Protein source
Premium pickFresh-meat led with no plant protein support
Top 3: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice
It clears the protein floor without plant-protein boosting.
This is the kind of structure a premium food should have.
Public ReviewGrade CKibble (Extruded)Manufacturing: Kibble (Extruded)
Merrick
Merrick Healthy Grains Healthy Weight Chicken Brown Rice
3.0★Public ScoreManufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety
Key points
Ingredient guide
Included support ingredients
Nutrient guideTaurineHeart support ingredientL-carnitineHeart and weight 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 Chicken
Chicken Meal
Brown Rice
Fresh-meat leadNo plant booster
Crude protein26%
Crude protein26%
Crude fat10%
Other 64%
Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.
biotechProtein position
Typicalquery_statsFat position
Lowerlocal_fire_departmentCalorie density
LowerThis 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 does not drop into a clearly low band.
- The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
- Crude fat does not run high, which helps the weight-management read.
- Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.
What still needs work
- If higher energy density matters more, another option may fit better.
- 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
Ingredient Grade
Good
1Deboned Chicken
Fresh Meat · Top
2Chicken Meal
Named Meal · Upper
3Brown Rice
Whole Grain · Upper
Ingredient Analysis Comments
- •Deboned Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
- •Chicken 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.
- •Brown Rice is a whole or coarse grain ingredient. It usually plays more of a carbohydrate and fiber role than a core protein role. It reads as an upper-tier carb and fiber source.
restaurantIngredient Grade BGood
Full collected ingredient list
23 ingredientsDeboned ChickenChicken MealBrown RiceBarleyOat MealMiscanthus GrassTurkey MealNatural FlavorQuinoaChicken Fat Preserved With Mixed TocopherolsFlaxseedPotassium ChlorideSaltCholine ChlorideMinerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Calcium Iodate)ApplesCarrotsDL-MethionineSunflower OilTaurineVitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement)L-CarnitinePreserved With Mixed Tocopherols
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)
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.
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.
Weight criteriaBest dog food for weight loss: calories, fiber, protein, satiety, and treat control
Weight intent should connect calorie density, fiber, and treat calories.
Label basicsBest dog food criteria: ingredients, calories, disclosure, and health context
Before the brand claim, compare top ingredients, guaranteed analysis, kcal/kg, and disclosure.