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Instinct RawBoost Whole Grain Real Beef & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food, 3.5-lb bag
Instinct

RawBoost Whole Grain Real Beef & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food, 3.5-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $5.65/lb

Instinct RawBoost Whole Grain Real Beef & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food, 3.5-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 77/100 (A) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

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

FQI

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: 28% ⓘ
Protein
25%
min (as fed)
Fat
15.5%
min (as fed)
Fiber
5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

54 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    beef

    Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.

  2. 2
    chicken meal

    Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken.

  3. 3
    barley

    Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.

  4. 4
    oatmeal

    Gentle on the stomach. Slow-release carbs and soluble fiber that supports stool quality.

  5. 5
    brown rice

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

  6. 6
    chicken fat

    Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid.

  7. 7
    turkey meal

    Turkey with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh turkey.

  8. 8
    ground flaxseeds

    Plural form, same as flaxseed. Plant source of omega-3, helpful for skin and coat.

  9. 9
    sorghum

    Whole grain with a low glycemic index. Gluten-free, well-tolerated, decent fiber content.

  10. 10
    fish meal

    Concentrated fish protein, usually whitefish, herring, or mackerel. Strong amino acid profile.

  11. 11
    freeze-dried beef
  12. 12
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  13. 13
    freeze-dried beef liver
  14. 14
    freeze-dried beef spleen
  15. 15
    pumpkin seeds
  16. 16
    carrots

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

  17. 17
    freeze-dried beef kidney
  18. 18
    salt

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

  19. 19
    potassium chloride

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

  20. 20
    apples

    Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.

  21. 21
    blueberries

    Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.

  22. 22
    cranberries

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

  23. 23
    montmorillonite clay

    Natural clay used as a binder and anti-caking agent. Functional, not nutritional.

  24. 24
    miscanthus grass

    Perennial grass used as a fiber source. Replaces cellulose in some recipes. Functional but unremarkable.

  25. 25
    vitamin e supplement

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

Showing first 25 of 54. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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