Full Moon air-dried dog food wins 2026 Mindful Award

Full Moon’s Pure Protein Air-Dried Dog Food has been named Pet Product of the Year in the 2026 Mindful Awards, giving the Perdue-linked pet nutrition brand another headline in the premium dog food category. Mindful Awards announced the win on June 11, and Full Moon said the recognition reflects its focus on human-grade ingredients, responsible sourcing, and air-drying technology aimed at delivering minimally processed, protein-rich meals in a shelf-stable format. (globenewswire.com)

The award builds on a broader push by Full Moon to expand beyond treats and into complete meal formats. The company launched its Pure Protein air-dried dog food line in June 2025, describing it as an easier way for pet parents to access the perceived benefits of fresh or raw-style feeding without refrigeration or thawing. Product listings describe the line as air-dried dog food made with 90% muscle and organ meat, in chicken, beef, or turkey recipes, using human-grade ingredients and no artificial preservatives, colors, or fillers. (globenewswire.com)

This also isn’t Full Moon’s first recent award. In August 2024, the brand’s Artisanal Sausage Recipes won Dog Treat Product of the Year in the Pet Independent Innovation Awards, suggesting the company has been using awards recognition as part of a broader premium-brand narrative while it expands its portfolio. Full Moon says the Pure Protein recognition is its third major award in two years. (corporate.perduefarms.com)

In its announcement, Mindful Awards framed the product as an answer to a common consumer tension: traditional kibble may be seen by some shoppers as overly processed, while fresh and raw alternatives can be less convenient because they often require refrigeration and more careful handling. That framing lines up with a wider market trend. PetfoodIndustry reported from Global Pet Expo 2026 that air-dried offerings were among the most prevalent formats on display, with brands increasingly using them not just for treats and toppers, but for complete and balanced diets positioned as shelf-stable, lower-hassle feeding solutions. (streetinsider.com)

There’s also a regulatory angle worth noting. AAFCO has published guidance for “human grade” claims stating that such claims require substantiation and apply to the entire product, not just select ingredients. FDA notes that pet food labeling is often governed through AAFCO-based state frameworks, while veterinary nutrition guidance continues to emphasize that label language like “human-grade” is separate from whether a food is complete and balanced for a given life stage. In other words, the claim may matter to consumers, but it doesn’t replace formulation quality, feeding trials, or appropriateness for the individual patient. (aafco.org)

That distinction is likely where this story matters most to veterinary teams. Awards and premium positioning can quickly shape pet parent perceptions, especially in categories tied to minimally processed or raw-adjacent feeding trends. As more air-dried diets enter the market, practices may need to spend more time helping clients separate manufacturing and sourcing claims from clinical nutrition questions, including caloric density, digestibility, suitability for growth or disease states, and whether the product carries an appropriate AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement. (petfoodindustry.com)

The industry perspective so far is mostly promotional rather than critical. Full Moon founder Ryan Perdue said the award reflects growing demand from pet parents seeking better nutrition and transparency, while Mindful Awards managing director Travis Grant said the product helps bridge nutrition and convenience. We didn’t find independent veterinary expert reaction specifically to this award, but the broader commentary around air-dried diets is consistent: the format is gaining traction, yet veterinarians still need to evaluate each food on evidence, formulation, and patient fit rather than processing style alone. (streetinsider.com)

What to watch: The next signal will be whether air-dried products keep moving from premium niche into mainstream clinic conversations, especially as more brands market them as complete diets that promise raw-style appeal with fewer handling barriers. (petfoodindustry.com)