Essential Foods NAUTICAL LIVING

Dry Extruded · completeHigh meatClear label

74out of 100

Good

our rating

Our verdict

Is Essential Foods NAUTICAL LIVING a good dog food?

We score it 74/100 (Good). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.

Complete extruded dry food for adult dogs, with salmon, sweet potatoes and fish meal as the main ingredients.

How we score

Why you might choose it

Scores 74, in the top quarter of dry foods we track.
Meat makes up an estimated 72% of the dry matter (74% 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.

Who is this food for?

Suits

Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
Single named protein: fish
Doesn't list chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

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 29% · Fat 14%

Typical analysis (as fed)

Nutrient	As fed
Protein	29%
Fat	14%
Fibre	4%
Ash	8%
Moisture	8.50%
Carbohydrates	35.50%
Omega-3 fatty acids	4%
Omega-6 fatty acids	1%
Calcium	1.70%
Phosphorus	1.20%

Additives & feeding info

Feeding and storage

Storage

The food should be stored in a cool, dry place (5-18 °C);away from direct sunlight and in an air tight container.

Additives declared on the label

Nutritional additives

Vitamin A 15000 IU; Vitamin D3 2000 IU; Vitamin E 240 IU; Taurine 1500 mg; Zinc (Zinc Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 50 mg; Iron (Iron (II) Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 50 mg; Manganese (Manganese Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 35 mg; Iodine (Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 0.96 mg

Technological additives

rosemary extract

Ingredients (36)23% of the recipe is estimated

Estimated composition

meat 74.0%
veg 13.3%
supplement 9.8%
carb 2.0%
fibre 1.0%

#	As declared	Matched	Label reading	Declared %	Est. %
1	Fresh Scottish salmon and trout (42%)	Salmon	meat · good	42	42.0
2	sweet potato	Sweet Potatoes	carb · good	-	1.0
3	dried fish (18%)	Fish Meal	meat · medium	18	18.0
4	peas	Peas	veg · good	-	1.0
5	dried salmon (6%)	Salmon	meat · good	6	6.0
6	whole eggs (3%)	Egg	meat · good	3	3.0
7	fresh fish (3%)	Seafood	meat · medium	3	3.0
8	OMEGA 3 OIL (3%)	Omega Oil Supplement	oil · good	3	3.0
9	linseed	Linseed	veg · good	-	1.0
10	alfalfa	Alfalfa	veg · good	-	1.0
11	salmon gravy (2%)	Salmon	meat · good	2	2.0
12	potato	Potatoes	carb · medium	-	1.0
13	pea fibre	Pea Fibre	fibre · medium	-	1.0
14	vitamins	Vitamins and minerals	supplement · medium	-	0.9
15	minerals	Vitamins and minerals	supplement · medium	-	0.9
16	mannan oligosaccharides	Mannanoligosaccharides	supplement · good	-	0.9
17	fructooligosaccharides	Fructo-oligosaccharides	supplement · good	-	0.9
18	glucosamine	Glucosamine	supplement · good	-	0.9
19	MSM	MSM	supplement · good	-	0.8
20	chondroitin	Chondroitin	supplement · good	-	0.8
21	cranberry	Cranberries	veg · good	-	0.8
22	acai	Acai	veg · good	-	0.8
23	bilberry	Bilberries	veg · good	-	0.8
24	mulberry	Mulberry	veg · good	-	0.8
25	apple	Apples	veg · good	-	0.7
26	tomato	Tomato	veg · good	-	0.7
27	orange	Orange	veg · medium	-	0.7
28	pear	Pears	veg · good	-	0.7
29	carrot	Carrots	veg · good	-	0.7
30	spinach	Spinach	veg · good	-	0.6
31	cauliflower	Cauliflower	veg · good	-	0.6
32	seaweed	Seaweed	veg · good	-	0.6
33	marigold	Calendula	veg · good	-	0.6
34	ginseng	Ginseng	supplement · medium	-	0.6
35	decaffeinated green tea	Green Tea	veg · good	-	0.6
36	ginger	Ginger	veg · good	-	0.5

1. Fresh Scottish salmon and trout (42%)42% declared42.0% estimated
Salmon · meat · good
2. sweet potato1.0% estimated
Sweet Potatoes · carb · good
3. dried fish (18%)18% declared18.0% estimated
Fish Meal · meat · medium
4. peas1.0% estimated
Peas · veg · good
5. dried salmon (6%)6% declared6.0% estimated
Salmon · meat · good
6. whole eggs (3%)3% declared3.0% estimated
Egg · meat · good
7. fresh fish (3%)3% declared3.0% estimated
Seafood · meat · medium
8. OMEGA 3 OIL (3%)3% declared3.0% estimated
Omega Oil Supplement · oil · good
9. linseed1.0% estimated
Linseed · veg · good
10. alfalfa1.0% estimated
Alfalfa · veg · good
11. salmon gravy (2%)2% declared2.0% estimated
Salmon · meat · good
12. potato1.0% estimated
Potatoes · carb · medium
13. pea fibre1.0% estimated
Pea Fibre · fibre · medium
14. vitamins0.9% estimated
Vitamins and minerals · supplement · medium
15. minerals0.9% estimated
Vitamins and minerals · supplement · medium
16. mannan oligosaccharides0.9% estimated
Mannanoligosaccharides · supplement · good
17. fructooligosaccharides0.9% estimated
Fructo-oligosaccharides · supplement · good
18. glucosamine0.9% estimated
Glucosamine · supplement · good
19. MSM0.8% estimated
MSM · supplement · good
20. chondroitin0.8% estimated
Chondroitin · supplement · good
21. cranberry0.8% estimated
Cranberries · veg · good
22. acai0.8% estimated
Acai · veg · good
23. bilberry0.8% estimated
Bilberries · veg · good
24. mulberry0.8% estimated
Mulberry · veg · good
25. apple0.7% estimated
Apples · veg · good
26. tomato0.7% estimated
Tomato · veg · good
27. orange0.7% estimated
Orange · veg · medium
28. pear0.7% estimated
Pears · veg · good
29. carrot0.7% estimated
Carrots · veg · good
30. spinach0.6% estimated
Spinach · veg · good
31. cauliflower0.6% estimated
Cauliflower · veg · good
32. seaweed0.6% estimated
Seaweed · veg · good
33. marigold0.6% estimated
Calendula · veg · good
34. ginseng0.6% estimated
Ginseng · supplement · medium
35. decaffeinated green tea0.6% estimated
Green Tea · veg · good
36. ginger0.5% estimated
Ginger · veg · good

Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-08-22

Brand and contact: Essential Foods

Website: https://essentialfoodsgb.co.uk/
Social: Facebook · Instagram

Trust and provenance

Recall history: No recalls recorded in our database
Label data last checked: 2026-08-22
Scored with: Model v3 (methodology)
Product page: essentialfoods.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.

Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence

Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated

Why this score?

This recipe achieves an overall score of 74 out of 100. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributes +7.2 to the score, and the meat content adds +6.9. Conversely, the processing format subtracts -6.7, while ingredients without printed percentages reduce the total by -2.4.

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	+7.24
Meat share of dry matter	71.9%	0.096	+6.90
Carb share of dry matter	1.0%	-0.115	-0.12
Vegetable share of dry matter	7.3%	-0.005	-0.04
Supplement share of dry matter	18.1%	-0.012	-0.22
Undeclared quantities	23.0%	-0.106	-2.43
Complete diet	yes	2.294	+2.29
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)	yes	0.707	+0.71
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	0.8	9.191	+7.24
Meat share of dry matter	71.9%	0.096	+6.90
Carb share of dry matter	1.0%	-0.115	-0.12
Oil share of dry matter	0.0%	-0.092	+0.00
Vegetable share of dry matter	7.3%	-0.005	-0.04
Additive share of dry matter	0.0%	0.163	+0.00
Supplement share of dry matter	18.1%	-0.012	-0.22
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	23.0%	-0.106	-2.43
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	0.0	11.084	+0.00
Additive penalty	0.00	0.222	+0.00
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: +2 transparency bonus
Subtotal: 73.7
Final score: 74/100

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
v3	74/100	current
v2	72/100
v1	70/100
v1.9	72/100

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	29	31.7 (band 18 to 40%)	100
Fat	14	15.3 (band 5.5 to 20%)	100
Fibre	4	4.4 (band 0.5 to 5%)	100
Calcium	1.7	1.9 (band 0.5 to 2.5%)	100
Phosphorus	1.2	1.3 (band 0.4 to 1.6%)	100
Calcium:phosphorus ratio	1.4	1.4 (band 1 to 2%)	95
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3)	-	-	58

Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 58). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.

Scored over 7 declared nutrients (combined weight 90); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.

Declared fortification: 8 nutritional additives on the label

Vitamin A 15000 IU
Vitamin D3 2000 IU
Vitamin E 240 IU
Taurine 1500 mg
Zinc (Zinc Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 50 mg
Iron (Iron (II) Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 50 mg
Manganese (Manganese Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 35 mg
Iodine (Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 0.96 mg

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 (77% of the recipe mass) (voluntary)	15.4/20
✓ Analytical constituents declared (mandatory)	15/15
✓ Additives declared (mandatory)	10/10
✗ 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)	5/5

Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Feeding guidance given).

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.

100/100 · moderate — 2 checkable claims: 2 consistent, 0 contradicted.

Consistent with the label

"Contains no chicken" — supported by the declared chicken data.
"grain-free" — supported by the declared grain-free data.

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

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

Claim	Type	Check	Substantiation
A grain-free diet helps sensitive digestion (on page)	Functional	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
support healthy skin, a shiny coat, and overall heart and joint health in dogs (on page)	Functional	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
support cognitive and visual development in puppies (on page)	Functional	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
maintain joint health (on page)	Functional	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
naturally rich in omega-3 (on page)	Nutrient	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
Contains no chicken (on page)	Free-from	consistent	Manufacturer assertion
grain-free (on page)	Free-from	consistent	Manufacturer assertion