Protein source
CautionUnclear animal protein source
Top 3: Deboned Beef, Pork and Bone Meal, Salmon Meal
Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.
Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.
Public ReviewGrade DKibble (Extruded)Manufacturing: Kibble (Extruded)
Merrick
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red Beef Lamb
2.0★Public ScoreManufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety
Key points
Ingredient guide
Included support ingredients
Nutrient guideTaurineHeart support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredient
Needs context
Ingredient grade
C
Grade C
Top ingredient profile
Deboned Beef
Pork and Bone Meal
Salmon Meal
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein35%
Crude protein35%
Crude fat17%
Other 48%
Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.
biotechProtein position
Higherquery_statsFat position
Higherlocal_fire_departmentCalorie density
TypicalThis food can stay in comparison, but ingredient quality still needs a more conservative read.
There is enough public data to keep this food in comparison, but the top ingredient structure does not support a stronger positive claim yet.
Nutritional strengths
- The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
- Crude protein is on the higher side.
- Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.
What still needs work
- Plant proteins can lift crude protein on the label, but the real animal-protein share still needs a closer check.
- Less specific rendered animal ingredients sit high in the recipe, so ingredient quality still needs a more cautious read.
- Public data is usable, but not at the highest-trust tier.
Brand context
Brand background availableRecall history confirmed
Founded in 1988 in the United States. This brand has multiple confirmed recall events, with the most recent public case here in 2018.
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
Ingredient Grade
Mixed
1Deboned Beef
Fresh Meat · Top
2Pork and Bone Meal
Generic Meal · Lower
3Salmon Meal
Named Meal · Upper
Ingredient Analysis Comments
- •Deboned Beef is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
- •Pork and Bone 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.
- •Salmon Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.
restaurantIngredient Grade CMixed
Full collected ingredient list
24 ingredientsDeboned BeefPork and Bone MealSalmon MealSweet PotatoesPotatoesPeasPea ProteinNatural FlavorPork FatPotato ProteinLambSunflower OilBeef LiverFlaxseedTapiocaDried YeastPotassium ChlorideSaltCholine ChlorideMinerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Calcium Iodate)DL-MethionineTaurineMixed Tocopherols for freshnessVitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement)
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients
Why processed plant proteins are reviewed cautiously
Ingredient lists are ordered by input weight, not protein contribution. Fresh meat 100g and Soybean Meal 50g can both contribute about 20g of protein, and Pea Protein can deliver a similar amount at around 30g. So these ingredients can materially lift crude protein even outside the top three. The review treats processed plant-protein boosters cautiously because they can weaken the animal-protein-centered profile most guardians expect from a high-protein food.
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)
C1 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.
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.
Heart criteriaBest 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.
Joint criteriaBest 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.
Label basicsBest dog food criteria: ingredients, calories, disclosure, and health context
Before the brand claim, compare top ingredients, guaranteed analysis, kcal/kg, and disclosure.