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Maintain Chunks Meaty Flavor Dry Dog Food, 34-lb bag
Maintain Chunks

Meaty Flavor Dry Dog Food, 34-lb bag

Evidence Fair
dry $0.94/lb

Maintain Chunks Meaty Flavor Dry Dog Food, 34-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 5/100 (F) with Fair evidence. 2 controversial ingredients flagged. Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

Score capped at 49 due to CP_DM=17.8%, CF_DM=7.2%.

CAP why?

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

PQI

Controversial ingredients · 3

  • animal digest
    Chemically or enzymatically hydrolyzed animal tissue from unspecified species. Used as a flavor coating. Source quality cannot be verified.
  • menadione
    Synthetic vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns at high doses. Permitted in pet food but premium brands use natural vitamin K alternatives.
  • 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: 18% ⓘ
Protein
16%
min (as fed)
Fat
6.5%
min (as fed)
Fiber
8%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

34 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    yellow corn
  2. 2
    wheat mill run
  3. 3
    meat and bone meal

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

  4. 4
    cooked wheat
  5. 5
    soybean meal

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

  6. 6
    animal fat

    Unnamed fat source. The species matters: 'chicken fat' or 'beef fat' is fine, but 'animal fat' tells you nothing about origin.

  7. 7
    salt

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

  8. 8
    animal digest Flagged

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

  9. 9
    tomato pomace

    The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.

  10. 10
    potassium chloride

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

  11. 11
    choline chloride

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

  12. 12
    vitamin e supplement

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

  13. 13
    vitamin a supplement

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

  14. 14
    pantothenic acid
  15. 15
    niacin supplement

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

  16. 16
    riboflavin supplement

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

  17. 17
    menadione Flagged

    Same as menadione sodium bisulfite complex. Synthetic K3, banned in human supplements but the only AAFCO-approved K source, which is why even premium brands use it. See why →

  18. 18
    vitamin b12 supplement

    Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.

  19. 19
    thiamine mononitrate

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

  20. 20
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

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

  21. 21
    biotin

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

  22. 22
    folic acid

    B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.

  23. 23
    vitamin d3 supplement

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

  24. 24
    zinc sulfate

    Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.

  25. 25
    ferrous sulfate

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

Showing first 25 of 34. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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