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Freshpet Chicken Recipe with Peas, Carrots, & Brown Rice Fresh Refrigerated Dog Food, 6-lb roll, case of 4
Freshpet

Chicken Recipe with Peas, Carrots, & Brown Rice Fresh Refrigerated Dog Food, 6-lb roll, case of 4

Evidence Fair
wet $3.32/lb

Freshpet Chicken Recipe with Peas, Carrots, & Brown Rice Fresh Refrigerated Dog Food, 6-lb roll, case of 4 earns a Sniff Score of 56/100 (C) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Reasonable protein quality. chicken delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

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

FQI

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF

Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 2

  • carrageenan
    Seaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.
  • 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: 40%
Protein
9.5%
min (as fed)
Fat
7%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
76%
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 40%, 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
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

  2. 2
    chicken liver

    Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.

  3. 3
    peas

    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 →

  4. 4
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

  5. 5
    chicken broth

    Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.

  6. 6
    eggs

    Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.

  7. 7
    brown rice

    Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.

  8. 8
    rice

    Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.

  9. 9
    pumpkin

    Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.

  10. 10
    spinach

    Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.

  11. 11
    carrageenan Flagged

    Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed.

  12. 12
    natural flavors

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

  13. 13
    fish oil

    Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.

  14. 14
    zinc proteinate

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

  15. 15
    iron proteinate

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

  16. 16
    copperproteinate
  17. 17
    manganese proteinate

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

  18. 18
    sodium selenite Flagged

    Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →

  19. 19
    calcium iodate

    Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.

  20. 20
    celery powder
  21. 21
    vitamin e supplement

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

  22. 22
    vitamin a supplement

    Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.

  23. 23
    riboflavin supplement

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

  24. 24
    thiamine mononitrate

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

  25. 25
    pyridoxinehydrochloride

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

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