Food scores are based on ingredient quality and safety. For more information, view our evaluation criteria.
With an average score of 9, ACANA’s Freeze-Dried dog food is considered a low risk dog food. The food averages about 10% carbohydrate, which is desirable. Excessive carbohydrate is in indicator of low quality foods and often used to keep costs down. Large amounts of starch can increase insulin levels, cause obesity and negatively impact gut balance.
Like many ACANA foods, the Freeze-Dried line is a bit unique in that it doesn’t contain a lot of added minerals, which indicates higher ingredient quality. However, the freeze-dried foods do lose points for excessive added vitamins, which costs it some points because this reflects poorer quality ingredients. The food also loses ingredient safety points for natural flavor, which is often either animal digest or MSG, which are low quality ingredients with limited safety studies.
It’s worth noting that the ACANA Freeze-Dried line uses ingredient splitting. freeze-dried foods do contain a couple of glam ingredients. These ingredients (like kelp and turmeric) appear on the label below salt, which means they are present in minuscule amounts and normally just on the label to appeal to the consumer and aren’t in sufficient quantities to be of much benefit to the dog eating the food. Also of note, the food does not provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio, which is a concern since AAFCO allows a very inflammatory ratio of 30:1.
The highest ranking food in this lineup is the Ranch-Raised Beef Recipe.
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