McAdams Free Range Chicken
Dry Baked complete High meat Clear label
Is McAdams Free Range Chicken a good dog food?
We score it 70/100 (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 70 out of 100. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributes +6.7 to this total, alongside the meat content which adds +4.3. Conversely, ingredients without printed percentages deduct -4.3, while printing percentages on the label provides a further boost of +3.2.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
33% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe70
- Nutritionallow100
- Transparency59
- 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 baked dry food for puppies, with chicken, sweet potatoes and pea protein as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Scores 70, in the top quarter of dry foods we track.
- Meat makes up an estimated 37% of the dry matter (52% 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
- 27%
- Fat
- 14.50%
- Fibre
- 3%
- Ash
- 8.50%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 0.50%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 3.40%
- Calcium
- 1.10%
- Phosphorus
- 0.90%
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 14500 IU; Vitamin D3 2000 IU; Vitamin E 100 IU; Zinc 83 mg; Iron 50 mg; Manganese 35 mg; Copper 15 mg; Iodine 1.7 mg; Selenium 0.29 mg
Technological additives
mixed tocopherols
Storage
no refrigeration needed before opening
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for puppies
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists green-lipped mussel
- 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 (27)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole British Free Range Chicken (50%) | Chicken | meat | medium | 50 | 50.0 |
| 2 | Sweet Potato (17%) | Sweet Potatoes | carb | good | 17 | 17.0 |
| 3 | Pea Protein | Pea protein | carb | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 4 | Tapioca | Tapioca | carb | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 5 | Chicken Fat | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | good | - | 2.1 |
| 6 | Yeast | Yeast | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
| 7 | Vitamins and Minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 8 | Chicken Stock | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 9 | Vegetable Fibre | Vegetable fibre | fibre | medium | - | 1.9 |
| 10 | Lentils | Lentils | veg | good | - | 1.8 |
| 11 | Salmon Oil | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 1.8 |
| 12 | Cellulose | Cellulose | fibre | medium | - | 1.7 |
| 13 | Prebiotics | Prebiotics | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 14 | FOS (0.15%) | Fructo-oligosaccharides | supplement | good | 0.15 | 0.1 |
| 15 | MOS (0.15%) | Mannanoligosaccharides | supplement | good | 0.15 | 0.1 |
| 16 | Marigold | Calendula | veg | good | - | 1.6 |
| 17 | Yucca Extract | Yucca Schidigera | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 18 | Hand Cut Irish Seaweed (0.03%) | Seaweed | veg | good | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| 19 | Dried Orange | Orange | veg | medium | - | 1.5 |
| 20 | New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel (0.02%) | Green-Lipped Mussel | supplement | good | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| 21 | Camomile | Chamomile | veg | good | - | 1.4 |
| 22 | Carrot (0.01%) | Carrots | veg | good | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| 23 | Cranberries (0.01%) | Cranberries | veg | good | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| 24 | Rosemary | Rosemary | veg | good | - | 1.4 |
| 25 | Spinach | Spinach | veg | good | - | 1.3 |
| 26 | Tomatoes | Tomato | veg | good | - | 1.2 |
| 27 | Lavender | Lavender | veg | good | - | 1.2 |
Brand
- [email protected]
- Phone
- +44(0) 1494 932 150
- Address
- McAdams Pet Foods Symply Pet Foods Ltd Thomas Road Wooburn Green Buckinghamshire HP10 0PE
- Contact page
- mcadamspetfoods.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-15
- Scored with
- Model v2 (methodology)
- Product page
- mcadamspetfoods.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 | +6.73 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 37.3% | 0.116 | +4.33 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 17.9% | -0.113 | -2.01 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.2% | -0.088 | -0.90 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.5% | -0.002 | -0.01 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 18.5% | -0.009 | -0.16 |
| Undeclared quantities | 32.6% | -0.131 | -4.27 |
| 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 | 37.3 | -0.073 | -2.74 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | yes | -2.321 | -2.32 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.7 | 9.915 | +6.73 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 37.3% | 0.116 | +4.33 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 17.9% | -0.113 | -2.01 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.2% | -0.088 | -0.90 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.5% | -0.002 | -0.01 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.177 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 18.5% | -0.009 | -0.16 |
| 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 | 32.6% | -0.131 | -4.27 |
| 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 | 37.3 | -0.073 | -2.74 |
| 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 | no | 4.569 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | yes | -2.321 | -2.32 |
| 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
- +0.05
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 69.8
- Final score
- 70/100
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 | 70/100 | current |
| v1 | 69/100 | |
| v1.9 | 71/100 |
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for puppies and growth. 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.
Scored against FEDIAF growth minima; puppy scoring is under review.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 27 | 31.8 | 100 |
| Fat | 14.5 | 17.1 | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.1 | 1.3 | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 0.9 | 1.1 | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.2 | 1.2 | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100, omega-3 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 6 declared nutrients (combined weight 80); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 15% 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 (67.4% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 13.5/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| 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) | 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 (Analytical constituents 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 |
|---|---|---|
| highly digestible (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| prebiotics to help sensitive tummies (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| DHA for brain development (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| With natural probiotics to soothe small tummies (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| joint care for growing bones (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Full of natural fibre, vitamins and minerals to ensure your pets immune system is thriving (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| All McAdams foods are 100% fresh meat, we never use any powdered meat meals (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| A grain-free and meat meal free complete diet (on page) | Free-from | Manufacturer assertion |
| Free from grain and meat meals (on page) | Free-from | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made with meat sourced exclusively from RSPCA Assured Farms (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| A complete diet for puppies from weaning up to 12 months (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made using whole British Free Range Chicken (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| packed with extra protein (on page) | High/low level | Manufacturer assertion |
| made with fresh sustainably sourced ingredients (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| high levels of DHA to support brain development and retinal function (on page) | High/low level | 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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