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Natural Balance Original Ultra Platefulls Tender Carrot, Potato & Beef Recipe Wet Dog Food, 9-oz pouch, case of 12
Natural Balance

Original Ultra Platefulls Tender Carrot, Potato & Beef Recipe Wet Dog Food, 9-oz pouch, case of 12

Evidence Fair
wet $10.63/lb

Natural Balance Original Ultra Platefulls Tender Carrot, Potato & Beef Recipe Wet Dog Food, 9-oz pouch, case of 12 earns a Sniff Score of 49/100 (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 declared fiber.

CQI

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

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

FQI

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: 42% ⓘ
Protein
10.5%
min (as fed)
Fat
5.5%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3%
max (as fed)
Moisture
75%
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 42%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

31 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    chicken

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

  2. 2
    carrots

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

  3. 3
    potato

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

  4. 4
    beef

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

  5. 5
    beef bone broth

    Real bone broth. Adds flavor, moisture, and a small amount of collagen. Pleasant inclusion.

  6. 6
    salt

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

  7. 7
    spinach

    Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.

  8. 8
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  9. 9
    vitamin b12 supplement

    Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.

  10. 10
    niacin supplement

    B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.

  11. 11
    d-calcium pantothenate

    B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  12. 12
    thiamine mononitrate

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

  13. 13
    vitamin a supplement

    Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.

  14. 14
    biotin

    B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.

  15. 15
    riboflavin supplement

    B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.

  16. 16
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

    B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.

  17. 17
    beta-carotene
  18. 18
    folic acid

    B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.

  19. 19
    zinc oxide

    Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.

  20. 20
    reduced iron
  21. 21
    manganese sulfate

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

  22. 22
    copper amino acid complex

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

  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
    potassium iodide

    Source of iodine, an essential trace mineral for thyroid function. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.

  25. 25
    tuna oil

Showing first 25 of 31. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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