Frequently Asked Questions

AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) establishes nutrient standards that help ensure pet food is complete and balanced for specific life stages. The organization develops regulations, ingredient definitions, and labelling standards used by state and federal regulatory agencies. Open Farm follows AAFCO nutrient profiles and labelling guidelines across all our recipes to support nutritional adequacy and transparency.

WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) is an international veterinary organization that provides educational resources and guidance to advance companion animal health. WSAVA does not approve or certify pet food brands, instead it provides questions that pet parents can use to help them make informed decisions about pet food.

WSAVA’s nutritional guidelines help pet parents evaluate pet food brands based on transparency, formulation expertise, and quality control standards. Rather than certifying or approving products, WSAVA offers questions that encourage pet parents to consider who formulates a brand’s recipes, how nutritional adequacy is established, and what safety measures are in place. Below are Open Farm’s responses to these questions.

Open Farm meets all the WSAVA guidelines for selecting a pet food, with the exception of feeding trials which are currently underway through an at-home program. Animal welfare has been non-negotiable for us since day one, and due to animal welfare concerns, we have not conducted feeding trials in the past, but have validated our recipes through digestibility, palatability, and stool study testing. In addition to our existing testing, we are proud to have now developed an at-home feeding trial approach that aligns with our values around animal welfare. See below for how Open Farm aligns with each of the WSAVA guidelines.

Yes, Open Farm employs an in-house board-certified veterinary nutritionist, Dr. Moran Tal-Gavriel, who is actively involved in recipe development and formulation decisions. Dr. Moran, BSc, DVM, DVSc, Dip. ECVCN, is one of just 100 board-certified veterinary nutritionists in North America, which are a small group of board-certified pet nutrition experts with the most advanced training in animal nutrition. Her multidisciplinary background spans clinical practice, public health, and academia, where her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals. At Open Farm, Dr. Moran works alongside a team of Ph.D. board-certified companion animal nutritionists, food scientists, and veterinarians to help ensure our recipes deliver complete and balanced nutrition.

Open Farm’s diets are custom-formulated with Dr. Moran, our in-house board-certified veterinary nutritionist, and supported by a team of Ph.D. board-certified companion animal nutritionists, food scientists, and veterinarians. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that each Open Farm recipe is not only complete and balanced but delivers functional nutrition that is carefully formulated to help pets thrive. The team's designations include PhD in Animal Science, CVT, PAS, CFS, Dpl. ACAS, VTS (Nutrition), M.Sc, and DVM.

Open Farm follows a strict, end-to-end quality control process designed to protect animal welfare, ingredient integrity, and finished-product safety. We partner with trusted meat suppliers who meet third-party animal welfare standards, and all ingredients are traceable to finished product. Our animal proteins come from USDA-approved, human-grade facilities that follow biosecurity protocols and operate under government veterinary oversight.

Our manufacturing partners maintain globally recognized food safety certifications, and all finished products go through a test-and-hold process. This means nothing is released until independent third-party lab testing confirms it meets our safety and nutritional standards. We also share lot-specific pathogen testing results and ingredient sourcing details through our Transparency Tool, so pet parents can make informed decisions.

To make our food, Open Farm partners with specialized manufacturing facilities across the United States, Canada, and Iceland that meet our strict standards for quality, safety, and operational excellence. Each facility is vetted against those standards and maintains globally recognized food safety certifications, ensuring our recipes are produced in controlled environments that safeguard nutritional consistency and product integrity.

Open Farm performs digestibility, palatability, and stool studies on our recipes. We also test our recipes before production to ensure vitamins and minerals meet expected and appropriate levels to ensure pets receive optimal nutrition.

In addition, we are currently developing an at-home feeding trial program to evaluate our recipes in real home environments. Animal welfare has been a non-negotiable for us since day one, so we have taken a thoughtful approach to integrating feeding trials to ensure they align with our values. An in-home approach allows us to support animal welfare by enabling pets to participate from the comfort of their own homes, promoting natural behaviors while allowing close monitoring of key health indicators in a low-stress setting.

At this time, Open Farm has not published studies in peer-reviewed journals. However, our team continuously reviews emerging scientific literature and uses evidence-based insights to guide our formulation approach. We are also exploring opportunities to conduct future studies, including efficacy trials, with the goal of publishing peer-reviewed research as our programs evolve.

Yes, all Open Farm recipes include a Nutrition Adequacy Statement on both the product packaging and the product page. This statement indicates whether the formula is complete and balanced according to AAFCO nutrient profiles or intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding, and it specifies the appropriate species and life stage. This labeling helps pet parents clearly understand how each recipe fits into their dog or cat’s nutritional needs.

Yes, caloric information is clearly listed on product pages and on packaging for our complete and balanced diets, treats, and toppers. Energy values are provided in kilocalories of metabolizable energy (kcal ME) per kilogram, and per serving format such as per cup, carton, or pouch, based on the product type. This allows pet parents to make informed feeding decisions based on portion size and life stage.

Yes, our Pet Parent Experience team is available to support pet parents with any questions they have about Open Farm or their pet’s diet. Pet parents can contact us by email at support@openfarmpet.com, by phone at 1-833-399-3403, or through live chat on our website.

Yes. All of our partner farms are audited and certified in humane animal care by leading third party, non-profit organizations in the field. Our fish is exclusively ocean caught using sustainable fishing practices in accordance with Ocean Wise and Seafood Watch standards. To learn more about our humane standards, check out our section on Animal Welfare.

Yes, all fish is wild caught based of the recommendations of Ocean Wise and Seafood Watch. This way, we are confident we are sourcing methods to catch species in abundance and resilient to fishing pressures. Wild Caught fish are free of antibiotics or artificial feeds and a healthy choice for our pets.

All ingredients are sourced out of our Toronto office and are fully traceable - we receive certificates of origin for each and every ingredient. All incoming ingredients are inspected when received at our facility, and a member of the Open Farm team is on-site for production. Our facility is inspected on an ongoing basis by our team, and independent auditors from Certified Humane and other food safety organizations. Once finished product is produced, samples are sent to a third-party lab for independent testing for salmonella, e-coli, and other mycotoxins. We do not begin bagging the product until results have been received by the lab. You can see the results from our lab test for each finished bag of Open Farm using our lot code feature on our transparency page.

No, all the poultry, meat and fish is raised without the use of antibiotics and growth hormones. We proudly partner with Certified Humane (HFAC) and Global Animal Partnership to have full transparency on our poultry and meat. Our fish is always wild caught, meaning it consumed a natural diet and antibiotic free.

Our natural flavor ingredient is dehydrated whitefish that is in a powder form and is preserved with mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E) and a touch of salt.

Our fruits, veggies and other ingredient such as vitamins are Non-GMO. Our focus for our meats is on the Certified Humane (HFAC) and Global Animal Partnership (GAP) programs. HFAC and GAP farms regulate feed, as all animals are fed a vegetarian diet, free from antibiotics and growth hormones. We hold both HFAC and GAP to the highest standard for our meats and poultry. These standards extend past diet and include space, handling and slaughter standards. Our wild caught fish is always wild caught and had consumed a natural diet.

Our Rustic Stews and Blends  use human grade ingredients and made in a human grade facility. Our Dry recipes use the same highest quality ingredients which include our Certified Humane meats, fish and poultry. These recipes are not labeled ‘human grade’. This is not due to their ingredient quality but because they are produced in a pet food facility. All our recipes are made with pet’s in mind and are intended to be fed to pets only.

We do not use any meat or poultry meals due to their lack of regulation and traceability. Meat and poultry meals are made in large batches and may contain meat from diseased animals, disabled animals that may carry infections, or have been fed antibiotics and growth hormones. Instead, we use a small batch, ocean caught whitefish meal, so we have full traceability and can guarantee the fish have lived a natural life and have not been fed antibiotics or artificial feeds.

Majority of our ingredients are sourced from North America. We do have a few Non-North American ingredients, as not all ingredients are actually available in Canada and the US. This includes some vitamins, minerals and amino acids which are sourced in Europe and Japan. Some spices such as Cinnamon and Turmeric which are sourced from Sri Lanka and India. Our Grass Fed Beef is sourced from Australia and New Zealand and our Lamb is sourced from New Zealand. Our coconut oil is sourced from Thailand and the Philippines.

You can! You can type in each recipes LOT code: https://openfarmpet.com/pages/transparency

Open Farm can be purchased online at https://www.petcircle.com.au/

Open Farm is the first ethically raised and sourced dog and cat food that was born from a gap in the market in sustainability and transparency. We are a family-run, Canadian based company rooted in the belief that the best ingredients are grown and raised by farmers who respect the land and the animals under their care. Our recipes are prepared with 100% Certified Humane® and Global Animal Partnership meats, ocean caught fish sourced in accordance with Ocean Wise® standards, and locally grown vegetables.This allows us to have full traceability on our ingredients to know we are feeding the best to our pets.

Our number one priority at Open Farm is the health and safety of animals, from implementing standards to ensure the ethical treatment of farm animals to creating food for our pets with clean, nutritious ingredients. We do not experiment on animals when testing our products, and you can rest assured that animal welfare is a top priority in everything that we do.

We are a proud Canadian company with our headquarters in Toronto, Ontario.

To learn how to recycle your Open Farm bag, please visit terracycle.com and register for an account. After that, simply collect! Our Open Farm packaging recycling program will begin in September 2020 in Australia. 

Do Some Good is the ability for you to make a positive impact through your purchasing decision while feeding the best quality food to your pet. With each Open Farm purchase, you are playing an important role in improving the lives of farm animals used in food production. You are also rewarding family farmers who are doing things the right way, and incentivizing conventional farmers to adopt humane and sustainable practices. Finally, you are making sustainability a priority in your life by supporting all of our environmental initiatives.

Our fish is exclusively ocean caught. Because availability of wild fish species varies by season, the fish selection in our Catch-Of-The- Day Whitefish and Green Lentil recipe changes regularly. By sourcing seasonally, we can guarantee the freshest fish selection while maintaining our commitment to the health of our oceans. Plus, it keeps things interesting for your pet! The nutritional profiles of each seasonally sourced whitefish are very similar to one another, so the variation in fish type will not upset your pet’s stomach. Check the label on the back of your bag to see the seasonal fish selection in each batch.

Ideally, you should store your food indoors, in a cool, dark place. Use a resealable container constructed of food grade plastic or tightly seal or roll the original packaging after opening. Prolonged exposure to higher temperatures increases oxidation and reduces shelf life, as does exposure to direct sunlight. Refrigeration is not needed.

Our recipes are considered Low GI because they do not include high glycemic foods such as corn, rice, sugar, tapioca or potato starch. Instead, our formulations contain low glycemic complex carbohydrates such as garbanzo beans, green lentils, field peas and sweet potatoes. These low glycemic complex carbohydrates are high in soluble and insoluble fibers that are known to slow down digestion and provide a slower release of nutrients into the bloodstream, resulting in longer lasting energy and an increased feeling of satiety.

Yes, it is! You can rotate between our grain-free, limited ingredient formulations at any time without upsetting your dog’s stomach.

Open Farm recipes do not contain any corn, wheat, soy or fillers and we offer potato free recipe options. Instead, we focus on premium meats, fish and locally sourced, Non-GMO vegetables in our highly nutritious recipes.

Yes, Open Farm recipes are formulated for small, medium and large breeds. Adjust your pet’s food intake according to the feeding guide on the side of your bag based on his or her age and weight.

Our "best before" date is printed on the back bottom right of your bag.

We formulate our recipes using the best real-food ingredients! This may sometimes cause variances in the shape, size or appearance of our recipes. We also don't use any artificial colours, flavours or preservatives which means that there can be colour, consistency or texture variances. All batches of our food are thoroughly tested by a 3rd party lab before leaving our facility, not only for contaminants, but also to ensure nutritional integrity.

All our recipes our formulated at our head office in Toronto with the support of various nutrition, animal science and food manufacturing experts. Core to this team are Animal Nutritionists who holds a Masters Degrees in Animal Science, Formulation and Animal Nutrition and a PHD Food Scientists. These experts ensure that are recipes are formulated to meet the nutrition pets need to optimize their health and longevity. All ingredients are added with a meaningful purpose and create the best recipes for our pets to thrive.

Open Farm recipes are free from artificial preservatives and flavors–including Ethoxyquin. Instead, we use a premium preservative and a natural antioxidant that is formulated with a proprietary blend of mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E).

It is best to start with 75% old recipes and 25% Open Farm and increase Open Farm over 7 – 10 days. See our blog post for more tips! 

Yes! All our recipes are formulated for rotational diets. Your pup will love the variety of proteins and benefits of them all.

We have many options for a wide variety of allergies, and we are always here to help with your dog’s specific needs as they can be unique to each pup! A great place to start is with a single protein source. We have single protein options in all our recipe lines including dry Whitefish recipe options. 

We must boast that all our recipes have been great options for dogs with tummy troubles! Each recipe is formulated to ensure that our pups have strong digestive tracts and include amazing ingredients such as pumpkin and chicory root to help support this. A great place to start is our Whitefish recipe.

Ideally, you should store your kibble in a cool, dry, and dark location. It is best to keep in the original bag, tightly seal or roll the original packaging after opening. Another option is to use a resealable container constructed of food grade plastic or stainless steel. Prolonged exposure to higher temperatures increases oxidation and reduces shelf life, as does exposure to direct sunlight. Refrigeration is not needed.

Our fish is exclusively ocean caught and because availability of wild fish species varies by season, the fish selection in our Catch-Of-The- Day Whitefish recipes may change depending on the species in abundance at the time. The nutritional profiles of each seasonally sourced whitefish are very similar to one another, so the variation in fish type will not upset your pet’s stomach. Check the label with the Best Before date on the back of your bag to see the seasonal fish selection in each batch. The recipes typical include Cod, Pollock, or Hake.

We do offer a Puppy recipe with targeted benefits for growing puppies such as a source of DHA to support healthy brain development. This recipe offers a high protein diet from multiple animal protein sources to help prevent allergy development. The Puppy recipe is suitable for breeds of all sizes. Pups are usually ready to switch to our all life stages at 12 months of age.

Meat and fish meals are an incredibly nutritious concentrated source of animal protein when sourced correctly. We do not use any meat or poultry meals due to their lack of regulation and traceability. Meat and poultry meals are made in large batches and may contain meat and ingredients from questionable sources. Instead, we use a small batch, ocean caught fish meal as a concentrated source of protein. We have full traceability on our fish meal and can guarantee the fish species and that the fish have lived a natural life

80 to 90% of protein is sourced from animal ingredients (meat, poultry and/or fish).

Yes! All our Ancient Grain and many of our grain free recipes are free of potatoes. Our Whitefish, Salmon, and Lamb are completely potato free. Our Turkey & Chicken contains Russet Potatoes.

The kibble is on the smaller side and is suitable for breed of all sizes from tiny to giant!

All our cat Rustic Blends are complete and balanced diets. The Turkey, Chicken and Beef Stews are complete and balanced diets for your dog.

Our cat Rustic Blends are a finely blended stew pack with meat, poultry, and fish.

Please store in a cool and dry location before opening. Once opened, store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Our recipes our developed with the support of Animal Nutrition, Animal Science, Food Scientist and food manufacturing experts. Open Farm recipes are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO.

Open Farm recipes are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO. Our foods and treats are tested by 3rd party accredited labs for nutritional profile, pathogens, heavy metals and other contaminants, to ensure they meet our strict nutritional and food safety standards

Yes, all our recipe packaging is free of BPA.

Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements. Our recipes are formulated specifically for their nutritional needs. Please feed for pet the species appropriate recipe.

Ash is the total mineral content in the recipe.

Our fish is sourced from suppliers that are in accordance with Ocean Wise and Seafood Watch. This helps to ensure that the species we are sourcing is from the highest quality suppliers who guides us to fisheries that operate in parts of the ocean that fish in clean waters. We ensure that we source species classified as “lower or lowest” on the FDA reports. Open Farm also tests our batches with a 3rd party lab to make certain we are adhering to our own set of internal quality standards.

Our food is formulated in Canada and made in the United States. Our facilities are inspected on an ongoing basis by our team, and independent auditors from Certified Humane, and other food safety organizations such as the FDA, AIB and USDA.

TerraCycle is a leader in the recycling industry! They collect difficult to recycle packaging and products that would be destined for landfills. TerraCycle repurposes waste into affordable and innovative products and materials. We are proud to partner with TerraCycle and that we created the first nationwide pet food packaging recycling program to help manage our environmental footprint.

We partner with industry leading US and Canadian seafood sustainability organizations, Seafood Watch and Ocean Wise, to ensure that our ocean caught fish is sourced in accordance with the most up-to-date sustainability standards. These amazing partners provide recommendations for species that are abundant and resilient to fishing pressures in order to minimize overfishing. The catch methods used are species appropriate and reduce by-catch.

All our meats used in our recipes are sourced from two industry leading animal welfare organizations, Certified Humane (HFAC) and Global Animal Partnership (GAP) farms. These organization’s sole focus is to ensure the humane treatment of animals raised for food productions. Each of our farm’s, processing and manufacturing facilities are audited on an ongoing basis to assure we are complying to their strict standards.

HFAC and GAP include standards for the entire life of the animals from birth to processing. They are fully transparent, and their detailed standards can be found on their sites;

Certified Humane: https://certifiedhumane.org/how-we-work/our-standards/

Global Animal Partnership: https://globalanimalpartnership.org/standards/

Yes, all animals are raised in enriched environments which are cage and crate free with space for comfort and to roam.

Our Beef and Lamb are always pasture raised and grass-fed outdoors year-round. As for our other protein options, Certified Humane programs have standards for both open (outdoor) and closed (not outdoor) systems. This is important since we do source these meats in North America which experiences four seasons of weather. Under all systems and times of the year, the Certified Humane standards are all encompassing and stipulate that animals must have access to fresh air blown into the farm, natural bedding and enrichments are available.

Our Lamb is 100% grass fed and finished. Our fish is wild-caught so we can guarantee they are fed a natural diet. All animals under HFAC and GAP must be fed a natural vegetarian diet free of growth hormones and antibiotics.