ZEAL Venison Recipe

Wet Chunks · complete

Venison Recipe
Average
our rating

Our verdict

Is ZEAL Venison Recipe a good dog food?

We score it 61/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.

How we score

100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.

Why you might choose it

  • Scores 61, in the top quarter of wet foods we track.
  • Doesn't list grain ingredients.
  • Declares energy content, which most labels omit.

Why you might not

  • 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.

Who is this food for?

Suits

  • Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
  • Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
  • Doesn't list chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

  • Your dog avoids fish: the label lists green-lipped mussel
  • Your dog avoids venison: the label lists venison
  • 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. Find foods that fit your dog.

Ingredients (35)100% of the recipe is estimated

Estimated composition

  • supplement 50.8%
  • meat 28.0%
  • mineral 7.9%
  • veg 6.3%
  • other 3.7%
  • oil 3.2%
#As declaredMatchedLabel readingDeclared %Est. %
1VenisonVenisonmeat · good-3.8
2WaterWaterother-3.7
3Venison LiverLivermeat · good-3.7
4Venison LungsLungmeat · medium-3.6
5Venison KidneyKidneymeat · good-3.6
6Venison TracheaTracheameat · good-3.5
7Venison HeartHeartmeat · good-3.5
8Venison TongueTonguemeat · medium-3.4
9NZ Green Lipped MusselGreen-Lipped Musselsupplement · good-3.3
10PeasPeasveg · good-3.3
11Salmon OilSalmon Oiloil · good-3.2
12LecithinLecithinsupplement · good-3.2
13Dried YeastYeastsupplement · good-3.1
14Egg YolkEggmeat · good-3.1
15Dried KelpKelpveg · good-3.0
16Potassium ChloridePotassium Chloridesupplement · medium-3.0
17Calcium CarbonateCalcium Carbonatesupplement · medium-2.9
18Choline ChlorideCholinesupplement · good-2.9
19Iron ProteinateIron Proteinatemineral · good-2.8
20Zinc Amino Acid ComplexZinc Oxidesupplement · good-2.7
21NiacinNiacinsupplement · good-2.7
22Alpha-Tocopherol AcetateVitamin Esupplement · good-2.6
23Selenium YeastSeleniummineral · good-2.6
24Manganese ProteinateManganese proteinatesupplement · good-2.5
25Copper Amino Acid ComplexCoppermineral · good-2.5
26Thiamine MononitrateThiamine mononitratesupplement · good-2.4
27Calcium PantothenateCalcium pantothenatesupplement · good-2.4
28RiboflavinRiboflavinsupplement · good-2.3
29Pyridoxine HydrochloridePyridoxine hydrochloridesupplement · good-2.3
30Vitamin A AcetateVitamin Asupplement · good-2.2
31BiotinBiotinsupplement · good-2.2
32Vitamin B12 SupplementVitamin B12supplement · good-2.1
33Calcium IodateCalcium iodatesupplement · medium-2.0
34Folic AcidFolic acidsupplement · good-2.0
35Vitamin D3Vitamin Dsupplement · good-1.9
  1. 1. Venison3.8% estimated
    Venison · meat · good
  2. 2. Water3.7% estimated
    Water · other
  3. 3. Venison Liver3.7% estimated
    Liver · meat · good
  4. 4. Venison Lungs3.6% estimated
    Lung · meat · medium
  5. 5. Venison Kidney3.6% estimated
    Kidney · meat · good
  6. 6. Venison Trachea3.5% estimated
    Trachea · meat · good
  7. 7. Venison Heart3.5% estimated
    Heart · meat · good
  8. 8. Venison Tongue3.4% estimated
    Tongue · meat · medium
  9. 9. NZ Green Lipped Mussel3.3% estimated
    Green-Lipped Mussel · supplement · good
  10. 10. Peas3.3% estimated
    Peas · veg · good
  11. 11. Salmon Oil3.2% estimated
    Salmon Oil · oil · good
  12. 12. Lecithin3.2% estimated
    Lecithin · supplement · good
  13. 13. Dried Yeast3.1% estimated
    Yeast · supplement · good
  14. 14. Egg Yolk3.1% estimated
    Egg · meat · good
  15. 15. Dried Kelp3.0% estimated
    Kelp · veg · good
  16. 16. Potassium Chloride3.0% estimated
    Potassium Chloride · supplement · medium
  17. 17. Calcium Carbonate2.9% estimated
    Calcium Carbonate · supplement · medium
  18. 18. Choline Chloride2.9% estimated
    Choline · supplement · good
  19. 19. Iron Proteinate2.8% estimated
    Iron Proteinate · mineral · good
  20. 20. Zinc Amino Acid Complex2.7% estimated
    Zinc Oxide · supplement · good
  21. 21. Niacin2.7% estimated
    Niacin · supplement · good
  22. 22. Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate2.6% estimated
    Vitamin E · supplement · good
  23. 23. Selenium Yeast2.6% estimated
    Selenium · mineral · good
  24. 24. Manganese Proteinate2.5% estimated
    Manganese proteinate · supplement · good
  25. 25. Copper Amino Acid Complex2.5% estimated
    Copper · mineral · good
  26. 26. Thiamine Mononitrate2.4% estimated
    Thiamine mononitrate · supplement · good
  27. 27. Calcium Pantothenate2.4% estimated
    Calcium pantothenate · supplement · good
  28. 28. Riboflavin2.3% estimated
    Riboflavin · supplement · good
  29. 29. Pyridoxine Hydrochloride2.3% estimated
    Pyridoxine hydrochloride · supplement · good
  30. 30. Vitamin A Acetate2.2% estimated
    Vitamin A · supplement · good
  31. 31. Biotin2.2% estimated
    Biotin · supplement · good
  32. 32. Vitamin B12 Supplement2.1% estimated
    Vitamin B12 · supplement · good
  33. 33. Calcium Iodate2.0% estimated
    Calcium iodate · supplement · medium
  34. 34. Folic Acid2.0% estimated
    Folic acid · supplement · good
  35. 35. Vitamin D31.9% estimated
    Vitamin D · supplement · good

Nutrition and feedingProtein 11.50% · Fat 5.22%

Declared analysis (as fed)

NutrientAs fedDry matterDirectory average
Protein11.50%46.37%-
Fat5.22%21.05%-
Fibre0.50%2.02%-
Ash2%8.06%-
Moisture75.20%--
Carbohydrates5.58%22.50%-
Calcium0.47%--
Phosphorus0.31%--
Sodium0.20%--

Energy: 104 kcal/100g

Additives & feeding info

Additives declared on the label

Nutritional additives

Choline Chloride; Iron Proteinate; Zinc Amino Acid Complex; Niacin; alpha-Tocopherol Acetate; Selenium Yeast; Manganese Proteinate; Copper Amino Acid Complex; Thiamine Mononitrate; Calcium Pantothenate; Riboflavin; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride; Vitamin A Acetate; Biotin; Vitamin B12 Supplement; Calcium Iodate; Folic Acid; Vitamin D3

Technological additives

Lecithin

Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-19

Brand and contact: ZEAL
ZEAL logo
Website
https://www.zealpetfood.com/collections/air-dried-dog-food
Email
[email protected]
Address
2400 E Francis St, Ontario, CA 91761-7728
Contact page
www.zealpetfood.com

Trust and provenance

Recall history
No recalls recorded in our database
Label data last checked
2026-09-19
Scored with
Model v3 (methodology)
Product page
www.zealpetfood.com

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.

External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.

Trustpilot: 3.7/5 · 1 reviews

Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.

Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence

Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated

Why this score?

The overall score is 61 out of 100. Undeclared ingredient shares, meaning ingredients without printed percentages, contributed -10.6 points against the score. Overall ingredient quality, referring to the overall quality of the ingredient list, contributed +7.8 points. Complete recipe, being labelled nutritionally complete, contributed +2.3 points, and printed percentages, meaning printing percentages for most of the recipe, contributed +2 points.

Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.

ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.89.191+7.78
Oil share of dry matter4.7%-0.092-0.43
Vegetable share of dry matter4.7%-0.005-0.02
Supplement share of dry matter68.3%-0.012-0.83
Undeclared quantities100.0%-0.106-10.56
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)yes-3.158-3.16
Processing multiplier1.0033.786+33.79
Processing: Wet Chunksyes-0.672-0.67
Show all 40 components
ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.89.191+7.78
Meat share of dry matter0.0%0.096+0.00
Carb share of dry matter0.0%-0.115+0.00
Oil share of dry matter4.7%-0.092-0.43
Vegetable share of dry matter4.7%-0.005-0.02
Additive share of dry matter0.0%0.163+0.00
Supplement share of dry matter68.3%-0.012-0.83
Other share of dry matter0.0%-0.375+0.00
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.027+0.00
Recipe graded poor0.0%-0.065+0.00
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.179+0.00
Number of poor ingredients0-0.876+0.00
Largest single poor ingredient0.0%0.060+0.00
Undeclared quantities100.0%-0.106-10.56
Prints ingredient percentagesno0.000+0.00
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Frozen or chilled freshno0.000+0.00
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)no0.707+0.00
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)yes-3.158-3.16
High carb and low meatno-1.180+0.00
Meat share × printed percentages0.00.000+0.00
Meat share × fresh0.00.000+0.00
Fresh × high meat0.011.084+0.00
Additive penalty0.000.222+0.00
Processing multiplier1.0033.786+33.79
Processing: Rawno-0.054+0.00
Processing: Fresh Chilledno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Frozenno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Refrigeratedno0.000+0.00
Processing: Fresh Shelfno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Dry Freeze Driedno6.629+0.00
Processing: Dry Air Driedno6.331+0.00
Processing: Dry Cold Pressedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Bakedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Extrudedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Semi Moistno-6.174+0.00
Processing: Dry Mueslino-10.146+0.00
Processing: Wet Pateno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Wet Chunksyes-0.672-0.67
Processing-type offset
-0.08
Additives declared on label
+2 transparency bonus
Subtotal
61.0
Final score
61/100

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.

NutrientAs fed (label)Dry matter (scored)Score
Protein11.546.4 (band 18.870967741935488 to 40%)100
Fat5.2221 (band 5.766129032258066 to 20%)100
Fibre0.52 (band 0.5 to 5%)90.2
Calcium0.471.9 (band 0.5241935483870969 to 2.5%)100
Phosphorus0.311.3 (band 0.4193548387096775 to 1.6%)100
Sodium0.20.8 (band 0.10483870967741937+%)100
Calcium:phosphorus ratio1.51.5 (band 1 to 2%)100
Energy (kcal/100g)104419.4100

Scored over 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 95); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.

Declared fortification: 18 nutritional additives on the label
  • Choline Chloride
  • Iron Proteinate
  • Zinc Amino Acid Complex
  • Niacin
  • alpha-Tocopherol Acetate
  • Selenium Yeast
  • Manganese Proteinate
  • Copper Amino Acid Complex
  • Thiamine Mononitrate
  • Calcium Pantothenate
  • Riboflavin
  • Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
  • Vitamin A Acetate
  • Biotin
  • Vitamin B12 Supplement
  • Calcium Iodate
  • Folic Acid
  • Vitamin D3

Medium confidence: the full five-part analysis is on file; where moisture was not declared it was 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.

ItemPoints
✓ Ingredient list on the label (mandatory)10/10
✗ Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file0/20
✓ Analytical constituents declared (mandatory)15/15
✓ Additives declared (mandatory)10/10
✓ Energy value declared (voluntary)5/5
✓ Complete/complementary designation (mandatory)5/5
✗ Feeding guidance given (mandatory) - not on file0/10
✓ Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory)10/10
✓ Country of manufacture stated (voluntary)10/10
✗ Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file0/5

Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (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.

100/100 · moderate — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.

Consistent with the label

  • "No fillers, grains, gums, artificial flavors, or colors." — supported by the declared grain-free data.

10 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.

Moderate: every checkable claim is consistent with the declared label.

ClaimTypeCheckSubstantiation
Responsibly sourced in New Zealand from grass-fed, free-range farms (on page)provenancenot checkableManufacturer assertion
Superfood Blend – Green-lipped mussels, salmon oil & kelp promote joint, coat & digestion health. (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Ideal as a full meal or topper to entice appetite (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Complete amino acid profiles that support lean muscle mass (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Loaded with Superfoods to boost joint, coat, and immunity support (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Hydration to support urinary health (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
0% No fillers, grains, artificial preservatives, or by-products (on page)Free-fromnot checkableManufacturer assertion
No fillers, grains, gums, artificial flavors, or colors. (on page)Free-fromconsistentManufacturer assertion
NO Fillers, Grains, or Additives (on page)Free-fromnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Crafted in New Zealand – Sustainably sourced for premium quality & care. (on page)provenancenot checkableManufacturer assertion
94% Venison & Organs – High-quality protein from venison, supporting lean muscle & vitality. (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer 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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