We’ve always believed in the power of fresh. We’ve seen the glossy coats, the empty bowls, and the perfect poos you don’t dread picking up. But while we knew it in our hearts, we wanted to prove it with cold, hard facts.

So, we did a Big Study. We went head-to-head with 15 other brands - from budget bags to premium-priced pantry-fresh and freeze-dried labels - and put them to the test.

And now, the results are in. AND they’ve been peer-reviewed by the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. In the science world, that’s the equivalent of a gold medal, a double-thumbs-up, or a pat on the head from the experts.

The verdict? Less heat = less harm.

Ever wonder why kibble is brown and crunchy? How can wet, canned food last for so long on a shelf? Or how food could be called ‘fresh’ even though it isn’t kept in a fridge?

It’s because they’ve all been blasted with really high heat. While Butternut Box is gently cooked at 90°C, many traditional dog foods are cooked at temperatures up to 250°C.

When you blast food at those extreme temperatures, it creates something called AGEs (Advanced Glycation End-products). You can think of this like chemical debris.

A little bit of char isn't necessarily bad. You probably eat AGEs every day in the crust of your bread or the sear on a steak. For us, in small doses, they aren't an issue. But here’s the catch for our dogs:

The Issue: Most dogs eat the exact same ultra-processed meal twice a day, every single day.

That constant, chronic exposure can cause AGEs to build up in their bodies, leading to inflammation that has been linked to kidney disease and arthritis.

You might hope that buying the most expensive bag on the shelf means it must be the healthiest. Our study found that it isn't the case.

Whether it’s a budget kibble or a pricey "pantry-fresh" brand, if it’s shelf-stable, it’s likely been blasted with high heat to make it last for months in a cupboard. Our research showed that some canned foods had 120% more harmful AGEs than our fresh recipes.

It turns out it’s not about how much you spend; it’s about how the food is made.

By keeping the temperature down, we don't just keep the bad stuff out; we keep the good stuff in. Our study proved that our fresh food delivers more than double the lysine (a vital amino acid) compared to kibble and canned options.

This means your dog isn't just avoiding harmful chemicals; they’re also getting more of the nutrients they need to thrive. That’s why our food is crafted, not blasted.

By switching to fresh, you're keeping those AGE levels low and helping to protect their health for life.

Want to dive into the data? You can find our full study, "A Comparative Analysis of Maillard-Derived α-Dicarbonyl Compounds and Advanced Glycation End Products in Fresh, Wet, Kibble, and Freeze-Dried Dog Foods" in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition.

Source: Kocadağlı, T., Clarke, C., & Gökmen, V. (2026). A comparative analysis of Maillard-derived α-dicarbonyl compounds and advanced glycation end products in fresh, wet, kibble, and freeze-dried dog foods. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.70053 Read the full peer-reviewed study here.

The study, published in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, found that the way dog food is processed matters more than the price. It revealed that high-heat cooking methods used for kibble and canned foods create harmful chemical byproducts called AGEs, whereas gently cooked fresh food contains significantly lower levels of these toxins and more natural nutrients.

You can think of AGEs (Advanced Glycation End-products) as "chemical debris" created when dog food is cooked at extreme temperatures (up to 200°C). Because most dogs eat the same processed food every day, these toxins build up in their system. This chronic exposure leads to inflammation, which has been linked to serious health issues like kidney disease and arthritis.

Not necessarily. The research showed that even expensive "pantry-fresh" or premium shelf-stable brands often use high-heat pressure cooking to stay shelf-stable for months. The study found that some of these processed canned foods had 120% more harmful AGEs than fresh recipes.

While many traditional dog foods are blasted at temperatures up to 250°C, Butternut Box is gently cooked at just 90°C. This lower temperature prevents the formation of harmful AGEs while ensuring the food is safe to eat and packed with flavour.

Beyond avoiding harmful chemicals, fresh food preserved at lower temperatures retains more "good stuff." The study proved that fresh food delivers more than double the amount of lysine - a vital amino acid - compared to kibble and canned options, providing dogs with the essential nutrients they need to thrive.