How to spot HPP in raw pet food marketing

A practical checklist: terms to look for, questions to ask, and how to interpret claims.

Brands often don’t shout “we use HPP” in big letters—because many raw feeders prefer minimal processing. Here are common ways HPP can appear in marketing and labeling language.

Terms to look for

• High-Pressure Processed, High-Pressure Pasteurized, HPP-treated
• Cold pressure pasteurization or cold pasteurization
• Validated kill step (sometimes paired with “food safety program” language)

What to ask customer support

• Do you HPP all recipes or only certain proteins/batches?
• At what stage (before or after packaging)?
• What pressure range and hold time do you use?
• What pathogens/indicators do you validate against, and how often?

What “no HPP” claims should include

• Upstream controls (supplier standards, sanitation, lot tracking)
• Cold-chain practices (rapid freeze, packaging integrity)
• Clear handling guidance for customers