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Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets El Elemental Dry Dog Food, 16.5-lb bag
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets

El Elemental Dry Dog Food, 16.5-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $8.18/lb

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets El Elemental Dry Dog Food, 16.5-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 36/100 (D) with Fair evidence. 2 controversial ingredients flagged. Primary concern: plant-protein-dominated formula. corn starch as the #1 ingredient..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for not stated.

ACF

Plant-protein-dominated formula. corn starch as the #1 ingredient.

PQI

Contains tbhq. Prohibited in Japan. Less data than BHA/BHT; emerging immunotoxicity signals..

CIP

Contains menadione. Banned for human OTC use but tolerated at AAFCO-permitted levels in pet food. The only AAFCO-permitted vitamin K source..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • menadione
    Synthetic vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns at high doses. Permitted in pet food but premium brands use natural vitamin K alternatives.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 23% ⓘ
Protein
19.8%
min (as fed)
Fat
8%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
12%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

53 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    corn starch
  2. 2
    tapioca starch

    Refined cassava starch, used as a binder. Easy to digest, low on nutrition.

  3. 3
    dicalcium phosphate

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

  4. 4
    glycine
  5. 5
    partially hydrogenated canola oil preserved with tbhq
  6. 6
    l-glutamic acid
  7. 7
    coconut oil

    Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.

  8. 8
    l-alanine
  9. 9
    l-aspartic acid
  10. 10
    l-lysine monohydrochloride

    Stable form of L-lysine, an essential amino acid. Common in plant-heavy formulas to balance the amino acid profile.

  11. 11
    powdered cellulose

    Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.

  12. 12
    l-leucine
  13. 13
    l-arginine
  14. 14
    l-valine
  15. 15
    sodium bicarbonate
  16. 16
    l-threonine

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

  17. 17
    l-proline
  18. 18
    l-serine
  19. 19
    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

  20. 20
    potassium chloride

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

  21. 21
    l-isoleucine
  22. 22
    corn oil
  23. 23
    l-histidine
  24. 24
    l-phenylalanine
  25. 25
    salt

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

Showing first 25 of 53. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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