NATURAL PET CARE BLOG

By Dr. Katie Woodley, integrative veterinarian and founder of The Natural Pet Doctor

High-Pressure Processing, or HPP, is a nonthermal food-safety process that uses intense pressure to reduce pathogens without cooking raw pet food. A common commercial protocol uses approximately 87,000 PSI, although the exact pressure and treatment time vary by manufacturer and recipe.

When properly validated, HPP can achieve a 5-log reduction in targeted organisms such as Salmonella, pathogenic E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. It generally preserves overall nutrient composition, but it can affect enzyme activity, bacteria, texture, color, and protein structure.

Key Takeaways

• What is HPP? A nonthermal safety process that uses intense pressure. Some raw-food manufacturers use approximately 87,000 PSI for three to four minutes to achieve a 5-log reduction in pathogen load.
• Is HPP food still raw? HPP does not use sustained external cooking heat, so the food remains uncooked and is generally
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