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 add finely crushed bone, and our special nutrient 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 and footwear, hair nets, and gloves. We do runs of less than 1,000 pounds at a time, which takes a little over an hour per run. We sterilize between each batch, allowing for constant 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. In addition, the flash freezing process eliminates 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. We have found this process to be highly effective and has met the criteria of the FDA.
Transport/Distribution
To keep the food frozen and viable, Steve’s products require special refrigerated freight trucks that can ensure continuous freezing below -27 degrees. We go to great efforts 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, allowing you to determine whether it is safe for your pet. When a chub or medallion (like those made by other brands) is thawed, it will retain its shape, leaving the customer unaware of potentially unsafe transit temperatures and posing a potential health risk. 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 are already lessen that burden. Since we do not use a heat processes that take large amounts of power, we are lessening our impact. Additionally, at Saves’s we focus on recycling both in the plant at at the office. Being in Oregon, we use hydroelectric power and are able to source meats and produce locally. As part of our Environmental Mission Statement, a of the 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.
