Bug Bakes Grain Free
Dry Cold Pressed complete High meat Clear label
Is Bug Bakes Grain Free a good dog food?
We score it 78/100 (Good). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This recipe achieves a total score of 78 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list adds +6.2 to the score, while the meat content contributes +6.1. Furthermore, the processing format adds +4.6, and printing percentages on the label provides an additional +3.2.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
- Recipe78
- Nutritionallow99
- Transparency49
- Safety100
- Evidencelimited33
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.
Complete cold-pressed dry food for dogs of all life stages, with hermetia illucens larvae, meat meal and fish oil as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Scores 78, in the top quarter of dry foods we track.
- Meat makes up an estimated 53% of the dry matter (30% as fed).
- Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
Why you might not
We found no significant drawbacks in the data we hold for this product.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 28%
- Fat
- 11%
- Fibre
- 5%
- Ash
- 6%
Additives & feeding info
No additives recorded yet.
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, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
- 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 (11)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Soldier Fly Larvae | Hermetia Illucens Larvae | meat | good | - | 7.0 |
| 2 | 28% Meal | Meat Meal | meat | medium | 28 | 28.0 |
| 3 | 5% Oil | Fish Oil | oil | good | 5 | 5.0 |
| 4 | Potato 27% | Potatoes | carb | medium | 27 | 27.0 |
| 5 | Sweet Potato 8% | Sweet Potatoes | carb | good | 8 | 8.0 |
| 6 | Peas 5% | Peas | veg | good | 5 | 5.0 |
| 7 | Apple 4% | Apples | veg | good | 4 | 4.0 |
| 8 | Carrot 4% | Carrots | veg | good | 4 | 4.0 |
| 9 | Linseed 4% | Linseed | veg | good | 4 | 4.0 |
| 10 | Beet Pulp 4% | Beet Pulp | fibre | medium | 4 | 4.0 |
| 11 | Vegetable Gravy 4% | Vegetable Gravy | other | medium | 4 | 4.0 |
Brand
- Website
- https://bugbakes.co.uk/
- [email protected]
- Contact page
- bugbakes.co.uk
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-08-22
- Scored with
- Model v2 (methodology)
- Product page
- wildpetfood.co.uk
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 v2 on 2026-09-22. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.915 | +6.23 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 52.8% | 0.116 | +6.12 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 17.9% | -0.113 | -2.02 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.1% | -0.088 | -0.90 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 11.4% | -0.002 | -0.02 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.4% | -0.371 | -0.15 |
| Undeclared quantities | 7.0% | -0.131 | -0.92 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | -0.506 | -0.51 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 52.8 | -0.073 | -3.87 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | yes | 4.569 | +4.57 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.915 | +6.23 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 52.8% | 0.116 | +6.12 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 17.9% | -0.113 | -2.02 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.1% | -0.088 | -0.90 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 11.4% | -0.002 | -0.02 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.177 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.009 | +0.00 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.4% | -0.371 | -0.15 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.022 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 0.0% | -0.045 | +0.00 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.182 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 0 | -0.868 | +0.00 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 0.0% | 0.056 | +0.00 |
| Undeclared quantities | 7.0% | -0.131 | -0.92 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 11.440 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | -0.506 | -0.51 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | no | -1.988 | +0.00 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.250 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 52.8 | -0.073 | -3.87 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | -0.339 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 16.475 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | 0.00 | 0.236 | +0.00 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Raw | no | 13.322 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | 7.712 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | 6.583 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 4.857 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | 0.072 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 11.127 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 9.320 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | yes | 4.569 | +4.57 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -2.321 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | no | -6.996 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.833 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.711 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | 2.935 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | 2.292 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- -0.02
- Subtotal
- 78.1
- Final score
- 78/100
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.
Score history across model versions
The score shown above is always computed with the latest published model. Earlier scores are kept for the record and are never edited or deleted; a scoring change ships as a new model version with a public write-up on the methodology page.
| Model | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| v2 | 78/100 | current |
| v1 | 77/100 | |
| v1.9 | 78/100 |
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.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 28 | 30.5 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 11 | 12 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 96.9 |
| Fibre | 5 | 5.5 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
Scored over 3 declared nutrients (combined weight 50); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 8.3% 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 (93% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 18.6/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file | 0/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) - not on file | 0/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| 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, Additives 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.
See all current recalls we track.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The marketing claims made on the pack and product page, and how much evidence sits behind them. We record the claims as stated; we do not assess whether they are true.
| Claim | Type | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|
| Hypoallergenic (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made with a single novel protein source, naturally low in purines and designed to support sensitive dogs without compromising on nutrition (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Gently coldpressed at low temperatures to help retain nutrients and create a food naturally easier to digest than extruded kibble (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Just functional ingredients carefully selected to support your dog's overall wellbeing (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Insect Protein: Novel protein source that can help support dogs with food sensitivities (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Functional Blend of Vitamins & Minerals: Helps support everyday health and immune function (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Beet Pulp & Sweet Potato: Provides natural fibre to support healthy digestion and stool quality (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chicory Root Extract & Prebiotic MOS: Helps support beneficial gut bacteria and a healthily gut microbiome (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Insect Oil: Natural source of healthy fats to support skin hydration and coat condition (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Sustainable novel protein naturally rich in amino acids to support digestion, muscle maintenance and overall virality. (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Linseed: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat shine (on page) | Nutrient | Manufacturer assertion |
| Brewer's Yeast: Natural source of B vitamins to support skin health and overall wellbeing (on page) | Nutrient | Manufacturer assertion |
| Grain Free (on page) | Free-from | Manufacturer assertion |
| Single Protein Recipe: Made with one primary protein source to help simplify your dog's diet (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
Limited: at least one claim rests on manufacturer assertion alone.
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
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Foods in our database that are similar on ingredients, protein, format or price. Scores and figures are from the same deterministic model used everywhere on the site.
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