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Blue Buffalo Blue’s Stew Hearty Beef Stew Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12
Blue Buffalo

Blue’s Stew Hearty Beef Stew Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12

Evidence Fair
wet adult maintenance $3.76/lb

Blue Buffalo Blue’s Stew Hearty Beef Stew Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12 earns a Sniff Score of 60/100 (B) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.

FQI

Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 44% ⓘ
Protein
8%
min (as fed)
Fat
5%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1%
max (as fed)
Moisture
82%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 44%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

35 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    beef

    Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.

  2. 2
    beef broth

    Real broth. Adds flavor and moisture, signals the recipe leans on real meat.

  3. 3
    water

    Just water. Counted on the label of any wet or fresh food. The number tells you the moisture content.

  4. 4
    beef liver

    Organ meat. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients available, rich in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A.

  5. 5
    dried egg product

    Whole eggs with the water removed. Same nutritional value as fresh eggs, just shelf-stable.

  6. 6
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

  7. 7
    peas

    Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

  8. 8
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

  9. 9
    potato

    Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.

  10. 10
    potato starch

    Refined potato. Pure carb energy, low on other nutrition. Often used as a binder in grain-free recipes.

  11. 11
    guar gum

    Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet.

  12. 12
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  13. 13
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  14. 14
    sodium phosphate

    Mineral source and preservative. Standard inclusion at small doses.

  15. 15
    caramel color

    Artificial coloring made by heating sugars. Cosmetic. Some forms contain trace 4-MEI, a compound the IARC lists as possibly carcinogenic.

  16. 16
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  17. 17
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  18. 18
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  19. 19
    zinc amino acid chelate

    Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.

  20. 20
    iron amino acid chelate vitamin e supplement
  21. 21
    copper amino acid chelate

    Copper bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus copper sulfate.

  22. 22
    manganese amino acid chelate

    Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.

  23. 23
    sodium selenite Flagged

    Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →

  24. 24
    thiamine mononitrate

    B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.

  25. 25
    cobalt amino acid chelate

    Cobalt bound to amino acids for better absorption. Trace mineral needed for B12 synthesis.

Showing first 25 of 35. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.

AAFCO statement

Blue Buffalo Blue's Hearty Beef Stew is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance. It is suitable for adult dogs only.