Ingredient Knowledge Hub
A transparent quality grade for every common dog food ingredient. Search, filter, or drop any ingredient list into our interactive checker tool to get a color-coded breakdown in seconds.
Grade rubric
A+Excellent, genuinely beneficial
AHigh quality, well-sourced
B+Good functional ingredient
BDecent, well-tolerated
C+Average, context-dependent
CCommon filler, not harmful
DLow quality, avoid where possible
FDocumented concerns, avoid
Animal Protein
A+
Salmon
Excellent
A
Anchovy
Excellent (reference only)
A
Beef
Excellent
A
Bison
Excellent (reference only)
A
Chicken
Excellent
A
Duck
Excellent
A
Egg
Excellent (reference only)
A
Herring
Excellent (reference only)
A
Lamb
Excellent
A
Liver
Excellent (reference only)
A
Mackerel
Excellent (reference only)
A
Rabbit
Excellent (reference only)
A
Salmon Meal
Excellent (reference only)
A
Sardine
Excellent (reference only)
A
Trout
Excellent (reference only)
A
Turkey
Excellent
A
Venison
Excellent
A-
Beef Meal
Very good (reference only)
A-
Chicken Meal
Very good
A-
Duck Meal
Very good (reference only)
A-
Lamb Meal
Very good (reference only)
A-
Pork
Very good
A-
Turkey Meal
Very good (reference only)
A-
Venison Meal
Very good (reference only)
A-
Whitefish
Very good
B
Chicken By-Product Meal
Good
C+
Ocean Fish
Average (reference only)
C
Poultry Meal (generic)
Average filler (reference only)
D
Meat (generic)
Poor (reference only)
D
Meat By-Products
Poor (reference only)
D-
Animal Digest
Avoid (reference only)
Plant Protein
B
Peas
Good
B-
Chickpeas
Acceptable
B-
Fava Beans
Acceptable (reference only)
B-
Kidney Beans
Acceptable (reference only)
B-
Lentils
Acceptable
B-
Navy Beans
Acceptable (reference only)
B-
Pinto Beans
Acceptable (reference only)
C
Pea Protein
Average filler
C
Potato Protein
Average filler (reference only)
C-
Soybean Meal
Below average
Carbohydrate
B+
Barley
Good
B+
Brown Rice
Good
B+
Oats
Good
B+
Quinoa
Good (reference only)
B+
Sweet Potato
Good
B
Millet
Good (reference only)
B
Oat Flour
Good (reference only)
B
Rye
Good (reference only)
B
Sorghum
Good (reference only)
B-
Rice Bran
Acceptable (reference only)
B-
White Rice
Acceptable
C+
Tapioca
Average (reference only)
C+
White Potato
Average
C
Brewer's Rice
Average filler
C
Corn
Average filler
C
Wheat
Average filler (reference only)
C-
Corn Gluten Meal
Below average (reference only)
C-
Wheat Gluten
Below average (reference only)
Fat / Oil
A+
Salmon Oil
Excellent
A
Krill Oil
Excellent (reference only)
A-
Beef Fat
Very good (reference only)
A-
Chicken Fat
Very good
A-
Duck Fat
Very good (reference only)
A-
Fish Oil
Very good
A-
Turkey Fat
Very good (reference only)
B+
Coconut Oil
Good (reference only)
B+
Flaxseed
Good
B+
Hemp Oil
Good (reference only)
B
Sunflower Oil
Good
B-
Canola Oil
Acceptable (reference only)
B-
Safflower Oil
Acceptable (reference only)
C-
Animal Fat (generic)
Below average
Fiber / Digestive
A
Pumpkin
Excellent (reference only)
A-
Chicory Root
Very good
B+
Beet Pulp
Good
B+
Flaxseed Meal
Good (reference only)
B+
Probiotics
Good
B+
Psyllium Husk
Good (reference only)
B
Apple Pomace
Good (reference only)
B-
Pea Fiber
Acceptable (reference only)
B-
Yucca Schidigera
Acceptable (reference only)
D
Powdered Cellulose
Poor
Supplement
A
DHA
Excellent (reference only)
A
EPA
Excellent (reference only)
A
Taurine
Excellent
A
Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols)
Excellent
A-
Rosemary Extract
Very good (reference only)
B+
Chondroitin
Good
B+
Glucosamine
Good
B+
L-Carnitine
Good (reference only)
B
Biotin
Good (reference only)
B
Calcium
Good (reference only)
B
Choline Chloride
Good (reference only)
B
Copper
Good (reference only)
B
DL-Methionine
Good (reference only)
B
Folic Acid
Good (reference only)
B
Iron
Good (reference only)
B
Manganese
Good (reference only)
B
Niacin
Good (reference only)
B
Pyridoxine
Good (reference only)
B
Riboflavin
Good (reference only)
B
Selenium
Good (reference only)
B
Thiamine
Good (reference only)
B
Vitamin A
Good (reference only)
B
Vitamin B12
Good (reference only)
B
Vitamin D3
Good (reference only)
B
Yeast
Good (reference only)
B
Zinc
Good (reference only)
Whole Food
A
Apples
Excellent (reference only)
A
Blueberries
Excellent (reference only)
A
Carrots
Excellent (reference only)
A
Cranberries
Excellent (reference only)
A
Ginger
Excellent (reference only)
A
Kale
Excellent (reference only)
A
Parsley
Excellent (reference only)
A
Spinach
Excellent (reference only)
A
Turmeric
Excellent (reference only)
Watch List
B-
Salt
Acceptable (reference only)
D
Caramel Color
Poor (reference only)
D
Carrageenan
Poor (reference only)
D
MSG
Poor (reference only)
D
Menadione (Synthetic Vitamin K)
Poor
D
Sodium Nitrite
Poor (reference only)
D
Sodium Tripolyphosphate
Poor (reference only)
F
Artificial Colors
Avoid
F
BHA
Avoid
F
BHT
Avoid
F
Ethoxyquin
Avoid
F
Propylene Glycol
Avoid (reference only)
F
Sugar
Avoid (reference only)