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

Merrick

Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Pacific Catch Salmon Whitefish

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

Key points

Protein source

Moderate caution

Processed plant protein after the top 3

Top 3: Deboned Salmon, Salmon Meal, Whitefish Meal

The protein number includes processed plant protein support.

Even when it appears later, the protein number is read more conservatively.

Ingredient guide

Included support ingredients

Nutrient guide
TaurineHeart support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredient
Solid build

Ingredient grade

B

Grade B

Top ingredient profile

Deboned Salmon
Salmon Meal
Whitefish Meal
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein32%
Crude protein32%
Crude fat16%
Other 52%

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

biotechProtein position
Higher
query_statsFat position
Higher
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Typical

This 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

  • Processed plant protein appears after the top 3, so some protein support is still built into the label number.
  • Fish protein is still the first ingredient, but plant-protein boosters high in the recipe make it a more cautious alternative-protein candidate.
  • 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 give this recipe a strong first protein read, so the ingredient section starts from a favorable position.

restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis

B4.5/6
Ingredient Grade
Good
1Deboned Salmon
Fresh Meat · Top
2Salmon Meal
Named Meal · Upper
3Whitefish Meal
Named Meal · Upper

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Deboned Salmon is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-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.
  • •Whitefish 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 BGood

Full collected ingredient list

22 ingredients
Deboned SalmonSalmon MealWhitefish MealSweet PotatoesPotatoesPeasPea ProteinNatural FlavorPork FatWhitefishSunflower OilFlaxseedDried YeastTapiocaPotassium 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) cohortUpper middle

Within the Kibble (Extruded) cohort, this recipe sits in the upper middle band.

Final word

There is enough here to keep the food in comparison, but not enough to stop comparing yet.

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