What they haven't told you about the BARF diet for pets.
A critical look at science, food safety, and nutritional evolution.
The BARF ( Biologically Appropriate Raw Food ) diet has gained popularity among consumers seeking a more "natural" diet for their dogs and cats. This approach promotes the consumption of raw foods such as meats, bones, offal, fruits, and vegetables, with the aim of replicating the animals' ancestral diet.
However, from a technical, evolutionary and health perspective, this practice presents significant risks for the health of pets, for the humans who live with them, and for nutritional traceability.
In MCE Global , we have developed this article with the aim of responsibly informing all stakeholders in the animal nutrition ecosystem: formulators, brands, distributors, veterinarians, informed guardians, and strategic customers.
⚠️ Main risks of the BARF diet
Microbiological risks: a silent threat to public health
Several international studies have documented that raw pet diets have a high rate of contamination with pathogens such as Salmonella spp. , Listeria monocytogenes , Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni .
These microorganisms:
- They can infect animals , causing acute gastroenteritis, septicemia or asymptomatic carriage.
- They can be transmitted to humans , especially children, the elderly, and immunosuppressed people, through feces, saliva, or contaminated surfaces.
A study published by EFSA reports that more than 70% of raw pet food samples contained zoonotic pathogens, even in frozen products.
From a health point of view, The BARF diet represents an unacceptable risk in urban and domestic environments , where close contact between pets and people is commonplace.
Nutritional imbalances: an uncontrolled formulation
Most BARF diets are prepared by untrained caregivers using recipes that have not been validated by professionals. This leads to imbalances in essential nutrients such as:
- Calcium deficiency and excess phosphorus (inverted Ca:P ratio)
- Lack of zinc, iodine and fat-soluble vitamins
- Proteins and fats in inadequate proportions according to life stage or clinical condition
These errors can generate:
- Nutritional osteodystrophies in puppies: weak bones, deformities, pain when walking and risk of fractures during growth stages.
- Hypovitaminosis or liver toxicity: skin problems, vision, weakness, hair loss, or liver damage that affects digestion and elimination of toxins.
- Long-term metabolic, endocrine or renal disorders: uncontrolled weight gain or loss, excessive thirst, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, or failure of vital organs such as the kidneys.
Eating like a wolf? Science says otherwise.
Although dogs share ancestors with wolves, more than 15,000 years of domestication have generated significant digestive and metabolic adaptations. Genetic and physiological studies show that:
- Dogs have extra copies of the AMY2B gene, which allows for efficient digestion of starch.
- Its microbiota and enzymatic system They are adapted to the consumption of cooked and balanced foods.
- Cats, although strict carnivores, require essential nutrients in stabilized forms, such as taurine, arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A, which are not always available in unformulated raw foods.
The current context of urban and domestic life makes it impossible to replicate the wild diet without compromising the health of the animal or its environment.
Wet food or raw food? They're not the same.
Commercial wet foods are NOT raw foods.
Although they share an attractive texture and high moisture content, their differences are key:
- Cooked at a controlled temperature : they eliminate pathogens such as Salmonella either Listeria .
- Formulated by experts : with a complete nutritional profile, adapted to each species and life stage.
- Safe for the home environment : no risk of cross-contamination in the kitchen or bacterial exposure.
Unlike the BARF diet, premium wet foods represent a functional, innovative, and scientifically backed alternative that protects animal and human health.
MCE Global Recommendations: Nutrition with Evidence and Functional Value
In MCE Global , we promote the incorporation of safe, functional, and technically validated ingredients in the formulation of high-quality balanced and wet foods.
🚀 Opportunity for the Petfood Industry
The growing popularity of the BARF diet—driven by consumers seeking more natural, personalized, and "process-free" options—should not be ignored or dismissed. On the contrary, this trend is a clear sign that the market demands something more: transparency, real functionality, and evidence-based trust.
For manufacturers of balanced and wet food, this represents a concrete opportunity for repositioning and differentiation, both in the premium and functional segments.
💡How to capitalize on this opportunity?
- Developing safe, natural, and scientifically formulated alternatives that retain what consumers value about BARF (palatability, freshness, ingredient visibility) but with nutritional control, guaranteed safety, and technical support.
- Incorporating high-quality functional ingredients with proven traceability , such as omega-3-rich oils, selected protein flours, prebiotic fibers, and natural antioxidant extracts, among others. This allows for the creation of formulations that not only nourish but also provide specific benefits to the animal's digestive, immunological, and dermatological health.
- Positioning cooked and balanced foods as modern, complete, and safe solutions , with clear labels, accessible language, and available technical support that explain their value versus the risks posed by improvised feeding.
- Educating consumers through the brand , becoming a trusted source of knowledge. This strengthens loyalty, breaks myths, and promotes informed decisions, transforming the relationship with the mentor into a long-term bond.
Final reflection
Feeding a pet well isn't about going back in time, but rather understanding how its physiology, environment, and needs have evolved.
The industry has a responsibility to offer solutions that combine science, safety, functional nutrition, and real well-being. The path lies not in crude products, but in products that are technically sound, reliable, and adapted to modern life.
Invitation to debate
In MCE Global We open the space to talk, share experiences and build better solutions.
Tutors, professionals, formulators, distributors, and technical partners: we invite you to join this conversation.
📩 Write to us at fromero@mceglobal.cl
🌐 Visit: www.mceglobal.cl
MCE Global — Trusted ingredients for high-performance animal nutrition.
Sources consulted
To prepare this article on the BARF diet and its health, nutritional, and evolutionary implications, we consulted scientific studies and leading organizations in animal health and food safety, including:
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). “Microbiological hazards in feed and pet food” (2011).
- American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). “Raw or Undercooked Animal-Source Protein in Cat and Dog Diets” (2020).
- Freeman, L.M., et al. “Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat–based diets for dogs and cats.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2013).
- Heinze, CR “Nutritional risks of home-prepared diets.” Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2011).
- Swanson, K.S., et al. “Nutritional sustainability of pet foods.” Advances in Nutrition (2013).
- FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation). “Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs” (2022).
- National Research Council (NRC). “Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats” (2006).
Statement – MCE Global
In MCE Global We believe in the value of technical education as a pillar for a more responsible, safe, and evidence-based animal nutrition industry. However, the formulation of appropriate pet diets is the sole responsibility of each brand or manufacturer, just as the final feeding decision rests with each pet owner, who must be informed and seek professional guidance. Our role is to provide reliable information and promote good practices, but implementation and judgment rest with those who produce and care for them. Education is our commitment; acting responsibly is a shared obligation.
🌐 Visit: www.mceglobal.cl / fromero@mceglobal.cl