Fresh, raw, freeze-dried, and subscription meal kits — every major delivery service compared by food type, ingredients, pricing, human-grade certification, and who each service is best for. Based on FDA, AAFCO, and USDA sourced standards with independent reviews current to 2025–2026.
Dog food delivery has grown into a major industry, driven by a documented shift in how Americans view their pets and what they feed them. The U.S. pet food market is among the most regulated of any food product category — overseen by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, with labeling standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and ingredient safety governed by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011. Fresh and “human-grade” delivery services have multiplied because traditional kibble is processed at extreme temperatures that destroy a significant portion of natural nutrients — while fresh, gently cooked, and raw meals preserve more of the proteins, enzymes, and moisture a dog’s digestive system is designed to use. This guide covers 12 of the best U.S. dog food delivery services — from human-grade gently cooked meals to raw subscription boxes — with honest assessments of what each service does best and who it suits.
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What is the best food delivery service for dogs? The Farmer’s Dog is the most consistently top-ranked overall for human-grade quality, personalization, and vet-formulated recipes. Ollie is the runner-up with broader plan flexibility.Multiple independent ranking sources as of early 2026 — including My Subscription Addiction, DeliveryRank, and NBC Select — place The Farmer’s Dog at #1 for fresh gently cooked dog food delivery. Their meals are made in USDA kitchens with human-grade ingredients (verified under AAFCO’s formal human-grade standards) and customized based on your dog’s age, weight, breed, activity level, and health goals. Pricing starts from around $2/day for small dogs. Ollie earns consistent runner-up rankings for its five recipe options, flexible plan structures (full fresh, half fresh, and mixed bowl), and storage “puptainer.” For raw delivery, Darwin’s Natural Selections ranks first among raw-only services. For budget-conscious owners who want fresh food available without a subscription, Freshpet is available at over 19,000 retail fridges across North America and also deliverable via Chewy or Amazon.
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Are dog food delivery services worth it? For dogs with allergies, digestive issues, picky eating, or weight problems — frequently yes. For healthy adult dogs on a tight budget — possibly not, given the 3–5× cost over quality kibble.The value question comes down to your dog’s specific health needs and your household budget. Fresh and raw food delivery services typically cost $2–$10+ per day versus $0.50–$1.50/day for high-quality kibble. However, traditional kibble is processed at extreme temperatures that can destroy a significant share of natural proteins and enzymes before supplementation; fresh food preserves more bioavailable nutrition and has higher moisture content that supports hydration and digestion. NBC Select (2025) notes that multiple dog owners reported visible improvements in energy, coat quality, and digestion after switching. For senior dogs, dogs with food sensitivities or atopic dermatitis, or dogs in post-surgical recovery, the targeted nutrition of fresh or raw delivery may genuinely reduce veterinary costs over time. Most services offer a heavily discounted first box (often 50–70% off) so you can test your individual dog’s response before committing to full pricing.
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What does “human-grade” actually mean for dog food — is it just marketing? Not anymore. AAFCO published formal human-grade standards in 2022–2023. For a claim to be legal, every ingredient AND the manufacturing facility must comply with 21 CFR Part 117 — the same federal human food safety regulations.AAFCO’s official human-grade standard (published in coordination with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service Process Verified Program) requires that every ingredient must be fit for human consumption, the product must be stored and handled per FDA regulations for human food, and the manufacturing facility must be registered as both an FDA food facility and an FDA feed facility. The AAFCO PDF (September 2024) clarifies that human-grade labeling is only permitted if the product as a whole — not just select ingredients — meets the standard. Manufacturers must maintain written documentation covering ingredient sourcing, transportation, processing, and handling throughout the entire distribution channel. This is a meaningful distinction from vague claims like “USDA-inspected facility” which historically could apply to facilities handling waste products. True human-grade services include The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, and Spot & Tango. The standard is enforced via USDA AMS audits and FDA food facility inspections.
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What is the cheapest fresh dog food delivery? Spot & Tango’s UnKibble and Ollie’s half-fresh plan are among the most affordable at around $1–$2/meal. Sundays air-dried food is similarly affordable and shelf-stable.My Subscription Addiction (February 2026) notes that Spot & Tango and Ollie “offer the most affordable fresh dog food subscription plans, with options as low as $1 per meal.” Spot & Tango’s UnKibble is a unique air-dried fresh dry food — higher quality than standard kibble, with fresher ingredients, but without the refrigeration requirements of gently cooked or raw meals, making it roughly half the price of frozen fresh plans. Sundays for Dogs is similarly air-dried and shelf-stable, starting at around $2–$3/day for a medium dog. For traditional fresh (gently cooked, refrigerated): Ollie’s half-fresh or mixed bowl plans represent the best value among the premium tier. Chewy Autoship for quality kibble brands starts under $1/day for small-to-medium dogs. The pricing sweet spot for most budget-conscious owners: a “mixed bowl” approach using half fresh/half high-quality kibble, which most services accommodate at roughly half the full fresh price.
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What is the 15-minute rule for dog food? The 15-minute rule means offering your dog food for 15 minutes, then removing the bowl whether they ate or not — to discourage grazing, establish routine, and help monitor appetite changes.The 15-minute rule is a veterinary behavioral guidance recommendation for maintaining healthy eating habits. Dogs fed on a schedule (rather than free-fed with food always available) are easier to monitor for appetite loss — one of the earliest signs of illness. It also reduces the risk of obesity from grazing, and makes fresh and raw food delivery significantly safer because moist or raw foods left at room temperature can grow bacteria quickly. The FDA’s pet food safety guidance recommends discarding any uneaten portions of moist or fresh pet food after two hours at room temperature. With delivery services using gently cooked or raw fresh food, the 15-minute rule is especially practical — it prevents spoilage and means you know exactly how much food your dog is consuming per meal, which is important when tracking the portion-controlled plans most delivery services pre-calculate for your dog’s specific caloric needs.
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What dog food is good for atopic dermatitis (skin allergies)? Limited-ingredient, single-protein, human-grade fresh food works best for dogs with atopic dermatitis. Raised Right, Darwin’s, and JustFoodForDogs prescription diets are specifically suited for allergy-prone dogs.Canine atopic dermatitis (environmental and food-triggered skin allergies) is one of the primary reasons veterinarians recommend switching to fresh or limited-ingredient food delivery. Common kibble triggers include chicken meal, corn, wheat gluten, soy, and artificial preservatives. Raised Right is specifically noted (Canine Journal, 2025; Newsweek Readers’ Choice 2025) for its high-protein, limited-ingredient, single-protein-source recipes with no corn, wheat, gluten, dairy, or soy — formulated by veterinarians including Dr. Karen Becker. Darwin’s Natural Selections raw food uses a single protein source per recipe. JustFoodForDogs uniquely offers online veterinary consultation to create prescription diets for dogs with documented medical conditions including food allergies. Spot & Tango’s Cod + Salmon UnKibble recipe is specifically hypoallergenic and grain-free. For any dog with diagnosed atopic dermatitis, consult your veterinarian before switching foods — a food elimination trial is typically needed to identify specific triggers.
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What is the best dog food subscription for senior dogs? The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, and Portland Pet Food Company are especially well-suited for senior dogs because meals are pre-portioned, soft-textured, and nutritionally customized by age and health condition.Senior dogs have specific nutritional needs: lower calories to manage weight, higher-quality protein to maintain muscle mass, joint-supportive ingredients, and softer textures for dental comfort. Canine Journal (2025) specifically highlights Portland Pet Food Company for its shelf-stable gently cooked meals as “especially helpful for senior dogs or those needing a soft food option.” The Farmer’s Dog customizes caloric targets based on age and activity level — important for senior dogs whose metabolism has slowed. Freshpet offers specialized recipes for joint health in their retail line. JustFoodForDogs provides online vet consultation for condition-specific diets, which is valuable for seniors managing kidney disease, heart disease, or cancer. Raised Right’s high-protein limited-ingredient recipes support muscle mass maintenance. For older dogs on a tighter family budget, Chewy’s Autoship of a senior-specific premium kibble plus a fresh food topper (Freshpet or Get Real by Chewy) represents a practical and affordable middle-ground approach.
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How does Chewy dog food delivery work — and is it different from fresh services? Chewy is an online pet retail store with an Autoship subscription, not a fresh-meal service. It delivers any brand at your requested frequency. It also offers Freshpet and the Get Real fresh food line for fridge delivery.Chewy operates as the largest online pet supply retailer in the U.S. — its Autoship program schedules automatic shipments of virtually any pet food brand (kibble, canned, treats, prescription diets, medications) at your chosen frequency with a 5–10% discount. It is different from services like The Farmer’s Dog or Ollie, which formulate and prepare fresh meals specifically for your dog. However, Chewy does now carry Freshpet (fresh refrigerated food available in grocery stores) and its own Get Real fresh food line for delivery. Newsweek Readers’ Choice 2025 highlights Chewy’s 24-hour customer service and pharmacy (allowing medications + food in one shipment) as key advantages. Chewy delivers everywhere in the continental U.S. except Alaska and Hawaii for orders under $49 (free shipping above that threshold). Free returns if a pet dislikes the food make it very low-risk for trying new brands.
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Is raw dog food delivery safe? What does the FDA say? Raw dog food delivery is legal and increasingly popular, but the FDA cautions about bacterial contamination risks (Salmonella, Listeria) and recommends careful food-handling practices. It is not recommended for immunocompromised households.The FDA and the Pet Food Institute confirm that U.S. pet food — including raw — must comply with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act’s requirements for safety, sanitary production, no harmful substances, and truthful labeling. Raw pet food is specifically cited by the FDA as carrying higher risk for Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli. The FDA recommends: washing hands after handling raw pet food; cleaning all bowls and surfaces; keeping raw food frozen until ready to use; not feeding raw food to dogs in households with infants, elderly individuals, pregnant women, or immunocompromised persons. A 2018 FDA warning to Darwin’s (then Arrow Reliance Inc.) for Salmonella and Listeria contamination highlights why manufacturer quality controls matter for raw food. Reputable raw delivery services like We Feed Raw use USDA-certified cold-pasteurized meat; Darwin’s uses antibiotic-free pasture-raised meats tested for contaminants. Always check a company’s food safety practices and recall history before subscribing.
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How do I find dog food delivery services near me? All 12 services in this guide deliver nationwide to the continental U.S. For immediate access without waiting for delivery, Freshpet is in over 19,000 retail locations (grocery stores, Walmart, Target). Chewy offers 1–3 day standard delivery.All major fresh and raw dog food delivery services — including The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, Nom Nom, JustFoodForDogs, PetPlate, Spot & Tango, Sundays, Raised Right, Darwin’s, and We Feed Raw — ship directly to your door nationwide. Most pack in insulated boxes with dry ice to keep food frozen or chilled during transit. Delivery times range from 1–5 business days depending on your location and the service’s fulfillment center locations. Nom Nom has fulfillment centers in Pittsburgh and Nashville. Darwin’s ships from Tukwila, Washington. Portland and Seattle residents save on shipping with Darwin’s. For truly same-day or walk-in access, Freshpet refrigerators are in over 19,000 grocery stores, Walmart, Whole Foods, and Target locations. JustFoodForDogs also has physical kitchen locations in California, Texas, Colorado, and beyond. Chewy’s Autoship typically arrives within 1–3 business days with free shipping on orders over $49.
Sources: AAFCO aafco.org (human-grade standard 2022–2023; 21 CFR Part 117; USDA AMS PVP; labeling requirements; Sept 2024 FAQ); FDA fda.gov (FD&C Act; raw food safety; Salmonella Listeria risk; 2-hr room temp rule; FSMA 2011); Pet Food Institute petfoodinstitute.org (most regulated food products; FSMA compliance; state registration); My Subscription Addiction Feb 2026 (#1 Farmer’s Dog; Ollie $1/meal; Spot Tango affordable); NBC Select 2025 (Farmer’s Dog personalization; energy/coat improvements; Ollie 5 recipes puptainer; pricing ranges); Newsweek Readers’ Choice 2025 (Chewy 24hr service pharmacy; JustFoodForDogs world’s first kitchen; Farmer’s Dog millions meals; We Feed Raw cold-pasteurized; Raised Right high-protein vet-formulated); Canine Journal caninejournal.com 2025 (Raised Right Karen Becker; senior dogs Portland Pet Food; Darwin’s puppy raw); Delivery Rank deliveryrank.com 2026 (Spot Tango UnKibble half price; DeliveryRank #1 Farmer’s Dog; $2–$4/meal avg $100+/mo); Darwin’s Pet darwinspet.com (USDA-quality; antibiotic-free; 2018 FDA warning recall history); Four Leaf Rover / Dogs Naturally (AAFCO human grade not raw; cooked can be human grade; raw ask about suppliers); Kabo kabo.co (USDA AMS PVP; facility registration FDA + feed)
Sources: Delivery Rank Feb 2026 ($2–$4/meal avg); My Subscription Addiction Feb 2026 ($1/meal Spot Tango Ollie minimum); FinvsFin Sep 2025 (Freshpet 19,000+ fridges); AAFCO aafco.org (21 CFR Part 117; USDA AMS PVP); NBC Select 2025 (first box discounts; trial boxes)
Fresh gently cooked (refrigerated): best for most dogs — Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, Nom Nom, PetPlate, Spot & Tango. Air-dried (shelf-stable, budget-friendly): Spot & Tango UnKibble, Sundays for Dogs. Raw (frozen delivery): Darwin’s, We Feed Raw — not for immunocompromised households. Retail + delivery: Freshpet (19,000+ stores + Chewy/Amazon). Prescription/allergy diets: JustFoodForDogs. Budget/convenience: Chewy Autoship. All 12 services deliver to the continental U.S.
Sources: My Subscription Addiction Feb 2026 (#1 Farmer’s Dog; Ollie runner-up; Spot Tango $1/meal UnKibble); NBC Select 2025 (Farmer’s Dog pouches 4-day fridge; Ollie 5 recipes puptainer; pricing $15–$69/wk by size+plan); Newsweek Readers’ Choice 2025 (Raised Right Karen Becker; We Feed Raw cold-pasteurized; Chewy pharmacy 24hr; JustFoodForDogs world’s first kitchen; Farmer’s Dog digestive issues origin); Canine Journal 2025 (Raised Right single-protein allergy; Portland Pet Food senior; Darwin’s puppy raw); DeliveryRank Feb 2026 (Spot Tango 14-day trial; UnKibble Fresh Dry; non-GMO gluten-free); The Customer Digest 2026 (Freshpet highest protein; oats vs filler carbs; energy testing); FinvsFin Sep 2025 (Freshpet 19,000 fridges; PA made; all North American meats); Darwin’s Reviews DeliveryRank Feb 2026 (3 lines; AAFCO; pasture-raised; free consultation; service dog discounts; 50% first box; Seattle Portland free shipping); Hepper Jan 2026 (Darwin’s #1 raw; Stella Chewy #2; We Feed Raw 6 proteins); Canine Journal Sep 2025 (Sundays Dr. Waxman; picky eater approved; Chewy Autoship convenience); AAFCO (human grade: Farmer’s Dog Ollie Spot Tango verification)
The answer depends on three things: your dog’s specific health needs, your budget, and your storage preferences. For most dogs with no special health needs and a moderate budget: The Farmer’s Dog or Ollie deliver the strongest combination of human-grade quality, customized nutrition, and convenience. For dogs with allergies or atopic dermatitis: Raised Right (single-protein, limited-ingredient) or JustFoodForDogs (prescription diets with vet consultation) are most appropriate. For tight budgets: Spot & Tango UnKibble or Sundays air-dried give you significantly higher ingredient quality than standard kibble at a lower price than frozen fresh services. For raw feeding: We Feed Raw (cold-pasteurized, safest for families) or Darwin’s Natural Selections (widest product range, including Rx diets). For maximum flexibility with no lock-in: Chewy Autoship plus Freshpet as a fresh topper gives you complete brand freedom, pharmacy access, and 24-hour customer service. Always do a test order — most services offer 50–70% off the first box — before committing to full subscription pricing, since individual dogs vary significantly in palatability response.
For specific dogs and situations — frequently yes. For healthy dogs with no problems — worth evaluating. The case for fresh delivery: traditional kibble is processed at temperatures that destroy a significant portion of natural proteins, enzymes, and moisture content before supplementation, while fresh and raw foods preserve more bioavailable nutrition. Higher moisture content in fresh food supports hydration and digestion, particularly important for senior dogs and those prone to urinary issues. NBC Select (2025) documented visible improvements in energy, coat quality, and digestion after switches. Multiple review sources note that dogs with digestive issues, skin problems, low energy, or picky eating habits often respond particularly well. The case against: the cost increase is real — fresh delivery typically runs 3–5× the cost of a comparable quality kibble. A middle-ground approach — Ollie’s half-fresh plan or Freshpet as a topper over quality kibble — delivers many of the nutritional benefits at roughly half the full-fresh price. Always discuss major dietary changes with your veterinarian, particularly for dogs with chronic health conditions.
After AAFCO’s 2022–2023 formal standard, the term has real regulatory teeth for U.S. companies that use it. The AAFCO standard requires that every single ingredient in the product must be fit for human consumption, the entire product must be stored and handled per the FDA’s 21 CFR Part 117 (human food safety regulation), and the manufacturing facility must be registered as both an FDA food facility and an FDA feed facility. Verified claims are audited by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service Process Verified Program. The key warning: watch for vague phrases like “made with human-grade ingredients” or “sourced from a USDA-inspected facility” — these older phrases could historically be applied to facilities that processed waste products. The true human-grade claim now requires that the product as a whole — not just some ingredients — meets the standard. Services that legitimately use this claim include The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, Spot & Tango, JustFoodForDogs, and Raised Right. Note that raw foods technically cannot be labeled human-grade under current AAFCO guidelines, since raw meat must be cooked before it is “human-edible” — but many raw food companies use USDA-quality sourcing that is equivalent in ingredient quality.
Canine atopic dermatitis is the most common chronic inflammatory skin condition in dogs — affecting an estimated 10–15% of the U.S. dog population, per veterinary dermatology sources. It has both environmental and food-triggered components. The most effective food strategy for food-triggered atopic dermatitis is a limited-ingredient, single-protein elimination diet — ideally with a protein source your dog has never eaten before (called a “novel protein”). Key principles: (1) Single protein source per recipe — Raised Right, Darwin’s Natural Selections, and Spot & Tango’s Cod + Salmon recipe are best positioned. (2) No common allergens — eliminate chicken meal, corn, wheat, soy, and artificial preservatives, which are the most common food triggers. (3) Prescription diet if needed — JustFoodForDogs offers online vet consultation for documented allergy cases. (4) Give it time — food elimination trials typically require 8–12 weeks to see meaningful skin improvement; most services’ first-box trial periods are too short to assess allergy response fully. Always work with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary dermatologist for diagnosed atopic dermatitis — food alone may not be the primary trigger.
Sources: NBC Select 2025 (energy coat digestion improvements); AAFCO aafco.org (21 CFR Part 117; USDA AMS PVP; raw cannot be human-grade; individual ingredient vs whole product); Four Leaf Rover / Dogs Naturally (raw vs cooked human-grade standard); My Subscription Addiction Feb 2026 (test order strategy; $1/meal Spot Tango); Canine Journal 2025 (Raised Right single-protein allergy; limited ingredient); Newsweek 2025 (JustFoodForDogs prescription vet consult); DeliveryRank (Spot Tango hypoallergenic grain-free Cod Salmon)
- Best overall quality: The Farmer’s Dog — human-grade, USDA kitchen, personalized, free shipping
- Best runner-up / most flexible: Ollie — 5 recipes, half-fresh plans, from $1/meal
- Best for allergies / atopic dermatitis: Raised Right — single-protein, limited-ingredient, Dr. Karen Becker
- Best for prescription / medical diets: JustFoodForDogs — online vet consult, Rx formulations
- Best for senior dogs: The Farmer’s Dog or Ollie (age-customized soft portions); Portland Pet Food (shelf-stable soft food)
- Best budget option: Spot & Tango UnKibble or Sundays air-dried — from ~$1–$2/meal, no refrigeration
- Best retail access (no delivery wait): Freshpet — 19,000+ grocery stores, Walmart, Target
- Best raw delivery (with safety): We Feed Raw — cold-pasteurized USDA-certified; or Darwin’s (3 product lines, Rx available)
- Best for travel / portion control: PetPlate — individual microwavable containers = bowls
- Best one-stop shopping / pharmacy: Chewy Autoship — any brand, 24hr service, medications + food
- Best research-backed nutrition: Nom Nom (by Purina) — microbiome research, Nashville + Pittsburgh fulfillment
- Best picky eater fix: Sundays for Dogs — air-dried jerky texture; high palatability rate
This guide is independently researched for informational purposes only. Pricing, recipes, trial offers, and service availability change frequently — always confirm current details directly with each company before subscribing. No compensation was received from any company listed. We do not have affiliate relationships with any service in this guide. The regulatory information is based on publicly available FDA, AAFCO, and USDA documents current to 2025–2026. Always consult your licensed veterinarian before making significant changes to your dog’s diet, particularly for dogs with chronic health conditions, allergies, kidney disease, or other medical diagnoses. Raw food products carry specific food-handling safety requirements — follow manufacturer guidance and FDA raw pet food handling recommendations for your household.
Primary sources: AAFCO aafco.org (human-grade standard PDF 2022–2023; 21 CFR Part 117; Sept 2024 FAQ; USDA AMS PVP requirements; labeling; not mandatory; facilities dual-registered); FDA fda.gov (FD&C Act 1938; FSMA 2011; raw food Salmonella Listeria risk; 2-hr room temp rule; animal food same as human food requirements; 2018 Darwin’s warning); Pet Food Institute petfoodinstitute.org (most regulated food products; FSMA full compliance; state registration; ingredient approval pathways); My Subscription Addiction Feb 2026 (#1 Farmer’s Dog; Ollie runner-up; $1/meal Spot Tango Ollie; 14-day trial); NBC Select 2025 (full Farmer’s Dog review; Ollie 5 recipes puptainer half-fresh mixed; pricing $15–$69/wk); NBC News 2025 (vet-recommended; fresh food convenience); Newsweek Readers’ Choice 2025 (Chewy 24hr pharmacy returns; JustFoodForDogs world’s first kitchen; Freshpet farm-fresh; Farmer’s Dog digestive mission; We Feed Raw cold-pasteurized; Raised Right high-protein); Canine Journal 2025 (Raised Right Karen Becker Steve Brown; limited ingredient; no corn wheat gluten; senior Portland Pet Food; Darwin’s puppy; Chewy Autoship convenience); The Customer Digest 2026 (Freshpet highest protein fat vitamin panel; oats vs filler carbs; energy testing 2 months; Ollie 10% protein concern; JFFD rice macaroni filler); DeliveryRank deliveryrank.com 2026 (Spot Tango UnKibble Fresh Dry; non-GMO; Cod Salmon hypoallergenic; 14-day trial Happy Pup; Ollie vs Spot Tango); Darwin’s DeliveryRank Feb 2026 (3 lines Natural Selections Biologics Intelligent Design; AAFCO; pasture-raised antibiotic-free; consultation; service dog discounts; Portland Seattle free ship); FinvsFin Sep 2025 (Freshpet 19,000 fridges; PA made; pasteurized; North American meats); Hepper Jan 2026 (Darwin’s #1 raw overall; Stella Chewy #2; We Feed Raw 6 proteins); Four Leaf Rover fourleafrover.com (raw cannot be human-grade; cooked can; ask raw for supplier sources); Kabo kabo.co (USDA AMS PVP; dual facility registration FDA)