September 16, 2025
Mintel reports that U.S. pet owners expressed interest in a number of concepts, from health concerns to emerging trends like indulgent pet desserts, which a freeze-dried product line of complete diets, treats and toppers can support. Let’s look at how freeze-dried ticks the boxes for on-trend pet food and treats.
More than one-third of U.S. respondents to the Mintel survey indicated interest in treats that address a specific health concern¹ or offer health benefits to their pets, like gut health and digestive benefits. Single ingredient freeze-dried treats, like beef heart, chicken breast and salmon filets are raw and fresh proteins that are also highly digestible. Freeze-drying preserves nutrition and natural enzymes in the raw ingredients, resulting in palatable, high-protein snacks that can support healthy digestion.
Complete and balanced diets for adult maintenance can also support gut health claims with additional ingredients like pumpkin, quinoa, apple, sweet potato, and brown rice. Partner with a skilled research and development lab for help with custom formulation processes to ensure new product development meets the labeling requirements for your brand.
Add-ins like inulin or chicory root introduce soluble fibers that support prebiotic function in complete freeze-dried diets. Inulin helps support gut health and healthy digestion, and fruits and vegetables with prebiotic properties, like bananas, beet pulp, or flaxseed, are another way to meet the trend. Premixes of vitamins and probiotics may also be incorporated into complete and balanced freeze-dried formulations.
When it comes to product integrity, freeze-drying delivers for the pet industry through minimal processing. Freeze-dried proteins undergo processes that help protect nutrition, which is important to pet parents who want to ensure their pets receive quality nourishment from premium treats. By the end of the freeze-drying process, most water gets removed from raw ingredients frozen at very low temperatures. This process helps to also preserve taste and texture, and even shape, color and size, for treats that consumers will recognize as natural and benefit packed.
Freeze-dried pet food products are ready-to-serve and do not require rehydration, making them an excellent choice for pets who need a “reward” for good behavior while out-and-about or as a premium training treat. Freeze-dried treats, toppers and mixers are great for multi-form feeding and treating. And offering the products in sample-size or individual portion packaging can offer treating flexibility for active pet owners and their pets.
Nearly a quarter of pet food purchasers are interested in human-grade options.² With high-quality, human-grade raw proteins used as the sole ingredient for pet treats, freeze-dried products meet the need for premium treats and toppers. The pet food manufacturing process at Petsource is consistent with the food safety standards at a human food facility, and our single ingredient treats can be made with human-grade ingredients. Diced and domino options for beef and chicken, and diced, skin-on salmon are part of our stock portfolio, available for pet brands looking for faster speed-to-market.
Yes, freeze-dried proteins are raw! Pets can enjoy raw meat for a palatable, high-protein meal or snack, while owners can spoil their furry friend without the inconvenience of raw handling. Petsource is designed for food safety, incorporating high pressure processing (HPP), a heatless and preservative-free method to pasteurization. Though technically raw, freeze-dried proteins are treated for pathogens during HPP and also receive the extra benefits of an extended shelf-life and being clean label.
While not a dessert, single-ingredient freeze-dried treats can be a delicious finish to a healthy pup’s diet. An indulgent, premium product that can come in whole proteins like wild-caught salmon, antibiotic free chicken, and tasty beef heart, liver or kidney.
Not only do they provide the flavor profiles pets want, but they also address several benefits or characteristics that today’s pet owners are seeking. In a softer pet market, freeze-dried retains growth potential that aligns with sustained interest in raw and high-protein, minimally processed and human-grade pet food and treats.
1, 2: Mintel – Pet Food, US – 2024