Koha Minimal Ingredient Stew DOG FOOD Review

With a score of 6.7, Koha Minimal Ingredient Stew is a moderate risk dog food. by our criteria. It has 6 recipes that average 47% protein and 20% carbohydrate. 

Carbohydrates are higher than we expect to see in a canned dog food. Lentils and pumpkin contribute to that high level. There are no added grains, starches or legumes. High carbohydrate is an indicator of food quality as it can be used to reduce manufacturing cost. Foods high in carbohydrate can raise insulin and cause obesity. Some studies also show that dogs fed high carb diets have changes to their gut bacteria.  

Points are lost as these foods have added vitamins and minerals. They should come from whole food sources. They include the full spectrum of cofactors, which makes them safe and bioavailable. A couple of added vitamins and minerals are acceptable. Five or more implies the food is of poor nutritional value. One recipe contains sunflower oil, which can be inflammatory.

On the safety side, canned foods are highly processed. They are heated before and during canning. This causes large losses in some enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, and phytonutrients. The recipes also include ingredients like lentils and kale. They’re known to have higher pesticide/herbicide residues. These are also found in the top 5 ingredients, making them more of a concern. Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers pose a significant health risk. This affects plants, animals and soils. Foods with the largest reported amount of residue lose points. This includes crops known to be spray-dried with glyphosate.

Koha doesn’t state the omega-6:omega-3 ratio in their recipes. While this is true of most companies, it’s a concern because AAFCO allows a very inflammatory ratio of 30:1. It’s important to know since diets rich in omega-6 fats can cause chronic inflammation.