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Public ReviewGrade DKibble (Extruded)Manufacturing: Kibble (Extruded)

Acana

Acana Free-Run Duck Recipe Dog Food

2.0★Public ScoreManufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Key points

Protein source

Caution

Unclear animal protein source

Top 3: Fresh duck, duck meat meal, whole green peas

Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.

Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.

Ingredient guide

Included support ingredients

Nutrient guide
EPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientChicoryGut support ingredientTurmeric/curcuminAntioxidant and joint support ingredientMilk thistleLiver support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient
Needs context

Ingredient grade

C

Grade C

Top ingredient profile

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

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

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

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.

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
Fresh Meat · Top
2duck meat meal
Generic Meal · Lower
3whole green peas
Whole Plant Protein · Lower

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Fresh duck is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •duck meat meal 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
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.

Where it sits in the same processing cohort

Kibble (Extruded) cohortCompare-first

Within the Kibble (Extruded) cohort, this recipe sits in the compare-first band.

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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What to compare next

Criteria to compare with this food

These criteria come from the product name, brand, veterinary purpose, and disclosed nutrients, so you can compare similar foods after reading the review.

Brand analysis

Royal Canin dog food analysis: veterinary diets, breed lines, and label checks

Royal Canin spans veterinary, breed, and daily lines, so product purpose matters first.

Kidney criteria

Best dog food for kidney disease: phosphorus, protein quality, sodium, and appetite checks

Kidney or renal intent means phosphorus, protein, and sodium disclosure should come first.

Heart criteria

Best dog food for heart disease: sodium, taurine, L-carnitine, omega-3, and DCM context

Heart context should connect sodium, taurine, L-carnitine, and omega-3 disclosure.

GI criteria

Best dog food for sensitive stomachs: digestibility, fat, fiber, and transition checks

GI context should connect fat, fiber, transition speed, and veterinary purpose.

Joint criteria

Best dog food for joint support: weight control, EPA/DHA, glucosamine, and mobility checks

Joint context should connect weight control, EPA+DHA, and disclosed support ingredients.