Freeze-dried products are extremely well preserved. In fact, they are so well preserved that many pathogens existing on the food become dormant. If pathogens like E. coli, salmonella, norovirus or giardia are present on the raw ingredients, they are still intact on the final freeze-dried product.

When handling freeze-dried meat products, food safety is paramount as the pathogens might be reactivated with water and oxygen exposure. Your dog will often get your hand or fingers a bit wet when handing them a treat. Washing your hands after handling any freeze-dried meat products is a must!

Dehydrators also create a dry and preserved product, but these machines gently cook the ingredients with warm air, killing the pathogens in the process. When handling properly dehydrated treats, the risk of pathogen exposure from the product is nonexistent. 

At Skookum Supply Co., we have opted to use dehydrators to make our dog treats because it is far more convenient to feed a product that doesn't require sanitation after touching it.