1st Choice Weight Control Adult Medium and Large Breeds Chicken

Dry Extruded · complete

46out of 100

Average

our rating

Our verdict

Is 1st Choice Weight Control Adult Medium and Large Breeds Chicken a good dog food?

We score it 46/100 (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

Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.

Why you might not

Meat makes up an estimated 3% of the dry matter; carbohydrates dominate.
100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Its additive load costs about 3 points in the rating.

Who is this food for?

Suits

Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at medium and large dogs
Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dried chicken protein
Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
Your dog avoids grain: the label lists barley
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.

Nutrition and feedingProtein 24% · Fat 9%

Typical analysis (as fed)

Nutrient	As fed
Protein	24%
Fat	9%
Fibre	3.50%
Ash	6.50%
Moisture	10%
Calcium	1.15%
Phosphorus	0.85%
Sodium	0.20%

Energy: 321.6 kcal/100g

Additives & feeding info

Feeding and storage

Feeding guide

1 + years: 1.5-5.5 kg (3.3-12 lb) 40-110 g (1/2-1 3/8 cups); 5.5-9.5 kg (12-20 lb) 110-165 g (1 3/8-2 1/8 cups); 9.5-15.5 kg (20-35 lb) 165-235 g (2 1/8-3 1/8 cups); 15.5-22.5 kg (35-50 lb) 235-315 g (3 1/8-4 1/8 cups); 22.5-33.5 kg (50-75 lb) 315-420 g (4 1/8-5 5/8 cups); 33.5-45.5 kg (75-100 lb) 420-530 g (5 5/8-7 cups); 45.5+ kg (100+ lb) 530 g + 45 g per 5 kg (5/8 cup per 10 lb). Standard 250 ml (8 oz) measuring cup = 80 g.

Additives declared on the label

Nutritional additives

Vitamin A 18,000 IU/kg minimum; Vitamin D3 1,700 IU/kg minimum; Vitamin E 100 IU/kg minimum; L-carnitine 150 mg/kg minimum; Glucosamine 500 mg/kg minimum; Chondroitin sulfate 300 mg/kg minimum

Ingredients (48)100% of the recipe is estimated

Estimated composition

supplement 51.4%
additive 11.9%
veg 11.1%
carb 10.7%
fibre 7.6%
meat 2.8%
oil 2.5%
other 2.0%

#	As declared	Matched	Label reading	Declared %	Est. %
1	Chicken meal (a source of chondroitin sulfate)	Dried chicken protein	meat · good	-	2.8
2	barley	Barley	carb · medium	-	2.7
3	oats	Oats	carb · medium	-	2.7
4	brown rice	Rice - brown / whole grain	carb · medium	-	2.7
5	millet	Millet	carb · good	-	2.6
6	pea fiber	Pea Fibre	fibre · medium	-	2.6
7	dried citrus pulp	Citrus Pulp	fibre · medium	-	2.6
8	chicken fat preserved with mixed tocopherols	Tocopherols	additive · good	-	2.6
9	natural flavor	Flavor	additive · poor	-	2.5
10	flaxseed	Linseed	veg · good	-	2.5
11	menhaden fish oil	Fish Oil	oil · good	-	2.5
12	yeast extract	Hydrolysed Yeast	additive · medium	-	2.4
13	lecithin	Lecithin	supplement · good	-	2.4
14	calcium carbonate	Calcium Carbonate	supplement · medium	-	2.4
15	chicory extract (a source of inulin)	Chicory Root Extract	fibre · good	-	2.4
16	salt	Salt	additive · poor	-	2.3
17	potassium chloride	Potassium Chloride	supplement · medium	-	2.3
18	taurine	Taurine	supplement · good	-	2.3
19	DL-methionine	Methionine	supplement · good	-	2.2
20	glucosamine hydrochloride	Glucosamine	supplement · good	-	2.2
21	ferrous sulfate	Iron sulfate	supplement · good	-	2.2
22	L-carnitine	L-Carnitine	supplement · medium	-	2.2
23	alpha-tocopherol acetate (a source of vitamin E)	Vitamin E	supplement · good	-	2.1
24	zinc oxide	Zinc Oxide	supplement · good	-	2.1
25	yucca schidigera extract	Yucca Schidigera	supplement · good	-	2.1
26	dried whey	Sweet whey powder	other · medium	-	2.0
27	chicken fat preserved with mixed tocopherols	Tocopherols	additive · good	-	2.0
28	manganous oxide	Manganese (II) Oxide	supplement · good	-	2.0
29	niacin	Niacin	supplement · good	-	2.0
30	d-calcium pantothenate	Calcium pantothenate	supplement · good	-	1.9
31	vitamin A supplement	Vitamin A	supplement · good	-	1.9
32	cholecalciferol (a source of vitamin D3)	Vitamin D3 supplement	supplement · good	-	1.9
33	thiamine mononitrate	Thiamine mononitrate	supplement · good	-	1.8
34	biotin	Biotin	supplement · good	-	1.8
35	dried spearmint	Spearmint	veg · good	-	1.8
36	dried parsley	Parsley Leaf (Dried)	veg · good	-	1.8
37	green tea extract	Green Tea	veg · good	-	1.7
38	dried ginger	Ginger	veg · good	-	1.7
39	dried pineapple	Pineapple	veg · good	-	1.7
40	sodium selenite	Sodium selenite	supplement · poor	-	1.6
41	zinc proteinate	Zinc Proteinate	supplement · good	-	1.6
42	riboflavin	Riboflavin	supplement · good	-	1.6
43	pyridoxine hydrochloride	Pyridoxine hydrochloride	supplement · good	-	1.6
44	vitamin B12 supplement	Vitamin B12	supplement · good	-	1.5
45	manganese proteinate	Manganese proteinate	supplement · good	-	1.5
46	calcium iodate	Calcium iodate	supplement · medium	-	1.5
47	copper proteinate	Copper proteinate	supplement · good	-	1.4
48	folic acid.	Folic acid	supplement · good	-	1.4

1. Chicken meal (a source of chondroitin sulfate)2.8% estimated
Dried chicken protein · meat · good
2. barley2.7% estimated
Barley · carb · medium
3. oats2.7% estimated
Oats · carb · medium
4. brown rice2.7% estimated
Rice - brown / whole grain · carb · medium
5. millet2.6% estimated
Millet · carb · good
6. pea fiber2.6% estimated
Pea Fibre · fibre · medium
7. dried citrus pulp2.6% estimated
Citrus Pulp · fibre · medium
8. chicken fat preserved with mixed tocopherols2.6% estimated
Tocopherols · additive · good
9. natural flavor2.5% estimated
Flavor · additive · poor
10. flaxseed2.5% estimated
Linseed · veg · good
11. menhaden fish oil2.5% estimated
Fish Oil · oil · good
12. yeast extract2.4% estimated
Hydrolysed Yeast · additive · medium
13. lecithin2.4% estimated
Lecithin · supplement · good
14. calcium carbonate2.4% estimated
Calcium Carbonate · supplement · medium
15. chicory extract (a source of inulin)2.4% estimated
Chicory Root Extract · fibre · good
16. salt2.3% estimated
Salt · additive · poor
17. potassium chloride2.3% estimated
Potassium Chloride · supplement · medium
18. taurine2.3% estimated
Taurine · supplement · good
19. DL-methionine2.2% estimated
Methionine · supplement · good
20. glucosamine hydrochloride2.2% estimated
Glucosamine · supplement · good
21. ferrous sulfate2.2% estimated
Iron sulfate · supplement · good
22. L-carnitine2.2% estimated
L-Carnitine · supplement · medium
23. alpha-tocopherol acetate (a source of vitamin E)2.1% estimated
Vitamin E · supplement · good
24. zinc oxide2.1% estimated
Zinc Oxide · supplement · good
25. yucca schidigera extract2.1% estimated
Yucca Schidigera · supplement · good
26. dried whey2.0% estimated
Sweet whey powder · other · medium
27. chicken fat preserved with mixed tocopherols2.0% estimated
Tocopherols · additive · good
28. manganous oxide2.0% estimated
Manganese (II) Oxide · supplement · good
29. niacin2.0% estimated
Niacin · supplement · good
30. d-calcium pantothenate1.9% estimated
Calcium pantothenate · supplement · good
31. vitamin A supplement1.9% estimated
Vitamin A · supplement · good
32. cholecalciferol (a source of vitamin D3)1.9% estimated
Vitamin D3 supplement · supplement · good
33. thiamine mononitrate1.8% estimated
Thiamine mononitrate · supplement · good
34. biotin1.8% estimated
Biotin · supplement · good
35. dried spearmint1.8% estimated
Spearmint · veg · good
36. dried parsley1.8% estimated
Parsley Leaf (Dried) · veg · good
37. green tea extract1.7% estimated
Green Tea · veg · good
38. dried ginger1.7% estimated
Ginger · veg · good
39. dried pineapple1.7% estimated
Pineapple · veg · good
40. sodium selenite1.6% estimated
Sodium selenite · supplement · poor
41. zinc proteinate1.6% estimated
Zinc Proteinate · supplement · good
42. riboflavin1.6% estimated
Riboflavin · supplement · good
43. pyridoxine hydrochloride1.6% estimated
Pyridoxine hydrochloride · supplement · good
44. vitamin B12 supplement1.5% estimated
Vitamin B12 · supplement · good
45. manganese proteinate1.5% estimated
Manganese proteinate · supplement · good
46. calcium iodate1.5% estimated
Calcium iodate · supplement · medium
47. copper proteinate1.4% estimated
Copper proteinate · supplement · good
48. folic acid.1.4% estimated
Folic acid · supplement · good

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

Brand and contact: 1st Choice

Website: https://www.1stchoice.ca/
Phone: 1 866 752-7378
Address: 1361, Graham Bell Street, Boucherville, Quebec, J4B 6A1, Canada
Contact page: www.1stchoice.ca

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.1stchoice.ca

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.

Brand and retailer reviews

External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.

Trustpilot: 4.9/5 · 2,373 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?

This recipe achieves an overall rating of 46 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +6.1 points to the total. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6, the processing format subtracted -6.7, and the additive load contributed -3.2 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.

Component	Input	Coefficient	Contribution
Base score	-	30.909	+30.91
Average ingredient quality	0.7	9.191	+6.14
Carb share of dry matter	10.6%	-0.115	-1.22
Oil share of dry matter	2.7%	-0.092	-0.25
Vegetable share of dry matter	9.8%	-0.005	-0.05
Additive share of dry matter	12.0%	0.163	+1.96
Supplement share of dry matter	53.2%	-0.012	-0.65
Other share of dry matter	1.1%	-0.375	-0.43
Recipe graded poor	6.5%	-0.065	-0.42
Number of poor ingredients	3	-0.876	-2.63
Largest single poor ingredient	2.5%	0.060	+0.15
Undeclared quantities	100.0%	-0.106	-10.56
Complete diet	yes	2.294	+2.29
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)	yes	-3.158	-3.16
Additive penalty	-14.29	0.222	-3.17
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	0.7	9.191	+6.14
Meat share of dry matter	0.0%	0.096	+0.00
Carb share of dry matter	10.6%	-0.115	-1.22
Oil share of dry matter	2.7%	-0.092	-0.25
Vegetable share of dry matter	9.8%	-0.005	-0.05
Additive share of dry matter	12.0%	0.163	+1.96
Supplement share of dry matter	53.2%	-0.012	-0.65
Other share of dry matter	1.1%	-0.375	-0.43
Unrecognised share of dry matter	0.0%	-0.027	+0.00
Recipe graded poor	6.5%	-0.065	-0.42
Poor-quality meat in recipe	0.0%	-0.179	+0.00
Number of poor ingredients	3	-0.876	-2.63
Largest single poor ingredient	2.5%	0.060	+0.15
Undeclared quantities	100.0%	-0.106	-10.56
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)	no	0.707	+0.00
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)	yes	-3.158	-3.16
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	-14.29	0.222	-3.17
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: +1 transparency bonus
Subtotal: 46.3
Final score: 46/100

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	24	26.5 (band 18 to 40%)	93.2
Fat	9	9.9 (band 5.5 to 20%)	88.4
Fibre	3.5	3.9 (band 0.5 to 5%)	100
Calcium	1.15	1.3 (band 0.5 to 2.5%)	93.1
Phosphorus	0.85	0.9 (band 0.4 to 1.6%)	97
Sodium	0.2	0.2 (band 0.1+%)	100
Calcium:phosphorus ratio	1.4	1.4 (band 1 to 2%)	91.2
Energy (kcal/100g)	321.6	355.4	100

Scored over 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 95); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.

Declared fortification: 6 nutritional additives on the label

Vitamin A 18,000 IU/kg minimum
Vitamin D3 1,700 IU/kg minimum
Vitamin E 100 IU/kg minimum
L-carnitine 150 mg/kg minimum
Glucosamine 500 mg/kg minimum
Chondroitin sulfate 300 mg/kg minimum

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.

Item	Points
✓ Ingredient list on the label (mandatory)	10/10
✗ Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file	0/20
✓ Analytical constituents declared (mandatory)	15/15
✓ Additives declared (mandatory)	5/10
✓ Energy value declared (voluntary)	5/5
✓ Complete/complementary designation (mandatory)	5/5
✓ Feeding guidance given (mandatory)	10/10
✓ 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 (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.

See all current recalls we track.

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.

Claims on file; none we can check against the label

Claim	Type	Check	Substantiation
Chicken 24% (on pack)	Content	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
With L-carnitine to help limit weight gain by converting fat into energy, thus reducing body fat (on pack)	Functional	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
Contains our Prebiotic Fiber Balance, a blend of soluble and insoluble fiber contributing to the intestinal flora's balance (on pack)	Functional	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
30% less fat than our Maintenance Medium and Large Breeds formula for a better weight control and helping overweight dogs return to a healthy weight (on pack)	Content	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion