Fresh-cooked, air-dried, and freeze-dried brands that also clear the WSAVA bar on nutrition disclosure. Most fresh brands skip the research infrastructure entirely; these are the exceptions.
Fresh and refrigerated brands that also meet the WSAVA nutrition criteria. The short list.
The credible end of fresh: four full-time DACVNs and a Cornell study. You pay roughly 8x Pro Plan per calorie for cooked convenience, not for better nutrition. 3 sources
Mars-backed fresh with real feeding studies and published research. Gold-tier science at a premium fresh price. 2 sources
The most transparent fresh brand, with its own enhanced feeding trial and per-recipe disclosure. Priciest of the credible fresh trio. 3 sources
The welfare-and-grain-free Freshpet: GAP Step 2 plus Certified Humane, at a real premium per calorie. 4 sources
Freshpet's mainstream grocery lines: cheaper, but no welfare certification, so do not credit them with Nature's Fresh's badges. 3 sources