Updated 8/1/26 In 2012, the AVMA adopted a policy position against raw meat diets for pets. Originally, it cited six studies that did not actually support its conclusions. This article was first written to rebut those conclusions. Update (2026): The AVMA has since revised its policy. It still discourages feeding raw or undercooked animal-source proteins, but it now recognizes scientifically validated pathogen-reduction methods other than cooking or pasteurization. This is a welcome improvement over the original policy. This article has been substantially revised to reflect developments in the scientific literature …