How to tell if raw dog food has gone off

Raw food is easy to keep fresh if it stays frozen until you need it. When something does seem off, these are the signs to trust, and the ones that look worse than they are.

What fresh raw food is like

Fresh raw mince smells of raw meat and not much else. The colour varies with the meat: chicken is pale, beef and veal are red to dark red, and blends with offal are darker still. Frozen blocks should be hard right through when they come out of the freezer.

Signs it has gone off

• Smell. A sour, rotten or ammonia-like smell that’s stronger than raw meat should be.
• Texture. A slimy or sticky coating on the surface.
• Mould. Fuzzy spots of any colour.
• Time. Thawed food that’s been in the fridge for more than about three days.
• Left out. Food that has sat out of the fridge, in the bowl or on the bench, for more than a short while.

Any one of these is enough. Throw it out rather than taking a chance, and wash the container well before you use it again.

Things that look worse than they are

Browning on the surface

Red meat often turns brown or grey where it’s been exposed to air. That’s the meat reacting with oxygen, and on its own it doesn’t mean the food has gone off. Go by smell and texture, not colour alone.

Freezer burn

Dry, pale or greyish patches on frozen food are freezer burn: the surface has dried out in the cold. It isn’t a food safety problem, but those patches are dry and less appealing. Keeping cartons closed and using the oldest first keeps it to a minimum.

Green tripe

Green tripe smells strong when it’s perfectly fresh. That’s normal, and it’s a big part of why dogs love it. Our green tripe guide has tips for living with the smell. The other signs, like slime or mould, still apply.

Keeping food fresh

• Get your order into the freezer as soon as it arrives. It arrives chilled.
• Thaw a couple of days’ worth at a time in the fridge, never on the bench.
• Keep thawed food covered, on the bottom shelf, and use it within about three days.
• Pick the bowl up after each meal rather than leaving food out.
• Rotate cartons so the oldest gets used first.

Our guide to thawing and storing raw dog food has the whole routine, and our raw feeding hygiene guide covers bowls, hands and surfaces.

Common questions

Can I refreeze raw dog food once it has thawed?

It’s best not to. Thawing and refreezing affects the texture and gives bacteria another chance to grow while it’s thawed. Take out only what you’ll use in the next couple of days, which the blocks make easy.

How long does raw dog food keep in the freezer?

Frozen solid, it keeps well for months. Each carton is labelled, so you can see what you have and use the oldest first.

My dog ate some food I’m unsure about. What should I do?

Keep an eye on them. If they’re unwell, with vomiting, diarrhoea or low energy, call your vet.