Bowl Charts
5.6
Concern
Overall Rating

Ingredient Audit

Ingredient audit — 38 ingredients in position order.
IngredientRatingTypeToxicityExplanationSource
Ground Whole Grain Corn
Positive——Clearly identified whole grain carbohydrate ingredient.Veterinary nutrition references for grains; AAFCO labeling framework
Meat And Bone Meal
Concern—Not toxic, but quality/transparency penaltyGeneric rendered animal ingredient with vague species/source and bone inclusion. It has lower transparency than named meals.AAFCO rendered product definitions
Corn Gluten Meal
Acceptable——Processed corn protein fraction. It can contribute protein and amino acids, but it is not the same as a whole-food grain or named animal protein.AAFCO ingredient labeling framework; veterinary nutrition references for grains/protein ingredients
Animal Fat
Concern—Not toxic, but quality/transparency penaltyGeneric fat source. Fat can be nutritionally useful in dog food, but this wording does not identify the animal source, so it reduces ingredient transparency under the Bowl Charts model.AAFCO ingredient definitions / pet food labeling interpretation
Soybean Meal
Acceptable——Processed plant protein ingredient. Can contribute protein, but not equivalent to whole legumes or named animal protein.AAFCO ingredient labeling framework; veterinary nutrition references
Natural flavor
Concern—Not toxic, but quality/transparency penaltyVague flavoring term without a clear source.AAFCO/FDA pet food labeling framework
Chicken by-product meal
Acceptable——Named poultry by-product meal. It can be a usable animal-derived protein/mineral ingredient, but it is less transparent and less desirable as a quality signal than chicken meal because by-product composition can vary.AAFCO poultry by-product meal definition
Dried plain beet pulp
Positive——Recognized functional fiber source used in pet foods.Veterinary nutrition references; AAFCO ingredient labeling framework
Salt
Acceptable——Common sodium/chloride source used for electrolyte balancing and palatability.Merck Veterinary Manual mineral nutrition reference
Potassium chloride
Acceptable——Named potassium/chloride source used for electrolyte/mineral balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual mineral nutrition reference
Brewers Rice
Acceptable——Refined grain fraction. It can be usable as a carbohydrate source, but it is less meaningful than a whole grain or whole-food carbohydrate ingredient.AAFCO ingredient labeling framework
Ground Whole Grain Wheat
Positive——Clearly identified whole grain carbohydrate ingredient.Veterinary nutrition references for grains; AAFCO labeling framework
Choline chloride
Acceptable——Named choline source used for nutrient balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual nutrient reference
Calcium carbonate
Acceptable——Named calcium source used for mineral balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual mineral nutrition reference
Dried Peas
Positive——Recognizable whole pulse ingredient. Good independent food ingredient signal when judged alone.Veterinary nutrition references for legumes/carbohydrates; AAFCO labeling framework
DL-Methionine
Acceptable——Named amino acid supplement used to balance the amino acid profile or support formulation needs.Merck Veterinary Manual amino acid/nutrient reference
Natural Grilled Steak Flavor
Concern—Not toxic, but quality/transparency penaltyMarketing-heavy flavoring term with unclear source and composition.AAFCO/FDA pet food labeling framework
Zinc sulfate
Acceptable——Named zinc source used for mineral balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual mineral nutrition reference
Vitamin E supplement
Acceptable——Named vitamin supplement used for nutrient balancing and antioxidant nutrient support.Merck Veterinary Manual vitamin/nutrient reference
Monocalcium Phosphate
Acceptable——Named calcium/phosphorus source used for mineral balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual mineral nutrition reference
L-Tryptophan
Acceptable——Named amino acid supplement used for nutrient balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual amino acid/nutrient reference
Red 40
Concern—Not toxic, but quality/transparency penaltyArtificial color additive used for cosmetic appearance rather than dog nutrition.FDA color additive guidance for animal food
Yellow 6
Concern—Not toxic, but quality/transparency penaltyArtificial color additive used for cosmetic appearance rather than dog nutrition.FDA color additive guidance for animal food
Dried Carrots
Positive——Recognizable dried vegetable ingredient. Good independent food ingredient signal.ASPCA pet-safe fruit/vegetable guidance
Niacin
Acceptable——Named B vitamin used for nutrient balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual vitamin/nutrient reference
Blue 2
Concern—Not toxic, but quality/transparency penaltyArtificial color additive. It is cosmetic rather than nutritionally meaningful to the dog, so it reduces confidence under the Bowl Charts model.FDA color additive listing and animal food color additive labeling guidance
Yellow 5
Concern—Not toxic, but quality/transparency penaltyArtificial color additive used for cosmetic appearance rather than dog nutrition.FDA color additive guidance for animal food
D-Calcium Pantothenate
Acceptable——Named vitamin B5 source used for nutrient balancing. Useful but not a whole-food ingredient.Merck Veterinary Manual vitamin/nutrient reference
Copper sulfate
Acceptable——Named copper source used for mineral balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual mineral nutrition reference
Sodium selenite
Acceptable——Named selenium source used for trace mineral balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual mineral nutrition reference
Potassium iodide
Acceptable——Named iodine source used for mineral balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual mineral nutrition reference
Vitamin A supplement
Acceptable——Named vitamin supplement used for nutrient balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual vitamin/nutrient reference
Riboflavin
Acceptable——Named vitamin B2 nutrient used for vitamin balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual vitamin/nutrient reference
Vitamin B12
Acceptable——Named vitamin used for nutrient balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual vitamin/nutrient reference
Thiamine
Acceptable——Named vitamin B1 nutrient used for vitamin balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual vitamin/nutrient reference
Vitamin D3
Acceptable——Named vitamin used for nutrient balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual vitamin/nutrient reference
Pyridoxine
Acceptable——Named vitamin B6 form used for nutrient balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual vitamin/nutrient reference
Folic acid
Acceptable——Named B vitamin used for nutrient balancing.Merck Veterinary Manual vitamin/nutrient reference