Classics Beef & Barley Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
ACANA Classics Beef & Barley Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 72/100 (B) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value..
Graded by The Sniff System
Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animalbeef
Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.
- 2protein animalbeef meal
Beef cooked down to a dry concentrate. More protein per pound than fresh beef.
- 3grainpearled barley
Barley with the outer hull removed. Easy to digest, steady carb release.
- 4legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
- 5oat groats
Whole oats with only the inedible hull removed. The most intact form of oats available.
- 6pork fat
Real animal fat from a named species. Clean energy source.
- 7protein animalpork meal
Pork cooked into a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh pork.
- 8grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
- 9lentil fiber
- 10natural pork flavor
- 11pea starch
Refined starch from peas, mostly carbs after the protein is removed. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA examined.
- 12fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
- 13mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 14vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 15supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
- 16mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 17supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 18supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 19supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 20mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 21preservative naturalmixed tocopherols
Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative.
- 22vitaminvitamin c
- 23vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 24vitaminvitamin d3 supplement
The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.
- 25fruitapples
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
Showing first 25 of 43. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.