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Wholemade Whole Grain Chicken & Duck
The Honest Kitchen

Wholemade Whole Grain Chicken & Duck

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $11.75/lb Data verified from brand site

The Honest Kitchen Wholemade Whole Grain Chicken & Duck earns a Sniff Score of 49/100 (C) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Score capped at 49 due to CP_DM=32.8%, CF_DM=0.2%.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

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

FQI

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared not stated. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF

Score capped at 49 due to CP_DM=32.8%, CF_DM=0.2%.

CAP why?

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: 33% ⓘ
Protein
30%
min (as fed)
Fat
0.16%
min (as fed)
Fiber
5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
8.5%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

33 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
    barley

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

  3. 3
    oats

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

  4. 4
    flaxseed

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

  5. 5
    eggs

    Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.

  6. 6
    carrots

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

  7. 7
    duck

    Real meat. Often used as a novel protein for dogs with sensitivities to chicken or beef.

  8. 8
    pumpkin

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

  9. 9
    coconut
  10. 10
    quinoa

    Pseudo-grain with a complete amino acid profile. Rare in dog food because it's expensive.

  11. 11
    chicken bone broth
  12. 12
    tricalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.

  13. 13
    parsley

    Real herb. Trace amount of vitamins K and C. The dose in kibble is small, mostly there for label appeal.

  14. 14
    potassium chloride

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

  15. 15
    iron amino acid chelate

    Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

  16. 16
    zinc amino acid chelate

    Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.

  17. 17
    copper amino acid chelate

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

  18. 18
    potassium iodide

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

  19. 19
    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 →

  20. 20
    taurine

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

  21. 21
    vitamin e supplement

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

  22. 22
    vitamin b12 supplement

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

  23. 23
    calcium pantothenate

    Same as d-calcium pantothenate. Vitamin B5 in standardized form.

  24. 24
    vitamin d3 supplement

    The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.

  25. 25
    thiamine mononitrate

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

Showing first 25 of 33. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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