Our verdict
Is Butternut Box Beef It Up a good dog food?
We score it 91/100 (Good). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Complete frozen fresh food for dogs of all life stages, with beef, heart and beef liver as the main ingredients.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Single named protein: beef
- Doesn't list chicken, turkey, lamb, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- You are limiting fat: 33.3% on a dry-matter basis is in the high band
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 12% · Fat 10%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 12% |
| Fat | 10% |
| Fibre | 0.70% |
| Ash | 1.70% |
| Moisture | 70% |
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
Delivered freshly frozen. Once defrosted, use within 7 days. Once opened, use within 2 days.
Feeding guide
Portions are customized based on age, weight, body condition, activity level and snacking habits via the Butternut Box sign-up process.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin D3 250IU per kg; Vitamin E 40mg per kg; Zinc (as Zinc Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 25mg per kg; Iron (as Iron (II) Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 15mg per kg; Manganese (as Manganese Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 2.5mg per kg; Iodine (as Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 0.7mg per kg; Selenium (as organic form of Selenium, produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060) 0.01mg per kg
Ingredients (15)5% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- meat 60.0%
- veg 31.0%
- carb 4.0%
- supplement 3.6%
- herb 0.9%
- oil 0.5%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27.5% Beef | Beef | meat · medium | 27.5 | 27.5 |
| 2 | 27.5% Ox Heart | Heart | meat · good | 27.5 | 27.5 |
| 3 | 5% Ox Liver | Beef Liver | meat · good | 5 | 5.0 |
| 4 | Carrots (13%) | Carrots | veg · good | 13 | 13.0 |
| 5 | Sweet Potatoes (4%) | Sweet Potatoes | carb · good | 4 | 4.0 |
| 6 | Peas (4%) | Peas | veg · good | 4 | 4.0 |
| 7 | Cauliflower (4%) | Cauliflower | veg · good | 4 | 4.0 |
| 8 | Split Red Lentils (4%) | Lentils | veg · medium | 4 | 4.0 |
| 9 | Whole Red Lentils (4%) | Lentils | veg · medium | 4 | 4.0 |
| 10 | Broccoli (2%) | Broccoli | veg · good | 2 | 2.0 |
| 11 | Brewer's Yeast | Brewer's Yeast | supplement · good | - | 1.4 |
| 12 | Minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement · medium | - | 1.2 |
| 13 | Sunflower Oil (0.5%) | Sunflower oil | oil · good | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 14 | Ground Flaxseed | Ground Flaxseed (2%) | supplement · good | - | 1.0 |
| 15 | Dried Rosemary | Rosemary Leaves | herb · good | - | 0.9 |
- 1. 27.5% Beef27.5% declared27.5% estimated
- 2. 27.5% Ox Heart27.5% declared27.5% estimated
- 3. 5% Ox Liver5% declared5.0% estimated
- 4. Carrots (13%)13% declared13.0% estimated
- 5. Sweet Potatoes (4%)4% declared4.0% estimated
- 6. Peas (4%)4% declared4.0% estimated
- 7. Cauliflower (4%)4% declared4.0% estimated
- 8. Split Red Lentils (4%)4% declared4.0% estimated
- 9. Whole Red Lentils (4%)4% declared4.0% estimated
- 10. Broccoli (2%)2% declared2.0% estimated
- 11. Brewer's Yeast1.4% estimated
- 12. Minerals1.2% estimated
- 13. Sunflower Oil (0.5%)0.5% declared0.5% estimated
- 14. Ground Flaxseed1.0% estimated
- 15. Dried Rosemary0.9% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-14
Brand and contact: Butternut Box
- Phone
- 020 3936 4888
- Contact page
- butternutbox.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-14
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- butternutbox.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.
Brand and retailer reviews
External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.
Trustpilot: 4.8/5 · 43,000 reviews
Facebook: - · 1,878 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?
We work out the score out of 100 by combining several factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +7.5 points, and the meat content contributed +6 points. The processing format had a negative effect at -2.4, while being labelled nutritionally complete contributed +2.3. Together these give a final score of 91 out of 100.
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 | 0.8 | 9.191 | +7.46 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 62.9% | 0.096 | +6.04 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 3.7% | -0.115 | -0.43 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 1.9% | -0.092 | -0.17 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 17.4% | -0.005 | -0.09 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 12.5% | -0.012 | -0.15 |
| Undeclared quantities | 4.5% | -0.106 | -0.48 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| Fresh × high meat | 1.0 | 11.084 | +11.08 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.10 | 33.786 | +37.16 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | yes | -2.354 | -2.35 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.8 | 9.191 | +7.46 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 62.9% | 0.096 | +6.04 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 3.7% | -0.115 | -0.43 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 1.9% | -0.092 | -0.17 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 17.4% | -0.005 | -0.09 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.163 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 12.5% | -0.012 | -0.15 |
| 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 | 0.0% | -0.065 | +0.00 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 0 | -0.876 | +0.00 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 0.0% | 0.060 | +0.00 |
| Undeclared quantities | 4.5% | -0.106 | -0.48 |
| 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 | 1.0 | 11.084 | +11.08 |
| Additive penalty | 0.00 | 0.222 | +0.00 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.10 | 33.786 | +37.16 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | yes | -2.354 | -2.35 |
| 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 | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| 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
- -1.74
- Additives declared on label
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 91.2
- Final score
- 91/100
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.
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 | 12 | 40 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 10 | 33.3 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 0.7 | 2.3 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 94.4 |
Scored over 3 declared nutrients (combined weight 50); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
Declared fortification: 7 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin D3 250IU per kg
- Vitamin E 40mg per kg
- Zinc (as Zinc Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 25mg per kg
- Iron (as Iron (II) Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 15mg per kg
- Manganese (as Manganese Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 2.5mg per kg
- Iodine (as Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 0.7mg per kg
- Selenium (as organic form of Selenium, produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060) 0.01mg per kg
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 (95.5% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 19.1/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file | 0/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| 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 (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.
50/100 · limited — 2 checkable claims: 1 consistent, 1 contradicted.
Contradicted by the label
- "Low in fat" — the declared label says otherwise on low fat.
Consistent with the label
- "Grain free" — supported by the declared grain-free data.
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supports strong muscles (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Easy to digest (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports glossy coats (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports digestive health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Promotes healthy joints (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Succulent chicken with peas and a little sage. (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Aromatic lamb with green beans and a pinch of turmeric (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Packed with omega-3 (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Vegetarian (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Juicy pork with swede, quinoa and pearl barley, with a sprinkle of sage (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Flaky salmon and white fish with diced potatoes, green beans and a dash of dill. (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Low in fat (on page) | High/low level | contradicted | Manufacturer assertion |
| Juicy pork with carrots, butternut squash, and a touch of sage (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Tender beef with sweet potatoes, peas and a hint of rosemary. (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Hearty veg with fresh cheese, eggs and a pinch of parsley (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| A banquet of venison, guinea fowl and duck, paired with apples, carrots and parsnips and sprinkled with cranberries. (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Grain free (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Lean turkey with carrots, peas & some rosemary. (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Tender chicken with pumpkin, quinoa and pearl barley, with a touch of thyme (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| With butternut squash, green beans and a sprinkle of cranberries. (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chicken with salmon, pumpkin, red pepper and wholegrain rice, seasoned with a touch of turmeric. (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
Alternatives to Beef It Up
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