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Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Vegetarian Recipe Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
Natural Balance

Limited Ingredient Vegetarian Recipe Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12

Evidence Fair
wet $5.00/lb

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Vegetarian Recipe Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12 earns a Sniff Score of 38/100 (D) 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 declared fiber.

CQI

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

Plant-protein-dominated formula. potato as the #1 ingredient.

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: 23% ⓘ
Protein
5%
min (as fed)
Fat
3%
min (as fed)
Fiber
2.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
78%
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 23%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

27 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    vegetable broth
  2. 2
    potato

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

  3. 3
    brown rice

    Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.

  4. 4
    barley

    Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.

  5. 5
    oats

    Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.

  6. 6
    potato protein

    Concentrated potato protein. Like pea protein, it inflates the protein number without matching meat-quality amino acids.

  7. 7
    carrots

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

  8. 8
    canola oil

    Plant oil. Some omega-3 from the parent plant, though dogs absorb it less efficiently than fish-derived omega-3. Fine in moderation.

  9. 9
    dried tomato pomace

    The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.

  10. 10
    ground flaxseed

    Cracked flaxseed for better digestibility. Same plant omega-3s as whole flaxseed, just easier for the dog to extract.

  11. 11
    natural vegetable flavor
  12. 12
    agar-agar

    Seaweed-derived gel used as a thickener. Functional alternative to carrageenan, generally well-tolerated.

  13. 13
    dicalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.

  14. 14
    zinc proteinate

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

  15. 15
    iron proteinate

    Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

  16. 16
    copper proteinate

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

  17. 17
    manganese proteinate

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

  18. 18
    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 →

  19. 19
    ethylenediamine dihydroiodide
  20. 20
    calcium carbonate

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

  21. 21
    potassium chloride

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

  22. 22
    taurine

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

  23. 23
    salt

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

  24. 24
    choline chloride

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

  25. 25
    natural smoke flavor

Showing first 25 of 27. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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