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Gravy Train Beefy Classic Dry Dog Food, 35-lb bag
Gravy Train

Beefy Classic Dry Dog Food, 35-lb bag

Evidence Fair
wet $0.77/lb

Gravy Train Beefy Classic Dry Dog Food, 35-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 0/100 (F) with Fair evidence. 6 controversial ingredients flagged. Score capped at 39 due to 5 FLAG ingredients.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Score capped at 39 due to 5 FLAG ingredients.

CAP why?

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

Plant-protein-dominated formula. corn as the #1 ingredient.

PQI

Controversial ingredients · 7

  • animal digest
    Chemically or enzymatically hydrolyzed animal tissue from unspecified species. Used as a flavor coating. Source quality cannot be verified.
  • 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.
  • red 40
    Artificial color with no nutritional value. Linked to behavioral effects in children; relevance to dogs is unclear but the ingredient serves only marketing purposes.
  • 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.
  • yellow 5
    Artificial color with no nutritional value. Some dogs show allergic-type reactions.
  • yellow 6
    Artificial color with no nutritional value.
  • blue 2
    Artificial color. A 1990s industry-funded study reported brain tumors in male rats; subsequent reviews disputed methodology, but the additive provides no nutritional benefit.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 19% ⓘ
Protein
17%
min (as fed)
Fat
8%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

36 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    corn

    Whole corn is more nutritious than it gets credit for, with decent amino acids and steady carbs. The bigger concern is when corn dominates the top of the ingredient list at the expense of named meat.

  2. 2
    soybean meal

    Concentrated soy protein. Cheap plant protein that pads the label number, common in budget formulas.

  3. 3
    meat and bone meal

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

  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. 6
    animal digest Flagged

    A liquid flavoring made from hydrolyzed animal tissue, sprayed onto kibble for palatability. Common, not directly harmful, but vague about source.

  7. 7
    salt

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

  8. 8
    calcium carbonate

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

  9. 9
    cellulose gum
  10. 10
    wheat flour

    Refined wheat, usually used as a binder. Cheap, not harmful, not a nutrition contributor.

  11. 11
    caramel color

    Artificial coloring made by heating sugars. Cosmetic. Some forms contain trace 4-MEI, a compound the IARC lists as possibly carcinogenic.

  12. 12
    ferrous sulfate

    Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.

  13. 13
    zinc oxide

    Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.

  14. 14
    manganous oxide

    Inorganic manganese. Functional, cheaper than chelated forms, less efficiently absorbed.

  15. 15
    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

  16. 16
    calcium iodate

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

  17. 17
    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 →

  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
    niacin supplement

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

  22. 22
    d-calcium pantothenate

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

  23. 23
    riboflavin supplement

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

  24. 24
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

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

  25. 25
    thiamine mononitrate

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

Showing first 25 of 36. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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