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Nutrena True Adult Maintenance 21/12 Dry Dog Food, 50-lb bag
Nutrena

True Adult Maintenance 21/12 Dry Dog Food, 50-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $0.78/lb

Nutrena True Adult Maintenance 21/12 Dry Dog Food, 50-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 55/100 (C) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Primary concern: plant-protein-dominated formula. ground corn as the #1 ingredient..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF

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

PQI

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: 23% ⓘ
Protein
21%
min (as fed)
Fat
12%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

32 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    ground corn

    Cracked whole corn. Fine in moderation, but its presence in the top few ingredients usually signals a lower-cost recipe.

  2. 2
    chicken by-product meal

    Ground organs, bone, and tissue. Nutritionally dense, especially the liver and gizzard fractions. Named species ('chicken') is what matters. Generic 'poultry by-product meal' is the one to worry about.

  3. 3
    wheat

    Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.

  4. 4
    soybean meal

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

  5. 5
    chicken fat

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

  6. 6
    natural flavors

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

  7. 7
    dried plain beet pulp

    Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality.

  8. 8
    monocalcium phosphate

    Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.

  9. 9
    dicalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.

  10. 10
    vitamin e supplement

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

  11. 11
    niacin supplement

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

  12. 12
    d -calcium pantothenate
  13. 13
    riboflavin supplement

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

  14. 14
    vitamin a supplement

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

  15. 15
    vitamin d3 supplement

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

  16. 16
    vitamin b12 supplement

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

  17. 17
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

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

  18. 18
    biotin

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

  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
    folic acid

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

  21. 21
    salt

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

  22. 22
    yeast culture

    Fermented yeast. Source of B vitamins and beta-glucans that some research suggests support immune function.

  23. 23
    manganese sulfate

    Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.

  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 32. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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