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Big Red Nuggets Dry Dog Food, 50-lb bag
Big Red

Nuggets Dry Dog Food, 50-lb bag

Evidence Fair
dry $0.64/lb

Big Red Nuggets Dry Dog Food, 50-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 22/100 (F) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Score capped at 49 due to bha.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

Score capped at 49 due to bha.

CAP why?

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

Score capped at 54 due to primary protein is unnamed.

CAP why?

Controversial ingredients · 2

  • bha
    Synthetic preservative classified by the U.S. National Toxicology Program as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.' Many premium brands have removed it.
  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 25% ⓘ
Protein
22.5%
min (as fed)
Fat
12%
min (as fed)
Fiber
5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

35 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    meat and bone meal

    Unnamed animal protein with bone included. Cheap, vague, and not traceable to a specific species.

  2. 2
    ground corn

    Cracked whole corn. Fine in moderation, but its presence in the top few ingredients usually signals a lower-cost recipe.

  3. 3
    ground whole wheat
  4. 4
    wheat middlings
  5. 5
    animal fat

    Unnamed fat source. The species matters: 'chicken fat' or 'beef fat' is fine, but 'animal fat' tells you nothing about origin.

  6. 5
    bha Flagged

    Synthetic preservative. Listed as a possible human carcinogen by the IARC. Banned from human food in Japan and parts of the EU, still permitted in US pet food.

  7. 6
    soybeanmeal
  8. 7
    brewers rice

    Broken rice kernels left over from milling, usually destined for human beer-making. Cheaper than whole or even white rice. Same carbs, less nutrition than the brown version.

  9. 8
    salmon oil

    Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.

  10. 9
    dried plain beet pulp

    Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality.

  11. 10
    cornprotein meal
  12. 11
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

  13. 12
    natural flavors

    Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.

  14. 13
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  15. 14
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  16. 15
    niacin supplement

    B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.

  17. 16
    d-calcium pantothenate

    B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  18. 17
    riboflavin supplement

    B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.

  19. 18
    vitamin asupplement
  20. 19
    vitamin d3 supplement

    The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.

  21. 20
    vitamin b12supplement
  22. 21
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

    B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.

  23. 22
    biotin

    B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.

  24. 23
    thiaminemononitrate
  25. 24
    folic acid

    B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.

Showing first 25 of 35. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

18 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.