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Purina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Adult Real Lamb & Turkey Flavor Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag
Dog Chow

Purina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Adult Real Lamb & Turkey Flavor Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $0.83/lb

Dog Chow Purina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Adult Real Lamb & Turkey Flavor Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 1/100 (F) with Fair evidence. 4 controversial ingredients flagged. Score capped at 39 due to 3 FLAG ingredients.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

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

ACF

Score capped at 39 due to 3 FLAG ingredients.

CAP why?

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

PQI

Contains red 40. EU mandatory warning label since 2010. California AB 2316 banned 6 dyes from school foods (2024). HHS phase-out announced April 2025..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 5

  • 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.
  • yellow 5
    Artificial color with no nutritional value. Some dogs show allergic-type reactions.
  • 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: 24% ⓘ
Protein
21%
min (as fed)
Fat
10%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4%
max (as fed)
Moisture
14%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

26 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    whole grain corn

    Whole corn with the kernel intact. Decent fiber and B vitamins, though it can crowd out meat in cheaper recipes.

  2. 2
    wheat

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

  3. 3
    meat and bone meal

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

  4. 4
    corn gluten meal

    Concentrated corn protein. Inflates the protein percent on the label without matching meat-quality amino acids.

  5. 5
    soybean meal

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

  6. 6
    beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols

    Real animal fat from a named species, with natural vitamin E doing the preservation. The clean version.

  7. 7
    lamb

    Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.

  8. 8
    egg and chicken flavor
  9. 9
    glycerin

    Humectant used in soft-moist foods to keep them chewy. Safe in moderation but a signal of a processed semi-moist product.

  10. 10
    ground rice

    Cracked rice for binding and texture. Fine but unremarkable as a nutrient source.

  11. 11
    animal digest Flagged

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

  12. 12
    turkey by-product meal
  13. 13
    salt

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

  14. 14
    potassium chloride

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

  15. 15
    l-lysine monohydrochloride

    Stable form of L-lysine, an essential amino acid. Common in plant-heavy formulas to balance the amino acid profile.

  16. 16
    choline chloride

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

  17. 17
    zinc sulfate

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

  18. 18
    ferrous sulfate

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

  19. 19
    manganese sulfate

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

  20. 20
    copper sulfate

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

  21. 21
    calcium iodate

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

  22. 22
    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 →

  23. 23
    red 40 Flagged

    Artificial coloring. Dogs don't care about color. Banned in several countries over hyperactivity and allergic-reaction concerns.

  24. 24
    yellow 5 Flagged

    Artificial coloring. Strictly cosmetic. Banned or restricted in several countries.

  25. 25
    blue 2 Flagged

    Artificial coloring. No nutritional or functional purpose. Banned or restricted in several countries.

Showing first 25 of 26. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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