The Simple Food Project Dog Food Review

Is The Simple Food Project's Freeze-Dried Raw Food Good for Your Dog?

If you're searching for a premium dog food that avoids the usual industry shortcuts... the rendered meats, the ultra-processing, and the mysterious “proprietary blends” and meat meals, then The Simple Food Project is probably already on your radar.

But is it really as good as people say?

And is it worth the money, especially if you have more than one dog?

Is it good for adult and senior dogs?

In this deep-dive review, we break down all the pros, cons, science, sourcing, and formulation details to help you decide if Simple Food Project deserves a place in your dog's bowl.

NOTE: We do NOT make any money from this or any other dog food. This is not an affiliate article, there are no affiliate links. We review foods based on their merit. If we recommend them, it is because we think they'll help your dog.

🔻 Starting with the Negatives

Let’s get the downsides out of the way — and thankfully, there aren’t many.

1. It’s Not Cheap

There’s no sugarcoating this:

💸 Higher price tag than most dehydrated or freeze-dried foods

🐶 Fine for one-dog households, tougher for multi-dog homes

🥩 But you are paying for higher ingredient quality and better processing

This isn’t “overpriced for what it is,” but it is a significant investment.

Basically, it costs a lot, but isn't expensive.

2. Not Certified Human-Grade

This one is nuanced.

Simple Food Project openly explains that they use human-grade meats and grocery-grade produce, but they are not certified human-grade because:

To be legally “human grade” in North America, the facility must also produce at least one product meant for human consumption — and they don't.

This is not a compromise in ingredient quality, but rather a limitation of USDA labeling rules.

Verdict: Not really a “negative,” but worth noting for shoppers who specifically look for the human-grade seal.

🌟 Now for the Positives — And There Are Many

The Simple Food Project competes in the premium tier of dog food, alongside Carnivore, Dr. Marty, Visionary Pet Foods, and Carna4. Here's how it stacks up.

⭐ 1. No Rendered Meats, No Fillers, No Junk

Most commercial kibble contains:

❌ Rendered by-products

❌ Corn

❌ Soy

❌ Wheat

❌ High-glycemic fillers

The Simple Food Project avoids all of these.

Instead, they rely on:

🥩 Real meat (grass-raised beef, wild-caught fish)

🥕 Whole vegetables

🍎 Actual fruits, not extracts

This already places them above 75–80% of dog foods on the market, based purely on ingredient integrity.

Compare this with high price foods like ACANA who load their bags with lentils and peas, or 'vet recommended foods' aimed at seniors or dogs with issues, and you can clearly see that Simple Food uses superior ingredients.

⭐ 2. Low-Temperature Cooking in Small Batches

This is one of the biggest advantages — and one most dog parents never hear about.

❌ The Dog Food Industry’s Biggest Problem: Ultra-High Heat

Most kibble is cooked:

🔥 Once at very high temperature

🔥 Then again

🔥 Then a third time

🔥 And finally extruded at an even higher temperature

This destroys:

• Proteins

• Omega-3 fatty acids

• Natural enzymes

• Heat-sensitive vitamins

• Polyphenols

It also chemically alters carbohydrates, meaning a sweet potato becomes more like “sugar powder” than a vegetable.

✔️ Simple Food Project Preserves Nutrients

Low-temperature, small-batch processing means:

⭐ Less protein denaturation

⭐ Fewer advanced glycation end products (AGEs)

⭐ Better retention of antioxidants and vitamins

⭐ Carbs remain structurally intact instead of becoming blood-sugar bombs

🤓 Nerd Alert:

High heat increases Maillard reaction compounds, which in excess are linked to inflammation and oxidative stress. Low-temp processing avoids this.

✔️ Small Batches = Fewer Recalls

Because everything is produced in-house, quality control is far easier.

And as of today?

👉 Simple Food Project has zero recalls.

That alone beats much of the pet food industry.

⭐ 3. Low-to-Moderate Carbohydrates (Exceptionally Low for a Commercial Food)

This food isn’t ketogenic, but the carbs are MUCH lower than typical kibble.

Here’s the breakdown:

Duck & Trout → 23% carbs

Chicken & Turkey → 16% carbs

Beef & Salmon → 15% carbs

For reference:

• Most grocery-store kibble: 45–60% carbs

• Many premium kibbles: 35–45% carbs

Simple Food Project sits between 15–23%, which is low by industry standards.

Why is low carb important?

🧠 Better brain health in seniors

💪 More stable energy levels

🦴 Less inflammation for joints

🩺 Better metabolic health overall

🦠 Improved gut health

👉 Note:

If your dog is strictly ketogenic, this food is not suitable.

But for a standard low-carb diet? ➡️ It’s fantastic.

⭐ 4. A+ First Five Ingredients Test

Most of a dog food’s nutrition comes from the first five ingredients — that’s 80–90% of the formula.

Companies like Purina and Royal Canin will sprinkle fairy dust like:

• Blueberries

• Cranberries

• Kale powder

…but only after the salt divide, meaning those ingredients may be less than 0.2% of the recipe.

Simple Food Project’s first five ingredients (Beef & Salmon recipe):

🥩 Grass-raised beef

🐟 Wild-caught salmon

🥩 Grass-raised beef liver

🌾 Flax

🥩 More beef

That is an outstanding ingredient panel — nothing filler-based, everything whole.

⭐ 5. Testing for Heavy Metals and Parasites (Fish Recipes)

This is a quiet but huge benefit.

Not all pet food companies test fish for:

• Mercury

• Lead

• Arsenic

• Cadmium

• Parasite contamination

Simple Food Project does.

Given how sensitive seniors are — especially neurologically — this is an important safety measure.

🤓 Nerd Alert 2:

Even low levels of mercury can impair cognition in aging animals. Testing reduces this risk. For senior dogs, we need to give them every advantage possible to help them live longer.

⭐ 6. Freeze-Dried Raw Style With Added Convenience

The food is freeze-dried and shaped into kibble-like pieces. This means:

🥣 You can pour it like kibble

💧 Rehydrate with water or broth

🧼 It’s clean and easy compared to traditional raw

Not raw, not cooked — but “gently processed.”

From the Simple Food Project site

⭐ 7. Good Omega-3 to Omega-6 Ratio

Inflammation goes down when omega-3 levels go up.

The Beef & Salmon recipe provides a 2:1 ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s — extraordinary for a commercial dog food.

Still:

👉 Always add extra omega-3s, especially EPA and DHA, for:

🧠 Cognitive longevity

🦴 Joint support

❤️ Heart health

🧬 Anti-inflammatory effects

We recommend this for all dog food, including homemade.

🧪 Nerd Alert 3: Why Simple Food Project Works

Low Heat = Higher Nutrient Retention

Studies show that high-heat extrusion reduces amino acids like lysine and increases carcinogenic AGEs. Low heat preserves natural nutrients.

Whole Ingredients = Better Digestibility

Dogs digest real muscle meat and real organs more efficiently than rendered meals. (Frankly, I'm not sure we should even call rendered meats or meat meals, 'meat')

Low Carbs Reduce Glycemic Load

Older dogs metabolise carbohydrates inefficiently. Adults and seniors do not need carbs. Lower carbs = better weight, better brain function, better mobility, and less chronic, low grade inflammation.

Heavy Metal Testing = Safer Seafood

Mercury accumulation is a known issue in pet foods using low-grade fish meals. Testing prevents this risk.

🐾 Final Verdict: 5 Paws Out of 5

You wanted to know if it’s good enough for your dog’s belly — the answer is:

👉 Absolutely, yes.

The Simple Food Project stands out as one of the cleanest, safest, and most thoughtfully made freeze-dried options on the market.

🥩 Real ingredients

🔥 Minimal processing

🧪 Heavy-metal testing

💧 Easy to rehydrate

🧠 Senior-friendly nutrition

🐟 Strong omega ratios

🔍 Zero recalls

🍽️ Extremely clean formulations

If the budget works, it is one of the best choices for long-term health, especially for senior dogs.

Add warm broth, add omega-3s, mix with homemade if you like — and you’ve got a bowl that supports longevity.

❓ FAQ: The Simple Food Project Dog Food

1. Is Simple Food Project good for senior dogs?

Absolutely. Low carbs, clean ingredients, good omega-3 levels, and low-temperature cooking make it exceptionally senior-friendly.

2. Is it safe for dogs with allergies?

Yes. Because it avoids fillers, by-products, corn, wheat, and soy, it performs well for sensitive dogs. Always check the protein source if your dog has known allergies.

3. Can I feed it to a dog on a ketogenic diet?

No — the carbs are too high for strict therapeutic keto.
But it is excellent for general low-carb feeding.

If you want to learn how to prepare a real ketogenic diet for your dog, click the banner below:

4. Should I rehydrate it with water or broth?

Warm broth is ideal:

🦴 Better hydration

💚 Supports gut health and provides your dog with usable collagen

🍗 Improves flavour

🧬 Helps absorption of fat-soluble vitamins

5. Why is it so expensive?

Because:

• The meats are high-quality

• The ingredients are whole and minimally processed

• They use low-temperature cooking

• Everything is made in-house in small batches

This is the cost of doing dog food right.

Like I said earlier, the food isn't cheap, but it's also not 'expensive.' There are cheaper foods, but the ingredients are much lower quality.

6. How does it compare to Dr. Marty or Visionary Pet?

Simple Food Project is:

• Less carb-heavy than Dr. Marty

• More transparent than many freeze-dried brands

• Comparable ingredient quality to Visionary Pet, though Visionary is keto

Overall, it’s one of the most trustworthy freeze-dried foods available.

7. Does it cause digestive upset?

Most dogs transition smoothly, thanks to the whole-food ingredient list. Still, start with:

• 🥄 25% SFP + 75% old food

• 🥄 Then 50/50

• 🥄 Then 75/25

What Should You Do Next?

1. Check out The Simple Food Projects site - Click Here

*Note: to reiterate, we do NOT make any money from this or any other food.

Questions? Comments? Email us: [email protected]