredient Dog Treats. Why simple ingredient lists can make choosing treats easier. → What Are Single Ingredient Dog Treats and Are They Better?

Raw and Freeze-Dried Treats. Can you give raw treats to a pet that normally eats cooked food? → Can I Feed Raw Treats If I Don’t Feed Raw?

Air-Dried Pet Food. Learn how air-dried food differs from traditional kibble.
→ Air-Dried vs Kibble

Petoody Clean Eats Ratings
See how Pure, Simple and Curated products differ.
→ Understanding Petoody’s Clean Eats Guide

How to Read a Pet Food Ingredients List & Pet Food Labels. Learn how to decode a pet food ingredients label and understand what is inside. → How to Read a Pet Food Ingredients List & Pet Food Labels