Label analysisGrade DKibble (Extruded)

Acana

Acana Free-Run Duck Recipe

Editor ingredient insight

Acana Free-Run Duck starts with fresh duck, duck meal, peas, lentils, duck giblets, and duck fat, with high protein and solid omega disclosure. I would use it for active duck-tolerant dogs, not for pea/lentil avoidance.

Logic-based verdict

This food suits weight-management priorities better than higher-energy feeding.

Manufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Protein source

Ingredient guide

Unclear animal protein source

Animal protein

Fresh duck (18%) (#1), duck meat meal (17%) (#2), fresh duck giblets (liver, heart, kidney) (7%) (#5), dried duck cartilage (2%) (#11), freeze-dried duck liver (0.1%) (#17)

Plant protein

whole green peas (#3), whole red lentils (#4), whole garbanzo beans (#8), whole green lentils (#9), whole yellow peas (#10)

Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.

Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.

Included support ingredients

Nutrient guide

EPA+DHA

Skin, joint, and heart support ingredient

Cranberry

Urinary support ingredient

Chicory

Gut support ingredient

Turmeric/curcumin

Antioxidant and joint support ingredient

Milk thistle

Liver support ingredient

Omega-3

Skin and joint support ingredient

Omega-6

Skin and coat support ingredient

Vitamin E

Antioxidant and skin support ingredient

View full ingredients
Needs context

Ingredient grade

C

Grade C

Top ingredient profile

Fresh duck (18%)
duck meat meal (17%)
whole green peas
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein31%
Crude protein31%
Crude fat15%
Other 54%

Calcium

1.3%

Phosphorus

0.9%

Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.

biotechProtein position
Higher
query_statsFat position
Typical
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Lower

Calorie density is lower, crude fat does not run high, and protein does not collapse. That makes this easier to keep in a weight-management shortlist.

Nutritional strengths

  • Crude protein is on the higher side.
  • The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
  • Calorie density is on the lower side.
  • Nutrient disclosure is broad enough to compare real numbers directly.

What still needs work

  • Fresh meat carries a moisture variable. When whole plant protein sources are also high in the list, part of the crude-protein number may come from those plant ingredients.
  • Plant proteins can lift crude protein on the label, but the real animal-protein share still needs a closer check.
  • If higher energy density matters more, another option may fit better.

Alternative foods

Smart duck alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

251 alternativesKibble (Extruded) · protein type/family cohort

Other recipes from the same brand

Other recipes from the same brand with a different purpose or feeding target.

Acana

Highest Protein Wild Prairie

All life stages · All sizes

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Acana

Highest Protein, Wild Atlantic Recipe Dry Dog Food

All life stages · All sizes

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Acana

Highest Protein, Appalachian Ranch Recipe Dry Dog Food

All life stages · All sizes

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Acana

Adult Small Breed Recipe

Adult · Small breed

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

3.5/5

Grade B

Brand context

Brand background availableRecall history confirmed

Founded in 1985 in Canada. This brand has a confirmed public recall history.

Ingredient analysis

The top ingredients are still usable, but this is the part to inspect more carefully before calling the recipe a clear strength.

restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis

C3/6
Ingredient Grade
Mixed
1Fresh duck (18%)
Fresh Meat · Top
2duck meat meal (17%)
Generic Meal · Lower
3whole green peas
Whole Plant Protein · Lower

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Fresh duck (18%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •duck meat meal (17%) is a generic rendered protein source. Protein may be concentrated, but the animal source is not specific. It reads as an lower-tier protein source.
  • •whole green peas is a whole plant-protein ingredient. It is not a processed protein concentrate, but when it appears near the top it can still weaken the animal-protein-led structure. It reads as an lower-tier plant protein booster.
restaurantIngredient Grade CMixed

Full collected ingredient list

27 ingredients
Fresh duck (18%)duck meat meal (17%)whole green peaswhole red lentilsfresh duck giblets (liver, heart, kidney) (7%)duck fat (6%)fresh bartlett pears (4%)whole garbanzo beanswhole green lentilswhole yellow peasdried duck cartilage (2%)lentil fibermarine algae (1.2%) (pure and sustainable source of DHA and EPA)fresh whole butternut squashfresh whole pumpkindried brown kelpfreeze-dried duck liver (0.1%)saltfresh whole cranberriesfresh whole blueberrieschicory rootturmeric rootmilk thistleburdock rootlavendermarshmallow rootrosehips
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Alternative protein
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients

Why did the base review land here?

Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust

This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.

Nutrient disclosure

Partial disclosure

Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.

Safety verification

No fails

No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.

Public data trust (ETF)

C2 tier

Detailed nutrition is visible, but not at a product-level traceability standard.

Final word

Treat this review as an early screen. If the food stays interesting, verify it again with your dog-specific context before acting.

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