Freshpet, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRPT), the leader in fresh pet food, announced that its entire U.S. and Canadian product line has earned the Clean Label Project(TM) Purity Award. This recognition highlights Freshpet's commitment to ingredient quality and safety. The Clean Label Project(TM), a nonprofit organization, tests products for hidden contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and environmental toxins. Freshpet's recipes now meet the organization's strict thresholds for these contaminants.

A First in the Pet Food Industry

Freshpet is the first and only pet food brand to achieve Clean Label Project Certification for its entire product line. The Purity Award, reserved for the top third of performers in a category, validates Freshpet's dedication to premium quality, food safety, and sustainability. This third-party recognition reinforces the company's mission to provide minimally processed, fresh ingredients for pets.

What It Takes to Earn the Purity Award

To earn the Clean Label Project(TM) Certification, products undergo rigorous independent lab testing. These tests screen for over 100 contaminants, including heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury, as well as industrial chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and acrylamide. These substances pose potential health risks for both humans and pets.

Scott Morris, Co-founder and President of Freshpet, reflected on the company's journey. "Twenty years ago, we set out to create a different kind of pet food--real, simple, and made in our own kitchens. This award validates our belief that fresh, high-quality nutrition is the best choice for pets," he said.

Freshpet Outshines Traditional Dog Food

The announcement follows the release of the Clean Label Project's Dog Food Category Report. The report revealed that many popular dry dog foods contain significantly higher levels of heavy metals and industrial contaminants compared to fresh and frozen options. In fact, traditional dry dog food averaged 13.3 times more arsenic, 20 times more lead and mercury, and dramatically higher levels of DEHP and acrylamide. These findings highlight the risks of high-heat cooking methods used in dry dog food production.

In contrast, Freshpet's fresh and frozen recipes had the lowest levels of heavy metals among all segments tested. They even outperformed the Clean Label Project's benchmark for human consumables in categories like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead, and acrylamide.

Why Freshpet Stands Out

Freshpet's recipes are crafted with real, recognizable ingredients like chicken, beef, salmon, vegetables, and whole grains. Unlike traditional dog foods, Freshpet avoids rendered meat meals and fillers. The company uses gentle steam-cooking methods to preserve nutrients and ingredient integrity, steering clear of high-heat extrusion processes that can create harmful chemicals like acrylamide.

Additionally, Freshpet enforces strict safety protocols. Each recipe undergoes more than 20 quality and safety tests to ensure it meets the highest standards.

Dr. Lisa Weeth, Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist and Head of Veterinary Research at Freshpet, emphasized the importance of transparency. "Contaminants like heavy metals don't appear on ingredient lists, but they're a real concern for health-conscious pet parents. This certification gives families and veterinarians the data they need to make informed choices," she explained.

Raising the Bar for Pet Food Safety

Molly Hamilton, Executive Director of the Clean Label Project, highlighted the need for stronger safety standards in the pet food industry. "Many pet owners assume their dog's food is held to the same safety standards as human food, but that's not the case. Our findings show that fresh and frozen dog foods, like Freshpet, are significantly safer than traditional dry options," she said.

About Freshpet

Freshpet has been transforming pet nutrition for over 20 years. The company's fresh, refrigerated recipes are made with natural whole ingredients and cooked in small batches at lower temperatures to preserve their natural goodness. Freshpet foods are available in grocery stores, natural food markets, pet specialty retailers, and online across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

From partnering with farmers who share its values to ensuring transparency and sustainability, Freshpet takes pride in its commitment to integrity and social responsibility. For more information, visit www.freshpet.com.

About the Clean Label Project

The Clean Label Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to revealing what labels don't show. By testing consumer products for contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals, the organization advocates for stronger safety standards and recognizes leading brands through its Certification and Purity Award programs. Learn more at www.cleanlabelproject.org.