Merrick Slow-Cooked BBQ Texas Style with Braised Beef

Brand: Grain Free Wet, Merrick

Overall Score

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

4.5

Merrick Slow-Cooked BBQ Texas Style with Braised Beef

4.5

Overall Score

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

Brand: Grain Free Wet, Merrick

Ingredient Quality

4 out of 10

Evalutation Criteria

Product is calculated to contain 31% 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 it 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 fats that are highly processed or inflammatory ^ⓘSeed oils, such as safflower, sunflower or flaxseed oil, provide calories and taste. They are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which can cause systemic and gut inflammation. Other oils like soybean are highly processed and may contain trans fats. Studies shows that ultra processed foods are linked to a higher rate of all-cause mortality in humans. 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
Product contains ingredients that are high in sugar including cane molasses ^ⓘSugar is often found in pet food to increase the palatability or as a preservative or humectant. It is a low quality ingredient that can cause unwanted gut changes, obesity and insulin spikes. Learn more
Is fortified with excessive minerals ^ⓘFive or more added minerals indicate a lower quality food that’s lacking naturally occurring minerals from whole food sources.

Ingredient Safety

5 out of 10

Evalutation Criteria

Product is highly processed ^ⓘCanned foods are heated before and during canning, which will cause significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Learn more
Contains natural flavor ^ⓘNatural flavors are often animal digest or MSG, which are low quality ingredients with limited safety studies. Learn more
Contains known GMO ingredients including potato ^ⓘThere are limited safetey studies on geneticaly modified and Roundup Ready crops although they are lacking in nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. GMO crops also strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk and may be involved in bee die-off. Learn more
Contains ingredients known to contain higher pesticide/herbicide residues including potato, peas, tomato, celery and sunflower ^ⓘ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

Other Concerns

Notable product facts

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 Beef, Beef Broth, Vegetable Broth, Beef Liver, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Natural Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Potato Starch, Dried Peas, Calcium Carbonate, Agar-Agar, Natural Smoke Flavor, Dried Tomato, Sodium Phosphate, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Choline Chloride, Salmon Oil, Fruit Juice Color, Flaxseed Oil, Cumin, Dried Celery, Potassium Chloride, Guar Gum, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, d- Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Cane Molasses, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Cobalt Glucoheptonate, Potassium Iodide), Xanthan Gum, Cinnamon.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)	8%
Crude Fat (min)	2%
Crude Fiber (max)	1%
Moisture (max)	82%

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