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Sniff
Purina

Beggin' Thick Cut Hickory Smoke Flavor

Evidence Limited
dry

Purina Beggin' Thick Cut Hickory Smoke Flavor earns a Sniff Score of 18/100 (F) with Limited evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Score capped at 49 due to bha.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.

CQI

Score capped at 49 due to bha.

CAP why?

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

Contains bha. IARC Group 2B probable carcinogen; CA Prop 65 listed; FDA reassessment announced 2025. Natural alternatives (mixed tocopherols) widely available..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • bha
    Synthetic preservative classified by the U.S. National Toxicology Program as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.' Many premium brands have removed it.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Protein
n/a
min (as fed)
Fat
n/a
min (as fed)
Fiber
n/a
max (as fed)
Moisture
n/a
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

30 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    pork

    Real meat. Dense protein and fat, though less common in dog food than chicken or beef.

  2. 2
    barley

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

  3. 3
    rice

    Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.

  4. 4
    ground wheat

    Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.

  5. 5
    oat meal

    Alternate spelling of oatmeal. Gentle whole grain, steady carb energy, soluble fiber.

  6. 6
    soybean
  7. 7
    meal
  8. 8
    glycerin

    Humectant used in soft-moist foods to keep them chewy. Safe in moderation but a signal of a processed semi-moist product.

  9. 9
    sugar

    Added sugar. No nutritional purpose for dogs. Most often found in budget semi-moist foods.

  10. 10
    corn gluten meal

    Concentrated corn protein. Inflates the protein percent on the label without matching meat-quality amino acids.

  11. 11
    yellow corn
  12. 12
    wheat

    Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.

  13. 13
    flour
  14. 14
    water

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

  15. 15
    soy flour

    Refined soy. Cheap plant protein, common in budget formulas. Pads the protein percent without matching meat amino acids.

  16. 16
    bacon
  17. 17
    soy protein concentrate
  18. 18
    wheat gluten

    Concentrated wheat protein. Like other plant gluten meals, it pads the protein number on the label without contributing meat-quality amino acids.

  19. 19
    salt

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

  20. 20
    phosphoric acid
  21. 21
    bacon fat
  22. 21
    bha Flagged

    Synthetic preservative. Listed as a possible human carcinogen by the IARC. Banned from human food in Japan and parts of the EU, still permitted in US pet food.

  23. 22
    natural flavor

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

  24. 23
    sorbic acid
  25. 24
    natural hickory smoke

Showing first 25 of 30. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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