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Freshpet Complete Nutrition Chicken Recipe Fresh Dog Food, 1.5-lb roll, case of 8
Freshpet

Complete Nutrition Chicken Recipe Fresh Dog Food, 1.5-lb roll, case of 8

Evidence Fair
wet growth $4.37/lb

Freshpet Complete Nutrition Chicken Recipe Fresh Dog Food, 1.5-lb roll, case of 8 earns a Sniff Score of 46/100 (C) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Primary concern: low protein quality. chicken delivers limited bioavailable amino acids..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.

CQI

Low protein quality. chicken delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.

PQI

No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.

FQI

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: 34% ⓘ
Protein
7.5%
min (as fed)
Fat
7%
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 34%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

31 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 broth

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

  3. 3
    brown rice

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

  4. 4
    rice

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

  5. 5
    carrots

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

  6. 6
    ground oats

    Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.

  7. 7
    carrageenan Flagged

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

  8. 8
    natural flavors

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

  9. 9
    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 →

  10. 10
    spinach

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

  11. 11
    potassium chloride

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

  12. 12
    zinc proteinate

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

  13. 13
    iron proteinate

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

  14. 14
    copper proteinate

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

  15. 15
    manganese proteinate

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

  16. 16
    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 →

  17. 17
    calcium iodate

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

  18. 18
    choline chloride

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

  19. 19
    vitamin e supplement

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

  20. 20
    vitamin a supplement

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

  21. 21
    biotin

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

  22. 22
    thiamine mononitrate

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

  23. 23
    riboflavin supplement

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

  24. 24
    niacin supplement

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

  25. 25
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

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

Showing first 25 of 31. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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

AAFCO statement

Freshpet recipes are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO for specific life stages (e.g., adult maintenance or growth), as indicated on each package.