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Freshpet Vital Shredded Chicken Recipe with Sweet Potatoes & Carrots Fresh Dog Food, 4.5-lb bag
Freshpet

Vital Shredded Chicken Recipe with Sweet Potatoes & Carrots Fresh Dog Food, 4.5-lb bag

Evidence Fair
wet $8.89/lb

Freshpet Vital Shredded Chicken Recipe with Sweet Potatoes & Carrots Fresh Dog Food, 4.5-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 59/100 (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. 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

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: 50% ⓘ
Protein
17%
min (as fed)
Fat
6%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1%
max (as fed)
Moisture
66%
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 50%, 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
    egg

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

  3. 3
    sweet potato

    Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.

  4. 4
    carrots

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

  5. 5
    ground oats

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

  6. 6
    cranberries

    Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.

  7. 7
    green beans

    Real vegetable. Fiber and a small amount of vitamins. Often used in weight-management formulas because it bulks up a meal without adding calories.

  8. 8
    natural flavors

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

  9. 9
    spinach

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

  10. 10
    pumpkin

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

  11. 11
    rosemary
  12. 12
    potassium chloride

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

  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
    copper proteinate

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

  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
    vitamin e supplement

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

  21. 21
    vitamin a supplement

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

  22. 22
    riboflavin supplement

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

  23. 23
    thiamine mononitrate

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

  24. 24
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

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

  25. 25
    vitamin d3 supplement

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

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

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