Raw Feeding With Children In The Home - Is It Safe?
- RFFDMSUK
- Feb 14
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Raw feeding is a species-appropriate diet, but many parents worry about the safety of handling raw meat when young children are present. The truth is, raw feeding can be safely managed, just like handling raw meat for human consumption—by following proper hygiene practices!
👶 Raw Feeding with Children – Finding the Balance
Whether handling raw food for yourself or your pets, some level of risk is always involved. Yet, we don’t avoid having raw meat in our kitchens—and the same applies to raw feeding your dog, even when you have children at home.
💡 Keisha's Story: Co-owner Keisha began raw feeding three years ago when her youngest child was just six years old. Many of you may recognise her from #freyasrawreviews, where she shares her passion for canine nutrition.
Now, at eleven years old, her daughter prepares and feeds their three dogs independently, practicing standard hygiene techniques with confidence.
🧼 Standard Hygiene Practices Freya Follows:
✅ Washing hands after touching raw meat.
✅ Wearing gloves during meal prep to reduce repeated hand-washing.
✅ Wiping down all surfaces raw meat has touched.
✅ Cleaning bowls and enrichment feeders thoroughly after each use.
These habits ensure raw feeding remains safe and manageable, even in a family setting.
🍼 What About Younger Children?
One of the biggest concerns for parents is raw feeding in a home with babies or toddlers.
🚼 Here’s how to make it work:
✔️ Designate a separate feeding area away from children’s play spaces.
✔️ Ensure the area is easy to clean and disinfect after meal times.
✔️ Teach children early about respecting pet mealtime and keeping hands away from raw food.
💡 Bonus: Giving your dog a safe mealtime space can create an amazing learning opportunity for children—teaching respect for animals, responsibility, and even basic food hygiene!
🦠 Addressing Bacteria Concerns
Did you know? Raw pet food undergoes stricter testing than supermarket meats!
✔️ DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) requires raw pet food companies to test every batch for bacterial contamination.
✔️ If food tests positive for harmful bacteria like salmonella or Enterobacteriaceae, it must be destroyed.
✔️ Meanwhile, human meat doesn't undergo this level of testing because it's assumed we’ll cook it to kill bacteria.
✨ Surprisingly, DEFRA-licensed raw pet food is SAFER than supermarket meat!
🦠 Biofilm Bacteria – Why Bowl Cleaning Matters
After every meal, it’s essential to wash your dog’s bowl, board, or lick-mat.
🐾 Biofilm bacteria create a slimy layer that can transfer from your dog to humans—so proper cleaning after every use is crucial.
🍽 Choosing the Right Bowls
Bowl Type | Pros & Considerations |
Lickmats & Stuffables | ✅ Good for enrichment, but can stain over time—wash thoroughly after each use. |
Pyrex Dishes | ✅ Great for food and water bowls—easy to clean. |
Stainless Steel | ✅ Choose high-quality stainless steel to avoid heavy metals. Wash after every meal. |
Ceramic Bowls | ✅ Ensure they are food-safe—discard if fine cracks appear (bacteria risk!). Wash daily. |
Plastic Bowls | ❌ Avoid plastic, as it can harbor pathogens and degrade over time. |
✨ Ultra-cleaning tip: Coat feeding surfaces with white vinegar weekly, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe with a clean sponge. Recommended by Dr. Karen Becker & Rodney Habib!
🚰 Drinking Water Safety
Did you know UK tap water contains chemicals like chlorine to kill bacteria?
🔎 Recent studies have detected “forever chemicals” (PFAS), linked to serious health risks, including cancer.
✔️ PFAS can be filtered out, but quality filtration systems can be costly.
✔️ Current UK standards allow up to 10 times the PFAS level considered ‘low risk.’
💡 If possible, consider filtered water for your dog’s drinking supply.
🥩 Storing Food & Treats Safely
✔️ Raw food: Store leftovers in a glass container in the fridge for up to three days after defrosting.
✔️ Treats: Keep in cardboard or glass airtight containers to avoid sweating.
✔️ Avoid plastic containers—they may leach harmful chemicals like BPA, PFAS, and phthalates, which can disrupt hormonal balance.
📖 The Know-How – Teaching Children Through Raw Feeding
Raw feeding can be a fantastic learning opportunity for kids!
✅ Teach food hygiene and kitchen cleanliness.
✅ Introduce the concept of a species-appropriate diet for pets.
✅ Discuss animal parts, where they come from, and their nutritional role.
✨ Bonus Fun Fact: Scientific evidence suggests dog saliva has antibacterial properties!
🐶 Dog saliva is slightly bactericidal against E. coli and Streptococcus canis—a bacteria that can transfer from companion animals to humans.
Still feeling unsure? Simply wipe your dog’s mouth with a dog-safe wet wipe after meals for extra peace of mind!
🐕 Final Thoughts: Raw Feeding & Family Life
Raw feeding can absolutely work in a home with children—it's all about good hygiene and smart precautions!
✔️ Proper food handling prevents bacteria spread.
✔️ Teaching kids early fosters responsibility and food safety awareness.
✔️ High-quality DEFRA-licensed raw pet food is safer than supermarket meat.
✔️ Selecting safe feeding tools & storage methods keeps your dog and family healthy.
🐾 With the right approach, raw feeding and family life go hand in paw!
Science:
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