We choose complete kibble over raw feeding. The claimed health superiority of raw diets has not been established by strong long-term evidence, while the hazards of uncooked animal ingredients are documented: bacterial contamination, cross-contamination, pathogen shedding and nutritional imbalance when diets are poorly formulated.
Our evidence-based view
Kibble is cooked, dried, shelf stable and available as a complete life-stage diet. Raw food removes the cooking step that would reduce harmful bacteria and requires freezer space and raw-meat hygiene. A raw product can be labelled complete, but that does not remove its microbiological risk.
| Factor | Kibble | Raw food |
|---|---|---|
| Heat treatment | Usually cooked during extrusion | No cooking kill step |
| Storage | Cool and dry | Usually frozen or chilled, separated from human food |
| Human hygiene risk | Normal pet-food hygiene | Greater cross-contamination controls required |
| Nutritional completeness | Check label | Check label or professionally formulated recipe |
| Bones | Not part of conventional kibble | May be present; can create physical hazards |
Can both diets be complete?
Commercial kibble and commercial raw products can be labelled complete or complementary. Homemade raw recipes need expert formulation: balancing meat, bone and organs by a simple ratio does not demonstrate that every essential nutrient is supplied for the dog’s life stage.
WSAVA states that raw diets vary in ingredients, energy and nutrition and that home-prepared raw or cooked diets may have important deficiencies or excesses. Errors are particularly consequential for puppies.
Does raw feeding have proven health advantages?
WSAVA reports no evidence that raw meat-based diets provide health benefits over commercial or balanced homemade cooked diets. Individual dogs may show changes after any diet switch, but that observation cannot identify whether format, calories, ingredients or another factor caused it.
What are the food-safety differences?
The UK Food Standards Agency says cross-contamination risk is much higher with raw pet food because bacteria normally killed by cooking may remain. Its 2023–24 retail survey found harmful bacteria in 35% of sampled raw dog and cat foods and 29% failed applicable UK legal safety standards.
People handling raw food should wash hands, disinfect bowls and surfaces, store it separately from human food and handle faeces hygienically. Young children, pregnant people, older adults and immunocompromised people face greater risk of severe illness.
What risks are associated with bones?
WSAVA notes risks including broken teeth, obstruction and constipation. Feeding bones should not be treated as proven prevention of periodontal disease. Seek veterinary advice before offering them.
How do convenience and cost compare?
Kibble is generally easier to store and portion. Raw food needs cold-chain space, careful defrosting and cleaning. Compare cost per day using the complete feeding amount, including supplements required for a homemade plan and potential waste.
Read the separate guide to mixing raw food and kibble, browse the kibble directory, or return to the complete dry-food guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is raw food more natural than kibble?
Natural is not a complete nutritional or safety assessment. Compare formulation, completeness, evidence, hygiene requirements and the individual dog.
Does freezing make raw dog food safe?
Freezing does not reliably remove all pathogenic bacteria. Follow the product’s storage and handling instructions.
Can puppies eat raw food?
Growth diets must be correctly balanced. Nutritional errors are especially serious during growth, so seek veterinary nutrition advice.
Is commercial raw food complete?
Some products are complete and others complementary. Read the statutory description and intended life stage.
What does the latest UK evidence show?
The FSA’s survey covered 380 raw dog and cat food products bought between March 2023 and February 2024. It reported Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli among the harmful bacteria detected. The result does not mean every raw pack is contaminated, but it establishes a material category-level hazard that handling precautions cannot completely remove.
A decision checklist for raw feeding
- Is the food explicitly complete for the dog’s life stage?
- Can the household maintain separate frozen storage and safe defrosting?
- Are vulnerable people present in or visiting the household?
- Will every handler clean hands, bowls, utensils and preparation surfaces?
- Does the plan avoid unbalanced homemade substitutions?
- Has the vet been told, particularly before hospital visits or treatment?
A dog appearing well does not establish that it is not carrying or shedding bacteria. Hygiene therefore applies consistently, rather than only when the animal has digestive signs.
Our verdict: rawness is a risk, not a nutrient
The UK Food Standards Agency tested 380 retail raw dog and cat foods bought during 2023 and 2024 and reported harmful bacteria including Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli. A dog can also carry or shed organisms without appearing ill, extending the issue beyond the bowl.
Small feeding studies have found differences in digestibility, stools and microbiota between formats, but those outcomes do not demonstrate longer life or better overall health. We do not think speculative benefits justify a known household hygiene hazard when complete cooked food is readily available.
Evidence behind our view: UK Food Standards Agency raw-food survey · review of raw-diet evidence and microbiological hazards
Sources and editorial method
This comparison considers nutrition, handling, storage, cost and practical use. It does not rank one feeding method as universally best. Complete products can differ within every format.
- UK feed marketing and labelling legislation
- FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines
- WSAVA: Selecting a Pet Food
- Food Standards Agency: safe handling of raw pet food
- WSAVA: Raw Meat Based Diets for Pets
Last reviewed: 8 October 2026.