Scratch Grain-Free Mackerel & Salmon
Dry Extruded complete High meat Clear label Full label
Is Scratch Grain-Free Mackerel & Salmon a good dog food?
We score it 69/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
The product scores 69 out of 100. The processing format contributed -6.7 points, which pulled the score down. The meat content contributed +5.4 points and the overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +5.2 points, both lifting the result. Being labelled nutritionally complete added a further +2.3 points.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
- Recipe69
- Nutritionallow100
- Transparency60
- Safety100
- Evidencelimited75
The Recipe score measures how attractive and transparent the declared ingredient list is. It is not, by itself, proof that the food is nutritionally appropriate for long-term feeding. The Nutritional and Evidence scores measure what we can verify towards that stronger claim.
Why you might choose it
- Scores 69, in the top quarter of dry foods we track.
- Meat makes up an estimated 57% of the dry matter (33% as fed).
- Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
Why you might not
- Only protein and fat declared; fibre, ash and moisture missing from the analysis.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 30%
- Fat
- 14%
- Carbohydrates
- 29.10%
Energy: 365 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Choline chloride; Calcium carbonate; Zinc sulphate; Vitamin E; Ferrous Sulphate; Vitamin C; Copper Sulphate; Vitamin B3 Niacin; Vitamin B5 D-Cal Pantothenate; Vitamin B2 Riboflavin; Vitamin A; Vitamin D; Vitamin B12 Cyanocobalamin; Vitamin B1 Thiamine; Selenium; Manganous oxide; Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine; Potassium Iodide; Vitamin B9 Folic Acid; DL Methionine; Taurine
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols; Rosemary Extract
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list chicken, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids beef: the label lists beef fat
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists mackerel meal
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (45)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mackerel Meal 22.9% | Mackerel Meal | meat | medium | 22.9 | 22.9 |
| 2 | Broad Beans 27% | Broad Beans | veg | medium | 27 | 27.0 |
| 3 | Chickpeas 27% | Chickpeas | veg | medium | 27 | 27.0 |
| 4 | Salmon Meal 5% | Salmon Protein | meat | good | 5 | 5.0 |
| 5 | Salmon Digest 5% | Digest | meat | poor | 5 | 5.0 |
| 6 | Beef Fat 8% | Beef Fat | oil | medium | 8 | 8.0 |
| 7 | Beet Pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre | medium | - | 0.08 |
| 8 | Chicory | Chicory | veg | good | - | 0.08 |
| 9 | Yucca Extract | Yucca Schidigera | supplement | good | - | 0.08 |
| 10 | Carrot | Carrots | veg | good | - | 0.08 |
| 11 | Chia | Chia Seeds | veg | good | - | 0.08 |
| 12 | Spinach | Spinach | veg | good | - | 0.08 |
| 13 | Pumpkin | Pumpkin | veg | good | - | 0.08 |
| 14 | Kelp | Kelp | veg | good | - | 0.08 |
| 15 | Turmeric | Turmeric | veg | good | - | 0.07 |
| 16 | Sunflower Oil 2.7% | Sunflower oil | oil | good | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| 17 | Salmon Oil | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 0.07 |
| 18 | Flaxseed Oil | Linseed oil | oil | good | - | 0.07 |
| 19 | Coconut Oil | Coconut Oil | oil | medium | - | 0.07 |
| 20 | DHA from Algae | DHA | supplement | good | - | 0.07 |
| 21 | Monosodium Phosphate | Sodium phosphate | additive | poor | - | 0.07 |
| 22 | Salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 0.07 |
| 23 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 0.07 |
| 24 | DL Methionine & Taurine | Methionine | supplement | good | - | 0.07 |
| 25 | Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate | Zinc Monohydrate | supplement | medium | - | 0.06 |
| 26 | Choline chloride | Choline | supplement | good | - | 0.06 |
| 27 | Calcium carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement | medium | - | 0.06 |
| 28 | Zinc sulphate | Zinc sulfate | supplement | medium | - | 0.06 |
| 29 | Vitamin E | Vitamin E | supplement | good | - | 0.06 |
| 30 | Ferrous Sulphate | Iron sulfate | supplement | good | - | 0.06 |
| 31 | Vitamin C | Vitamin C | supplement | good | - | 0.06 |
| 32 | Copper Sulphate | Copper sulphate | supplement | good | - | 0.06 |
| 33 | Vitamin B3 Niacin | Vitamin | supplement | good | - | 0.06 |
| 34 | Vitamin B5 D-Cal Pantothenate | Vitamin | supplement | good | - | 0.05 |
| 35 | Vitamin B2 Riboflavin | Riboflavin | supplement | good | - | 0.05 |
| 36 | Vitamin A | Vitamin A | supplement | good | - | 0.05 |
| 37 | Vitamin D | Vitamin D | supplement | good | - | 0.05 |
| 38 | Vitamin B12 Cyanocobalamin | Vitamin | supplement | good | - | 0.05 |
| 39 | Vitamin B1 Thiamine | Vitamin | supplement | good | - | 0.05 |
| 40 | Selenium | Selenium | mineral | good | - | 0.05 |
| 41 | Manganous oxide | Manganese (II) Oxide | supplement | good | - | 0.05 |
| 42 | Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine | Vitamin | supplement | good | - | 0.05 |
| 43 | Potassium Iodide | Potassium iodide | supplement | good | - | 0.05 |
| 44 | Vitamin B9 Folic Acid | Folic acid | supplement | good | - | 0.04 |
| 45 | Mixed Tocopherols and Rosemary Extract | Tocopherols | additive | good | - | 0.04 |
Brand
- Address
- 20b Trennery Cres, Abbotsford, Vic, Australia 3067
- Contact page
- www.scratchpetfood.com.au
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-17
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.scratchpetfood.com.au
Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Scored with model v3 on 2026-09-26. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.15 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 56.7% | 0.096 | +5.44 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 22.6% | -0.092 | -2.08 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 17.5% | -0.005 | -0.09 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.2% | 0.163 | +0.03 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 2.6% | -0.012 | -0.03 |
| Recipe graded poor | 5.0% | -0.065 | -0.32 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 5.0% | -0.179 | -0.89 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 5.0% | 0.060 | +0.30 |
| Undeclared quantities | 2.4% | -0.106 | -0.25 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| Additive penalty | -0.13 | 0.222 | -0.03 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.15 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 56.7% | 0.096 | +5.44 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.115 | +0.00 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 22.6% | -0.092 | -2.08 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 17.5% | -0.005 | -0.09 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.2% | 0.163 | +0.03 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 2.6% | -0.012 | -0.03 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 5.0% | -0.065 | -0.32 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 5.0% | -0.179 | -0.89 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 5.0% | 0.060 | +0.30 |
| Undeclared quantities | 2.4% | -0.106 | -0.25 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | no | -3.158 | +0.00 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -0.13 | 0.222 | -0.03 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 68.7
- Final score
- 69/100
Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for adult dogs. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.
Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 30 | 33.1 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 14 | 15.5 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 365 | 403.3 | 100 |
Scored over 3 declared nutrients (combined weight 50); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Low confidence: partial analysis or moisture estimated from the food type.
This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.
Transparency: what the label discloses
How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (97.6% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 19.5/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) - not on file | 0/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared, Feeding guidance given, Batch and date labelling).
Safety: recall history
Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.
No recalls recorded in our database.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.
75/100 · limited — 4 checkable claims: 3 consistent, 1 contradicted.
Contradicted by the label
- "Made with wild-caught mackerel and Tassie salmon as the only animal proteins" — the declared label says otherwise on single protein.
Consistent with the label
- "Complete & Balanced" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
- "High-protein" — supported by the declared high protein data.
- "100% grain-free goodness" — supported by the declared grain-free data.
13 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Limited: at least one claim contradicts the declared label, or a recent upheld ASA ruling applies.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grain-free (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Complete & Balanced (on pack) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| High-protein (on page) | High/low level | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| No artificial preservatives (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Suitable for all life stages (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| No corn or soy (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 100% grain-free goodness (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Scratch well exceeds the AAFCO minimum requirements for all life stages (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Great for sensitive skin (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Hypoallergenic (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports brain development in pups and prevents cognitive decline in seniors (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| A prebiotic that promotes beneficial gut bacteria (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Reduce stool odour (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Formulated with an animal nutritionist (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 30% protein (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made with wild-caught mackerel and Tassie salmon as the only animal proteins (on page) | Content | contradicted | Manufacturer assertion |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio is 1.31:1 - perfect for large breed puppy food (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
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