The United States Food and Drug Administration (also known as the FDA) is the arm of the government responsible for making sure that the food and drugs that make it onto shelves and into consumer homes are safe for consumption—by both humans and pets.
While the FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety of both food and drugs, there are certain products that fall outside of their jurisdiction—and, as a result, aren’t regulated (for example, dietary supplements aren’t technically considered drugs—so they’re not regulated by the FDA).
But what about treats? When you give your pup a treat, you want to make sure it’s healthy (and safe!) for your dog. So, are dog treats regulated by the FDA?
Yes, The FDA Regulates Dog Treats
Good news! As it turns out, dog treats are regulated by the FDA. According to their website, “The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.”
Now, pet food products don’t need pre-market approval. That means that every pet food product isn’t individually reviewed before it gets sent to stores. However, in order to legally release a pet food in the US, it has to meet FDA standards.
The Best Treats For Your Pup (They’re Up To FDA Standards!)
So, now you that you know that dog treats are regulated by the FDA and safe to give to your pup (I bet they’re not complaining!), let’s get to the good stuff—what kind of treats you should give your pup.
Jerky treats
Jerky treats (like the NYC Roasted Duck Jerky Bites or the Roasted Duck NYC Jerky Chews) are a heavy favorite for pups because of their toughness. The texture makes them a little harder to chew—and more fun for your dog to eat.
Soft Baked Treats
Soft baked treats are a fantastic treat for any dog—large, small, young, old, or any pup in between—because of their (you guessed it!) soft texture. These treats (like Winner Winner Chicken Dinner or the Steak Chew of Liberty) are easy for pups to chomp on—and they don’t skimp on flavor, either.
Freeze Dried Treats
When you’re shopping for the best treats for your pup, what’s important? Flavor. You want to make sure you get them something that packs a flavorful punch. And freeze dried treats, like the Beef Tendersticks or Stink, Steak, Stunk!, definitely fill the bill.
Get Treats Delivered To Your Door With BarkBox
It’s the FDA’s job to regulate dog treats—but it’s your job to get those treats to your pup.
When you subscribe to BarkBox, we deliver a carefully curated selection of toys, chews, and—you guessed it—treats to your door each month.
Does your pup go through treats quicker than you can dish them out? We’ve got you covered. Every BarkBox comes stocked with two bags of healthy, delicious treats—plenty to keep them busy in between deliveries.
So what are you waiting for? Keep your dog stocked in all the treats, toys, and chews he can handle with a subscription to BarkBox!
