Nature's Variety Complete Freeze Dried Food Adult

Dry Freeze Dried complete High meat Clear label Full label

Complete Freeze Dried Food Adult
Good
our rating

Is Nature's Variety Complete Freeze Dried Food Adult 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.

How we score

Why this score?

This recipe achieves an overall score of 90 out of 100 based on several key factors. The processing format contributes +11.1 points, while the meat content adds +8.9 points. Furthermore, the overall quality of the ingredient list accounts for +5.6 points, and printing percentages on the label adds +3.2 points to the final evaluation.

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 freeze-dried food for adult dogs, with beef, carrots and apples as the main ingredients.

Why you might choose it

  • Scores 90, in the top quarter of dry foods we track.
  • Meat makes up an estimated 77% of the dry matter (80% as fed).
  • Prints ingredient percentages on the label.

Why you might not

  • High in fat: 36% fat on a dry-matter basis.

View the source page

Estimated composition

meat80.0%
veg15.0%
fibre1.7%
supplement1.4%
carb1.0%
oil1.0%

Typical analysis (as fed)

Protein
37%
Fat
34%
Fibre
6%
Ash
8%
Moisture
6%
Omega-3 fatty acids
1.15%
Omega-6 fatty acids
1.80%
Calcium
1.30%
Phosphorus
1%

Additives & feeding info

No additives recorded yet.

Who is this food for?

Suits

  • Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
  • 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: 36.2% 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 (20)

#As declaredMatchedCategoryTierDeclared %Est. %
1Beef 80%Beefmeatmedium8080.0
2Carrots 5%Carrotsveggood55.0
3Apples 5%Applesveggood55.0
4Pea Fibre 1.25%Pea Fibrefibremedium1.251.3
5Butternut Squash 1%Butternut Squashveggood11.0
6Sweet Potato 1%Sweet Potatoescarbgood11.0
7Minerals 1%Vitamins and mineralssupplementmedium11.0
8Sunflower Oil 0.8% Cranberries 0.5%Sunflower oiloilgood0.50.5
9Blackberries 0.5%Blackberriesveggood0.50.5
10FlaxseedLinseedveggood-0.6
11Chicory RootChicory rootveggood-0.5
12KaleKaleveggood-0.5
13PeppermintPeppermintveggood-0.5
14Coconut OilCoconut Oiloilmedium-0.5
15Beet PulpBeet Pulpfibremedium-0.4
16YuccaYucca Schidigerasupplementgood-0.4
17RosemaryRosemaryveggood-0.4
18ParsleyParsleyveggood-0.4
19Dandelion RootDandelion Rootveggood-0.3
20Hawthorn LeafHawthornvegmedium-0.3

Brand

Trust and provenance

Recall history
No recalls recorded in our database
Label data last checked
2026-08-22
Scored with
Model v2 (methodology)

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.

ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-32.336+32.34
Average ingredient quality0.69.915+5.59
Meat share of dry matter77.1%0.116+8.94
Carb share of dry matter0.9%-0.113-0.10
Oil share of dry matter3.3%-0.088-0.29
Vegetable share of dry matter9.2%-0.002-0.02
Supplement share of dry matter4.5%-0.009-0.04
Undeclared quantities4.8%-0.131-0.62
Prints ingredient percentagesyes3.194+3.19
Complete dietyes1.703+1.70
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)yes-0.506-0.51
Meat share × printed percentages77.1-0.073-5.65
Processing multiplier1.0032.336+32.34
Processing: Dry Freeze Driedyes11.127+11.13
Show all 40 components
ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-32.336+32.34
Average ingredient quality0.69.915+5.59
Meat share of dry matter77.1%0.116+8.94
Carb share of dry matter0.9%-0.113-0.10
Oil share of dry matter3.3%-0.088-0.29
Vegetable share of dry matter9.2%-0.002-0.02
Additive share of dry matter0.0%0.177+0.00
Supplement share of dry matter4.5%-0.009-0.04
Other share of dry matter0.0%-0.371+0.00
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.022+0.00
Recipe graded poor0.0%-0.045+0.00
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.182+0.00
Number of poor ingredients0-0.868+0.00
Largest single poor ingredient0.0%0.056+0.00
Undeclared quantities4.8%-0.131-0.62
Prints ingredient percentagesyes3.194+3.19
Complete dietyes1.703+1.70
Frozen or chilled freshno11.440+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 meatno-1.250+0.00
Meat share × printed percentages77.1-0.073-5.65
Meat share × fresh0.0-0.339+0.00
Fresh × high meat0.016.475+0.00
Additive penalty0.000.236+0.00
Processing multiplier1.0032.336+32.34
Processing: Rawno13.322+0.00
Processing: Fresh Chilledno7.712+0.00
Processing: Fresh Frozenno6.583+0.00
Processing: Fresh Refrigeratedno4.857+0.00
Processing: Fresh Shelfno0.072+0.00
Processing: Dry Freeze Driedyes11.127+11.13
Processing: Dry Air Driedno9.320+0.00
Processing: Dry Cold Pressedno4.569+0.00
Processing: Dry Bakedno-2.321+0.00
Processing: Dry Extrudedno-6.996+0.00
Processing: Dry Semi Moistno-6.833+0.00
Processing: Dry Mueslino-10.711+0.00
Processing: Wet Pateno2.935+0.00
Processing: Wet Chunksno2.292+0.00
Processing-type offset
+0.11
Nearly all quantities printed on label
+2 full-disclosure bonus
Subtotal
90.1
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.

ModelScore
v290/100current
v188/100
v1.991/100
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.

NutrientAs fed (label)Dry matter (scored)Score
Protein3739.4 (band 18 to 40%)100
Fat3436.2 (band 5.5 to 20%)100
Fibre66.4 (band 0.5 to 5%)100
Calcium1.31.4 (band 0.5 to 2.5%)96.5
Phosphorus11.1 (band 0.4 to 1.6%)100
Calcium:phosphorus ratio1.31.3 (band 1 to 2%)88
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). 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.

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.

ItemPoints
Ingredient list on the label (mandatory)10/10
Printed percentages on the label (95.3% of the recipe mass) (voluntary)19.1/20
Analytical constituents declared (mandatory)15/15
Additives declared (mandatory) - not on file0/10
Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file0/5
Complete/complementary designation (mandatory)5/5
Feeding guidance given (mandatory) - not on file0/10
Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory)5/10
Country of manufacture stated (voluntary)10/10
Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file0/5

Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (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.

ClaimTypeSubstantiation
Freeze dried for maximum nutrients preservation (on page)FunctionalManufacturer assertion
Freeze dried raw, maximum nutrients preservation (on page)FunctionalManufacturer assertion
80% LAMB, 20% FRUITS, VEGETABLES, VITAMINS & MINERALS (on page)ContentManufacturer assertion
100% Natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals (on page)ContentManufacturer assertion
Made with 100% natural ingredients, with added vitamins and minerals (on page)ContentManufacturer 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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