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Earthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Alaska Pollock Meal & Pumpkin Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag
Earthborn Holistic

Venture Limited Ingredient Alaska Pollock Meal & Pumpkin Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag

Evidence Fair
dry $3.45/lb

Earthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Alaska Pollock Meal & Pumpkin Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 53/100 (C) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

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

STACK

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

Low protein quality. alaska pollock meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.

PQI

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF

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: 29% ⓘ
Protein
26%
min (as fed)
Fat
13%
min (as fed)
Fiber
9%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

23 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    alaska pollock meal
  2. 2
    pumpkin

    Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.

  3. 3
    tapioca

    Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.

  4. 4
    vegetable

    Unnamed vegetable. No way to know what species. Named vegetables are far more transparent.

  5. 5
    sunflower oil

    Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.

  6. 6
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

  7. 7
    natural flavors

    Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.

  8. 8
    l-threonine

    Essential amino acid. Sometimes added when plant proteins dominate, since threonine is naturally lower in plants than meat.

  9. 9
    choline
  10. 10
    salt

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

  11. 11
    potassium chloride

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

  12. 12
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

  13. 13
    l-carnitine

    Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.

  14. 14
    zinc sulfate

    Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.

  15. 15
    ferrous sulfate

    Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.

  16. 16
    manganese sulfate

    Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.

  17. 17
    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

  18. 18
    zinc proteinate

    Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.

  19. 19
    manganese proteinate

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

  20. 20
    copper proteinate

    Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.

  21. 21
    calcium iodate

    Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.

  22. 22
    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 →

  23. 23
    yucca schidigera extract

    Plant extract added to reduce stool odor. Functional, not nutritional. Fine in trace amounts.

21 of 23 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.