Butternut Box Duo of Duck & Chicken
Fresh Frozen complete High meat Clear label
Is Butternut Box Duo of Duck & Chicken a good dog food?
We score it 90/100 (Good). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This food achieves an overall score of 90 out of 100 based on several key factors. Minimal processing contributes +11.4 points, while the overall quality of the ingredient list adds +7 points. Additionally, the processing format adds +6.6 points and the meat content contributes +6 points to the total score.
40% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe90
- Nutritionalmedium99
- Transparency60
- 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 frozen fresh food for dogs of all life stages, with duck, chicken and carrots as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Scores 90, in the top quarter of fresh foods we track.
- Meat makes up an estimated 52% of the dry matter (60% as fed).
- Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
Why you might not
- High in fat: 30% fat on a dry-matter basis.
- Needs freezer space and defrosting before serving.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 12%
- Fat
- 9%
- Fibre
- 0.70%
- Ash
- 2.20%
- Moisture
- 70%
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 3500IU per kg; Vitamin E 40mg per kg; Iron (as Iron (II) Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 25mg per kg; Zinc (as Zinc Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 25mg per kg; Manganese (as Manganese Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 2.5mg per kg; Copper (as Copper (II) Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 3mg per kg
Storage
Delivered freshly frozen. Once defrosted, use within 7 days. Once opened, use within 2 days.
Feeding guide
Portion size determined by questionnaire covering age, weight, body condition, activity level and snacking habits.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- Your dog avoids duck: the label lists duck
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
- You are limiting fat: 30.0% 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. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (15)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duck (26%) | Duck | meat | medium | 26 | 26.0 |
| 2 | Chicken (26%) | Chicken | meat | medium | 26 | 26.0 |
| 3 | Carrots | Carrots | veg | good | - | 4.8 |
| 4 | Butternut Squash | Butternut Squash | veg | good | - | 4.6 |
| 5 | Green Beans | Green Beans | veg | good | - | 4.4 |
| 6 | Split Red Lentils | Lentils | veg | good | - | 4.2 |
| 7 | Whole Red Lentils | Lentils | veg | good | - | 4.1 |
| 8 | Broccoli | Broccoli | veg | good | - | 3.9 |
| 9 | Cranberries | Cranberries | veg | good | - | 3.7 |
| 10 | Cauliflower | Cauliflower | veg | good | - | 3.5 |
| 11 | Brewer's Yeast | Brewer's Yeast | supplement | good | - | 3.3 |
| 12 | Minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement | medium | - | 3.1 |
| 13 | Salmon Oil | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 3.0 |
| 14 | Dried Rosemary | Rosemary | veg | good | - | 2.8 |
| 15 | Dried Sage | Sage | veg | good | - | 2.6 |
Brand
- Phone
- 020 3936 4888
- Contact page
- butternutbox.com
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
- 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.
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 | 0.7 | 9.915 | +6.97 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 51.9% | 0.116 | +6.02 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 7.5% | -0.088 | -0.66 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 25.2% | -0.002 | -0.04 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 15.3% | -0.009 | -0.14 |
| Undeclared quantities | 40.0% | -0.131 | -5.24 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | yes | 11.440 | +11.44 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | -0.506 | -0.51 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 51.9 | -0.073 | -3.81 |
| Meat share × fresh | 51.9 | -0.339 | -17.58 |
| Fresh × high meat | 1.0 | 16.475 | +16.48 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | yes | 6.583 | +6.58 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.7 | 9.915 | +6.97 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 51.9% | 0.116 | +6.02 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.113 | +0.00 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 7.5% | -0.088 | -0.66 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 25.2% | -0.002 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.177 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 15.3% | -0.009 | -0.14 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.371 | +0.00 |
| 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 | 40.0% | -0.131 | -5.24 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | yes | 11.440 | +11.44 |
| 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 | 51.9 | -0.073 | -3.81 |
| Meat share × fresh | 51.9 | -0.339 | -17.58 |
| Fresh × high meat | 1.0 | 16.475 | +16.48 |
| 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 | yes | 6.583 | +6.58 |
| 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 | no | 4.569 | +0.00 |
| 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
- +0.14
- Additives declared on label
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 90.2
- Final score
- 90/100
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 | 90/100 | current |
| v1 | 76/100 | |
| v1.9 | 77/100 |
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 | 12 | 40 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 9 | 30 (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.
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 (60% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 12/20 |
| 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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Supports glossy coats (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports muscle health and everyday immunity (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Help build strong muscles and healthy immunity (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Carrots are rich in vitamin A for eye health and packed with fibre for gut support (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Loaded with vitamin C to support healthy immune function (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Provide dietary fibre, which aids in digestion, helps regulate bowel movements, and supports overall gut health (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Packed with vitamin A for eye health and immune function (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Contain Vitamin C making them beneficial for immune support and antioxidant protection (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Rich in B vitamins, particularly biotin, helps support healthy skin and a shiny coat (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| A rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA, that supports skin and coat health, joint function, cognitive performance, and heart health (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Contains anti-inflammatory compounds to support overall health (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Contains antioxidants to support overall health (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| 60% protein (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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