Manufacturing
Production
Steve’s Real Food is made at our dedicated facility in Aumsville, OR, under the most rigorous quality control standards in the industry.
All the ingredients are, of course, human quality. The produce is fresh, pesticide-free, and triple-washed to ensure it is clean and wholesome.
We start by partially defrosting the meat/poultry so that we can remove the plastic that it is stored it. The temperature never gets above 40 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure safety. Next, we finely chop the meat/poultry and produce in the grinder before adding finely crushed bone and our special blend of superfoods. Once the food is blended, we form it into nuggets or patties and flash freeze the food to –50 Degrees Fahrenheit to lock in freshness, nutrition, and taste.
Our food is manufactured under USDA and HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points) guidelines on sterilized processing equipment. We take all possible measures to prevent contamination. Every person that enters the facility wears sterilized clothing, footwear, hair nets, and gloves. We do runs of less than 1,000 pounds at a time, which takes a little over an hour to complete. We sterilize all equipment between each batch, allowing for thorough cleaning of the equipment.
Product Testing/Bacteria
We regularly test our foods for Salmonella, E. coli 0157:H7, & Campylobacter to ensure our product’s safety. We also test our foods for pesticides and heavy metals even though our food sources are of such high quality and good sourcing that contaminants are very unlikely. Additionally, the flash freezing process offers a final barrier against the possibility of parasites.
We use biophages as a preventative measure to reduce the likelihood of bacteria. It is sprayed on during the mixing phase to allow for enough time to activate. This process is both be highly effective and meets criteria set forth by the FDA.
Transport/Distribution
To keep the food frozen and viable, Steve’s products require special refrigerated freight trucks that ensure continuous freezing below -27 degrees. We go through great effort working with our transportation partners, distributors, and retailers to minimize the opportunity for the product to defrost before making it to your freezer.
Unlike other raw brands, you can tell if our product has been frozen continuously before it reaches you. When thawed, our food loses its nugget/cube shape and will re-freeze into a large block of food. When a chub or medallion (like those made by other brands) is thawed, it will usually retain its shape, so you have no way of knowing for sure if the product was kept at appropriate freezing temperatures during transport. In everything we do, you can see the difference with Steve’s.
Sustainable Practices
Manufacturing of consumer products can negatively impact the environment. The good news is that by choosing a raw food, you already lessen that burden. Since we do not use a heat processes that use large amounts of electricity, we are lessening our impact. Additionally, at Steve’s, we focus on recycling both in the plant and at the office. We use hydroelectric power from Oregon and are able to source meats and produce locally. As part of our Environmental Mission Statement, a requirement we have for our suppliers is that they have a sustainable action plan for their own manufacturing. We truly do everything we can to reduce our impact and preserve the planet so generations to come can enjoy it.
