Through careful processing methods, Zora’s Best Friendz guarantees that every bite is not only packed with flavor but also free from harmful contaminants. Understanding bacterial reduction and how it impacts pet health is crucial for making informed choices about what goes into your dog's diet.
The Importance of Bacterial Reduction
Raw meat, including organ meats like beef liver, naturally contains bacteria. While some bacteria are harmless, others—such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria—pose serious health risks to both pets and their owners. These pathogens can lead to gastrointestinal distress, infections, and even long-term health complications.
For pet treats to be safe, they must undergo a process that significantly reduces bacterial counts. The USDA recommends a 5-log reduction, meaning that bacteria levels are decreased to one-hundred-thousandth (1/100,000) of their original count. Achieving this level of safety ensures that treats are suitable for pets while also being safe for pet owners to handle.
Industry Methods: Are All Treatments the Same?
Many pet treat manufacturers use aggressive bacterial reduction methods, but not all are beneficial for the final product. Two common industry techniques include:
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Chemical Baths – Some companies soak raw meat in chemical solutions designed to kill bacteria. While this process can reduce bacterial counts, it often leaves behind residues that alter the natural taste, texture, and nutrient profile of the meat.
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High Pressure Pasteurization (HPP) – This method exposes meat to extreme pressure to eliminate bacteria. While effective, it can also denature the proteins, changing the color, texture, and flavor of the meat, which may reduce its palatability and nutritional value.
Some manufacturers even skip bacterial reduction entirely, particularly if they use lower-quality, non-human-grade ingredients. This means pet owners may unknowingly be feeding their dogs treats that could contain harmful pathogens or degraded meat products with reduced nutritional benefits.
Zora’s Best Friendz: A Better Approach to Pet Treat Safety
At Zora’s Best Friendz, only human-grade ingredients are used, ensuring that every treat meets the highest quality and safety standards. Unlike other brands that rely on harsh chemical treatments or excessive processing, Zora’s Best Friendz follows a gentle cooking process to achieve bacterial reduction without sacrificing nutrition.
The Zora’s Best Friendz Process
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Premium Sourcing – Only USDA-inspected, human-grade meats are used, eliminating the risk of degraded or low-quality ingredients entering the supply chain.
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Gentle Cooking for a 5-Log Reduction – Instead of chemical treatments or HPP, Zora’s Best Friendz uses traditional oven heating at 140°F for 20 minutes (or slightly lower temperatures for longer durations). This method ensures bacteria are eliminated while maintaining the natural flavor and nutritional integrity of the treats.
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Freeze-Drying at Low Temperatures – After cooking, the meat is freeze-dried to preserve its natural aroma, taste, and nutrient content without the need for artificial preservatives.
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Total In-House Control – Unlike brands that outsource parts of their production, Zora’s Best Friendz oversees every step of the process in a USDA-inspected facility, ensuring strict quality control and consistency.
Why This Matters for Your Dog
Providing treats that meet the highest safety and quality standards has direct benefits for pet health:
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Safer Treats, Healthier Pets – Proper bacterial reduction minimizes the risk of foodborne illness, reducing stomach upset and infections.
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Superior Nutrition – The gentle cooking and freeze-drying process retain essential nutrients, ensuring dogs get the vitamins and minerals they need for optimal health.
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Better Taste and Texture – By avoiding harsh processing methods, Zora’s Best Friendz delivers treats with a rich, natural aroma and flavor that dogs love.
Give Your Dog the Best with Zora’s Best Friendz
Not all dog treats are created equal, and when it comes to bacterial safety, the details matter. Zora’s Best Friendz goes above and beyond industry standards to create treats that are both safe and nutritious, using only human-grade ingredients and a careful, chemical-free cooking process.
Choosing the right treats means choosing quality, safety, and taste—and Zora’s Best Friendz delivers all three. Ready to treat your pup to the best? Shop now at www.zorasbest.com or find us on Amazon. Your best friend deserves nothing less than the best!
