Hearing more about synthetic-free dog food? In most dog foods, “synthetic” refers to lab-made vitamins, minerals, and preservatives. These are typically added to dog food recipes after heavy processing strips the ingredients of their natural nutrients.

These additives aren’t inherently bad, but they are a workaround for overprocessed food. When nutrients are destroyed during the cooking process, manufacturers have to add them back in artificially to meet nutritional standards.

Synthetic-free dog food takes a different approach: preserve nutrients first, so there’s less need to re-add them later.

Why Dog Food Brands Use Synthetic Additives

Most traditional kibble is cooked at extremely high temperatures—often multiple times. This process improves shelf stability, but it also destroys naturally occurring vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids.

To compensate, manufacturers rely on synthetic vitamin premixes. According to Whole Dog Journal, these mixes are designed to meet AAFCO minimums–not to replicate how nutrients naturally appear in food sources.

Some dogs tolerate these additives just fine. Others may experience digestive upset, skin issues, or nutrient absorption challenges—especially over time.

Are Synthetic Supplements Bad for Dogs?

Research on synthetic vitamins in dog food is mixed. While they’re approved for use, emerging conversations in holistic and veterinary nutrition circles question whether isolated, lab-made nutrients are absorbed as efficiently as those found naturally in whole foods.

One source points out that synthetic vitamins lack the natural cofactors found in real ingredients. These components help the body recognize and reuse the nutrients properly. In other words, it’s not just what nutrients are present, but how they are presented. 

How Sundays Approaches Synthetic-Free Dog Food Differently

Sundays for Dogs was built around one simple idea: food should nourish dogs the way real food does. Instead of relying on synthetic vitamin packs, Sundays uses a low, slow air-drying process that helps preserve nutrients already present in ingredients, including:

• Real USDA-grade meat (no meat meals or by-products!) 
• Organ meats like liver and heart
• Whole fruits and vegetables
• Natural sources of vitamins and minerals

With a gentler cooking process, Sundays doesn’t need to add artificial vitamins or synthetic preservatives. You can see this reflected clearly in our ingredient list. In our recipes, you’ll never find chemical-sounding vitamin blends, artificial preservatives, or fillers designed solely to survive extreme processing.

Dog Food Without Synthetic Vitamins or Artificial Preservatives

Many brands market themselves as “natural dog food” while still rely heavily on artificial preservation methods or lab-made nutrients. Sundays avoids both.

Instead of preservatives like BHA or BHT, Sundays uses natural preservation methods such as controlled dehydration and packaging designed to maintain freshness without chemicals. The food is kept fresh with mixed tocopherols, which have natural preservative properties. 

Why Processing Matters

One of the biggest misconceptions in pet food is that ingredient quality alone determines nutrition. In reality, the cooking and manufacturing process often matters just as much.

Highly processed foods—even those with decent ingredients—can lose much of their nutritional value before they ever reach your dog’s bowl. Air-dried dog food, on the other hand, minimizes heat exposure and preserves more of the natural nutrients. 

As Dogs Naturally Magazine explains, less processing generally means better nutrient integrity and bioavailability.

Is Synthetic-Free Dog Food Right for Every Dog?

Synthetic-free doesn’t automatically mean “better” for every single dog—but for many, it can be a meaningful upgrade. Dogs who may benefit most from synthetic-free dog fod include:

• Dogs with food allergies and sensitivities
• Picky eaters who prefer specific textures
• Owners looking to avoid artificial additives
• Dogs transitioning away from ultra-processed kibble

Sundays is designed to meet AAFCO nutritional standards without relying on synthetic shortcuts. We are proving that complete nutrition doesn’t require artificial solutions.

How Sundays Redefines Complete & Balanced Dog Food

For decades, “complete and balanced” has meant hitting minimum nutrient numbers—regardless of how those nutrients got there. Sundays is redefining that standard by asking a better question: What if dog food didn’t need fixing in the first place?

By preserving nutrients naturally and skipping synthetic vitamins and artificial preservatives, Sundays offers a modern take on dog food—one rooted in real ingredients, thoughtful processing, and transparency.