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Essence Limited Ingredient Recipe Ocean Recipe Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
Essence

Limited Ingredient Recipe Ocean Recipe Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12

Evidence Fair
wet $6.14/lb

Essence Limited Ingredient Recipe Ocean Recipe Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12 earns a Sniff Score of 57/100 (C) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Reasonable protein quality. whitefish delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.

MNI

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • 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: 48% ⓘ
Protein
10.5%
min (as fed)
Fat
5%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
78%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 48%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

29 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    whitefish

    Real fish meat. Lean protein with a clean amino acid profile.

  2. 2
    herring

    Whole fish, naturally high in omega-3s and very digestible protein. Common in premium formulas.

  3. 3
    fish broth
  4. 4
    natural whitefish flavor
  5. 5
    olive oil
  6. 6
    agar-agar

    Seaweed-derived gel used as a thickener. Functional alternative to carrageenan, generally well-tolerated.

  7. 7
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  8. 8
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  9. 9
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

  10. 10
    salt

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

  11. 11
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  12. 12
    vitamin a acetate
  13. 13
    vitamin d3 supplement

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

  14. 14
    vitamin e supplement

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

  15. 15
    niacin supplement

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

  16. 16
    d-calcium pantothenate

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

  17. 17
    thiamine mononitrate

    B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.

  18. 18
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

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

  19. 19
    riboflavin supplement

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

  20. 20
    folic acid

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

  21. 21
    vitamin b12 supplement

    Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.

  22. 22
    zinc proteinate

    Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.

  23. 23
    iron proteinate

    Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

  24. 24
    copper proteinate

    Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.

  25. 25
    manganese proteinate

    Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.

Showing first 25 of 29. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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