Acana Meadowland Recipe Dry Dog Food

Brand: ACANA, Highest Protein

Overall Score

The overall score is an average of the ingredient quality and ingredient safety concerns. For more information, see our evaluation criteria.

Acana Meadowland Recipe Dry Dog Food

Overall Score

The overall score is an average of the ingredient quality and ingredient safety concerns. For more information, see our evaluation criteria.

Brand: ACANA, Highest Protein

Ingredient Quality

7 out of 10

Evalutation Criteria

Product is calculated to contain 24% carbohydrate ^ⓘDogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrate but they are used for energy, texture and taste. Starch is also required for extrusion in dry foods. Excessive carbohydrate is an indicator of food quality as they can be used to reduce manufacturing cost. Foods that are high in carbohydrate can raise insulin and cause obesity. Some studies also show that dogs fed a high carbohydrate content have changes to their gut bacteria. Learn more
Contains unspecified animal sources, which are a less expensive source of meat ^ⓘWhile protein from animal sources is an important ingredient that’s highly digestible, the animal source should be named. You will want to see beef, salmon or chicken, not animal, fish or poultry. Unnamed protein sources are of much lower quality, especially meals, which are typically from rendered waste. Learn more
Is fortified with excessive vitamins ^ⓘWhen vitamins come from whole food sources, they include the full spectrum of cofactors, which makes them safe and bioavailable. While a couple of added vitamins are acceptable, five or more implies the food is of poor nutritional value. Learn more

Ingredient Safety

5 out of 10

Evalutation Criteria

Product is ultra processed ^ⓘExtruded foods are heated four separate times during production, which will cause major losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Studies shows that ultra processed foods are linked to a higher rate of all-cause mortality in humans. Learn more
Contains ingredients known to contain higher pesticide/herbicide residues including lentils, chickpeas, peas and beans ^ⓘPesticides, herbicides and fertilizers pose a significant health risk to plants, animals and soils. Foods with the largest reported amount of residue will be penalized, including crops that are known to be spray-dried with glyphosate. Learn more
Contains natural flavor ^ⓘNatural flavors are often animal digest or MSG, which are low quality ingredients with limited safety studies. Learn more

Other Concerns

Notable product facts

Product doesn't specify whether the fish is farmed or wild caught ^ⓘFarmed fish is less nutritious than wild caught fish and does not contain the same healthy fatty acid balance. Fish farming also threatens wild fish species. Learn more
Ingredient splitting ^ⓘSplitting is a technique of manipulating the ingredient list to move certain ingredients higher or lower on the ingredient list. This is often used to diguise the amount of lower quality ingredients in the food, such as corn or peas. Learn more
Glam ingredients ^ⓘExpensive or desirable ingredients like blueberries, kale or apples are often added to appeal to consumers but may be in miniscule amounts. If these foods are below salt or other low concentration ingredients, they contribute little or no nutritional value for your dog. Learn more
Omega-6 to omega-3 ratio is not provided. ^ⓘDiets rich in omega-6 fats can cause chronic inflammation and disease. Learn more

How It Compares

Food Type

Food Function

Life Stage

Ingredients On Package

Deboned Chicken, Deboned Turkey, Chicken Liver, Turkey Giblets (Liver, Heart, Gizzard), Chicken Meal, Catfish Meal, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Pollock Meal, Chicken Fat, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Chickpeas, Lentil Fiber, Pea Starch, Catfish, Eggs, Rainbow Trout, Fish Oil, Natural Chicken Flavor, Whole Green Peas, Whole Yellow Peas, Chicken Heart, Collard Greens, Salt, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Whole Carrots, Whole Apples, Whole Pears, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Freeze-Dried Chicken Liver, Freeze-Dried Turkey Liver, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Copper Proteinate, Chicory, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)	33%
Crude Fat (min)	17%
Crude Fiber (max)	6%
Moisture (max)	12%

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