Bowl Charts

5.6

Concern

Overall Rating

Positive

Acceptable

Concern

Ingredient Audit

Ingredient audit — 38 ingredients in position order.
Ingredient	Rating	Type	Toxicity	Explanation	Source
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 penalty	Generic 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 penalty	Generic 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 penalty	Vague 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 penalty	Marketing-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 penalty	Artificial 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 penalty	Artificial 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 penalty	Artificial 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 penalty	Artificial 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