Our verdict
Is Pala Recipe #5 - 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.
Complete air-dried food for dogs of all life stages, with chicken, carrots and egg 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: chicken
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- You are limiting fat: 40.9% 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 38% · Fat 36%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 38% |
| Fat | 36% |
| Fibre | 3% |
| Ash | 8% |
| Moisture | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 3% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 1.03% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 7.58% |
| Calcium | 1.44% |
| Phosphorus | 0.91% |
Energy: 449 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place. Keep bag closed after opening and consume within 2 weeks. For best hygiene, use a clean measuring cup or pour directly into your dog's bowl rather than handling the food by hand. Not for human consumption.
Feeding guide
DOG WEIGHT 5kg: 65g; 10kg: 110g; 15kg: 149g; 20kg: 184g; 25kg: 218g; 35kg: 281g; 40kg: 311g (average daily serving)
Additives declared on the label
Technological additives
natural tocopherols with rosemary extract
Ingredients (18)13% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- meat 87.0%
- veg 8.7%
- additive 1.6%
- carb 1.0%
- oil 0.9%
- fibre 0.9%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken (83%) | Chicken | meat · medium | 83 | 83.0 |
| 2 | Carrot | Carrots | veg · good | - | 1.1 |
| 3 | Egg (4%) | Egg | meat · good | 4 | 4.0 |
| 4 | Beetroot | Beetroot | veg · good | - | 1.0 |
| 5 | Cabbage | Cabbage | veg · good | - | 1.0 |
| 6 | Wheatgrass | Wheatgrass | carb · good | - | 1.0 |
| 7 | Spinach | Spinach | veg · good | - | 0.9 |
| 8 | Flaxseed Oil | Linseed oil | oil · good | - | 0.9 |
| 9 | Psyllium Husk | Psyllium fibre | fibre · good | - | 0.9 |
| 10 | Apple Cider Vinegar | Apple Cider Vinegar | additive · medium | - | 0.8 |
| 11 | Kelp | Kelp | veg · good | - | 0.8 |
| 12 | Natural Tocopherols with Rosemary Extract | Tocopherols | additive · good | - | 0.8 |
| 13 | Oregano | Oregano | veg · good | - | 0.7 |
| 14 | Thyme | Thyme | veg · good | - | 0.7 |
| 15 | Turmeric | Turmeric | veg · good | - | 0.7 |
| 16 | Blueberry | Blueberries | veg · good | - | 0.6 |
| 17 | Cranberry | Cranberries | veg · good | - | 0.6 |
| 18 | Sea Buckthorn and Black Pepper | Sea Buckthorn | veg · good | - | 0.6 |
- 1. Chicken (83%)83% declared83.0% estimated
- 2. Carrot1.1% estimated
- 3. Egg (4%)4% declared4.0% estimated
- 4. Beetroot1.0% estimated
- 5. Cabbage1.0% estimated
- 6. Wheatgrass1.0% estimated
- 7. Spinach0.9% estimated
- 8. Flaxseed Oil0.9% estimated
- 9. Psyllium Husk0.9% estimated
- 10. Apple Cider Vinegar0.8% estimated
- 11. Kelp0.8% estimated
- 12. Natural Tocopherols with Rosemary Extract0.8% estimated
- 13. Oregano0.7% estimated
- 14. Thyme0.7% estimated
- 15. Turmeric0.7% estimated
- 16. Blueberry0.6% estimated
- 17. Cranberry0.6% estimated
- 18. Sea Buckthorn and Black Pepper0.6% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-10-07
Brand and contact: Pala
- Website
- https://palapets.com/
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-10-07
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- palapets.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?
The overall score came in at 90 out of 100. The meat content contributed +7.6 points, with the processing format adding a further +6.3. The overall quality of the ingredient list boosted the score by +5.6, while being labelled nutritionally complete contributed +2.3.
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 | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.55 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 79.4% | 0.096 | +7.62 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 2.8% | -0.115 | -0.32 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 2.9% | -0.092 | -0.27 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.8% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 4.7% | 0.163 | +0.76 |
| Undeclared quantities | 13.0% | -0.106 | -1.37 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| Additive penalty | -1.91 | 0.222 | -0.42 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.08 | 33.786 | +36.49 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | yes | 6.331 | +6.33 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.55 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 79.4% | 0.096 | +7.62 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 2.8% | -0.115 | -0.32 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 2.9% | -0.092 | -0.27 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.8% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 4.7% | 0.163 | +0.76 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.012 | +0.00 |
| 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 | 13.0% | -0.106 | -1.37 |
| 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 | -1.91 | 0.222 | -0.42 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.08 | 33.786 | +36.49 |
| 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 | yes | 6.331 | +6.33 |
| 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
- +0.28
- Additives declared on label
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 89.5
- 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.
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 | 38 | 43.2 (band 22.960227272727273 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 36 | 40.9 (band 7.015625 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 3 | 3.4 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.44 | 1.6 (band 0.6377840909090909 to 2.5%) | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 0.91 | 1 (band 0.5102272727272728 to 1.6%) | 98.8 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.6 | 1.6 (band 1 to 2%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 449 | 510.2 | 50 |
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 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 100); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
Portion-control flag: 449 kcal/100g as fed with fat at 40.9% dry matter, above the reference band. High-energy foods need smaller portions.
No nutritional additives section declared on the label.
High confidence: full analysis plus minerals or omegas and declared energy.
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 (87% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 17.4/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| 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.
100/100 · moderate — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "Complete and... Complete raw dog food" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recipe with chicken (83%) (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| raw dog food for all life stages (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Complete and... Complete raw dog food (on page) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| No synthetic additives, supplements, flavours or preservatives. (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| All natural raw dog food with the convenience of kibble. (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chicken is an easy to digest lean protein, rich in glucosamine, B vitamins, choline, amino acids like tryptophan, iron, zinc, selenium and omega-6 fatty acids. (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| highest in calories from all our foods (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| good for muscle development, tissue repair, maintaining skin and coat health and joint strength, improving cardiovascular and neurological functions, and strengthening the immune system (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
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