JUPdog recently reached out to Farmina asking them addresses all of the recent social media claims/concerns towards the Farmina dog food products. I don't think we were the only ones.
Farmina -"Setting The Record Straight" (Well ... 🤔) Letter
Dear Valued Partners,
Recent social media posts have made assertions about Farmina's ingredients
and sourcing that are not accurate. This letter addresses each claim directly,
plainly, and with the documentation to support the facts. We stand behind the
quality of every product we make and are glad to provide documentation on
any recipe or ingredient on request.
On China. For years, as part of our global ingredient procurement, Farmina
has sourced pumpkin from multiple regions, including China and the
Netherlands — two of the world's leading pumpkin-growing regions —
depending on seasonal availability and quality. Separately, a number of fruit
and botanical ingredients — including blueberry, pomegranate, orange, apple,
turmeric, and fennel — are grown in their country of origin (including Italy, the
United States, Turkey, and Israel) and then processed at a state-of-the-art
facility in China before being shipped to our facilities here. We use this facility
because it is among the most advanced of its kind in the world for this
process. Not every ingredient follows this path — many are grown, processed,
and shipped without ever passing through China. Because processed
ingredients ship from the country where processing occurs, they can appear
on import records as originating from China, even when the ingredient itself
was grown elsewhere. Neither practice is new, and neither is connected to our
North Carolina facility.
Every ingredient Farmina uses goes through a rigorous qualification and
testing process, including verification of organic status, pesticide residue, heavy metals, and microbiological safety. The country of origin for every
ingredient, along with the full standards behind our qualification and testing
process, is available in the "Our Standards" section at
← we-source-the-best-ingredients.html
, where retailers and pet parents can verify
sourcing directly for themselves. In addition to our own internal testing, we
use independent third-party laboratories to verify every ingredient we bring in.
On lamb meat and dehydrated lamb meat. Farmina uses only the highest
quality New Zealand lamb meat and dehydrated lamb. The claim being
circulated is based on a misreading of an import customs (HS) code
categorization, which does not reflect the actual product being imported. We
have full documentation of the actual imported product and are making it
available to any retailer or distributor who requests it.
On blood meal. Farmina does not use blood meal, feed-grade or otherwise,
in any current N&D or VetLife diet. We do import dehydrated chicken blood,
which is targeted for use in a professional breeder product currently in
development. It has not been released, and any future use will be clearly and
appropriately declared on the label.
On the recipe changes since our North Carolina facility opened. Several
formulas were updated as part of our ongoing commitment to quality and
digestibility. You can find a full overview of these changes at
← 7717-our-fourth-dry-food-kitchen.html
.
We're happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Best,
Angelo Russo, Owner and Global CEO
Loris Rinaldi, Farmina North America CEO
Farmina Pet Foods
Questions?
If you have questions about this update, stop by JUPdog or contact us. We are always happy to provide additional information and help you make an informed choice for your dog.
Important Information
This response provides several important clarifications, but it also conflicts with the earlier verbal information JUPdog received.
Most notably:
- ❌ Farmina now confirms that some pumpkin has been grown in China, not simply processed there.
- ❌ Several fruits and botanicals are grown in various countries but processed in China.
- ❌ This conflicts with the earlier explanation that all fruits and vegetables were sourced from Europe.
- ❓ The letter does not confirm the earlier statement that processing for North American formulas was being moved entirely to Europe.
- ✔️ Farmina states that blood meal is not used in any current N&D or VetLife formula.
- ✔️ Farmina does import dehydrated chicken blood for an unreleased professional breeder product, which will be disclosed on the label if introduced.
- ❓ Farmina denies concerns about the quality of its New Zealand lamb, explaining that the allegation resulted from a customs-code misinterpretation.
- ❌ Farmina acknowledges recipe changes but directs retailers to its website rather than detailing them in the letter.
While we appreciate Farmina providing a formal response, some of the information differs from the earlier verbal explanation JUPdog received—particularly regarding pumpkin sourcing and whether processing would be moved entirely to Europe.
Based on the information currently available, JUPdog continues to believe Farmina dog food is safe and remains a high-quality kibble option. However, we remain concerned about Farmina’s transparency—particularly that meaningful clarification came only after mounting public pressure and that some questions remain unanswered or vaguely addressed.
At JUPdog, complete transparency matters deeply to us, and we believe it should matter to every pet parent as well. We will continue asking Farmina for clear, detailed answers regarding the concerns that have not yet been fully addressed.
