Pala Recipe #7 - Lamb & Herring

Dry Extruded · completeHigh meatClear label

Recipe #7 - Lamb & Herring
Good
our rating

Our verdict

Is Pala Recipe #7 - Lamb & Herring 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 dogs of all life stages, with lamb, herring and carrots 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 85% of the dry matter (90% as fed).
  • Prints ingredient percentages on the label.

Why you might not

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

Who is this food for?

Suits

  • Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
  • Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
  • Doesn't list chicken, beef, turkey, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

  • Your dog avoids lamb: the label lists lamb
  • Your dog avoids fish: the label lists herring
  • You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
  • You are limiting fat: 36.4% 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 41% · Fat 32%

Typical analysis (as fed)

NutrientAs fed
Protein41%
Fat32%
Fibre4%
Ash8%
Moisture12%
Carbohydrates3%
Omega-3 fatty acids2.63%
Omega-6 fatty acids2.75%
Calcium0.88%
Phosphorus0.82%

Energy: 426 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. Not for human consumption.

Feeding guide

DOG WEIGHT - AVERAGE DAILY SERVING: 5kg 65g; 10kg 110g; 15kg 149g; 20kg 184g; 25kg 218g; 35kg 281g; 40kg 311g.

Additives declared on the label

Technological additives

natural tocopherols with rosemary extract

Ingredients (20)11% of the recipe is estimated

Estimated composition

  • meat 89.7%
  • veg 6.9%
  • additive 1.2%
  • carb 0.7%
  • oil 0.7%
  • fibre 0.7%
#As declaredMatchedLabel readingDeclared %Est. %
1Lamb (59%)Lambmeat · medium5959.0
2Atlantic herring (28%)Herringmeat · good2828.0
3carrotCarrotsveg · good-0.8
4beetrootBeetrootveg · good-0.8
5cabbageCabbageveg · good-0.8
6egg (2%)Eggmeat · good22.0
7spinachSpinachveg · good-0.8
8wheatgrassWheatgrasscarb · good-0.7
9mixed crab mealMixed crab mealmeat · medium-0.7
10flaxseed oilLinseed oiloil · good-0.7
11psyllium huskPsyllium fibrefibre · good-0.7
12apple cider vinegarApple Cider Vinegaradditive · medium-0.6
13kelpKelpveg · good-0.6
14natural tocopherols with rosemary extractTocopherolsadditive · good-0.6
15blueberryBlueberriesveg · good-0.6
16cranberryCranberriesveg · good-0.5
17sea buckthornSea Buckthornveg · good-0.5
18oreganoOreganoveg · good-0.5
19thymeThymeveg · good-0.5
20turmeric and black pepper.Black Pepperveg · medium-0.4
  1. 1. Lamb (59%)59% declared59.0% estimated
    Lamb · meat · medium
  2. 2. Atlantic herring (28%)28% declared28.0% estimated
    Herring · meat · good
  3. 3. carrot0.8% estimated
    Carrots · veg · good
  4. 4. beetroot0.8% estimated
    Beetroot · veg · good
  5. 5. cabbage0.8% estimated
    Cabbage · veg · good
  6. 6. egg (2%)2% declared2.0% estimated
    Egg · meat · good
  7. 7. spinach0.8% estimated
    Spinach · veg · good
  8. 8. wheatgrass0.7% estimated
    Wheatgrass · carb · good
  9. 9. mixed crab meal0.7% estimated
    Mixed crab meal · meat · medium
  10. 10. flaxseed oil0.7% estimated
    Linseed oil · oil · good
  11. 11. psyllium husk0.7% estimated
    Psyllium fibre · fibre · good
  12. 12. apple cider vinegar0.6% estimated
    Apple Cider Vinegar · additive · medium
  13. 13. kelp0.6% estimated
    Kelp · veg · good
  14. 14. natural tocopherols with rosemary extract0.6% estimated
    Tocopherols · additive · good
  15. 15. blueberry0.6% estimated
    Blueberries · veg · good
  16. 16. cranberry0.5% estimated
    Cranberries · veg · good
  17. 17. sea buckthorn0.5% estimated
    Sea Buckthorn · veg · good
  18. 18. oregano0.5% estimated
    Oregano · veg · good
  19. 19. thyme0.5% estimated
    Thyme · veg · good
  20. 20. turmeric and black pepper.0.4% estimated
    Black Pepper · veg · medium

Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-10-07

Brand and contact: Pala

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?

This recipe scores 74 out of 100. The meat content contributed +7.9 points. The processing format reduced the score by -6.7. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +6.5 points, and being labelled nutritionally complete contributed +2.3 points.

Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.

ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.79.191+6.46
Meat share of dry matter82.6%0.096+7.93
Carb share of dry matter2.2%-0.115-0.25
Oil share of dry matter2.3%-0.092-0.21
Vegetable share of dry matter5.0%-0.005-0.03
Additive share of dry matter3.7%0.163+0.60
Undeclared quantities11.0%-0.106-1.16
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)yes0.707+0.71
Additive penalty-1.490.222-0.33
Processing multiplier0.9833.786+33.11
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.713-6.71
Show all 40 components
ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.79.191+6.46
Meat share of dry matter82.6%0.096+7.93
Carb share of dry matter2.2%-0.115-0.25
Oil share of dry matter2.3%-0.092-0.21
Vegetable share of dry matter5.0%-0.005-0.03
Additive share of dry matter3.7%0.163+0.60
Supplement share of dry matter0.0%-0.012+0.00
Other share of dry matter0.0%-0.375+0.00
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.027+0.00
Recipe graded poor0.0%-0.065+0.00
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.179+0.00
Number of poor ingredients0-0.876+0.00
Largest single poor ingredient0.0%0.060+0.00
Undeclared quantities11.0%-0.106-1.16
Prints ingredient percentagesno0.000+0.00
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Frozen or chilled freshno0.000+0.00
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)yes0.707+0.71
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)no-3.158+0.00
High carb and low meatno-1.180+0.00
Meat share × printed percentages0.00.000+0.00
Meat share × fresh0.00.000+0.00
Fresh × high meat0.011.084+0.00
Additive penalty-1.490.222-0.33
Processing multiplier0.9833.786+33.11
Processing: Rawno-0.054+0.00
Processing: Fresh Chilledno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Frozenno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Refrigeratedno0.000+0.00
Processing: Fresh Shelfno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Dry Freeze Driedno6.629+0.00
Processing: Dry Air Driedno6.331+0.00
Processing: Dry Cold Pressedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Bakedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.713-6.71
Processing: Dry Semi Moistno-6.174+0.00
Processing: Dry Mueslino-10.146+0.00
Processing: Wet Pateno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Wet Chunksno-0.672+0.00
Processing-type offset
+0.02
Additives declared on label
+1 transparency bonus
Subtotal
74.3
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.

ModelScore
v374/100current
v270/100
v189/100
v1.992/100
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
Protein4146.6 (band 21.78409090909091 to 40%)100
Fat3236.4 (band 6.65625 to 20%)100
Fibre44.5 (band 0.5 to 5%)100
Calcium0.881 (band 0.6051136363636364 to 2.5%)82.5
Phosphorus0.820.9 (band 0.4840909090909091 to 1.6%)94.1
Calcium:phosphorus ratio1.11.1 (band 1 to 2%)74.4
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3)--100
Energy (kcal/100g)426484.150

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: 426 kcal/100g as fed with fat at 36.4% 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.

ItemPoints
✓ Ingredient list on the label (mandatory)10/10
✓ Printed percentages on the label (89% of the recipe mass) (voluntary)17.8/20
✓ 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 file0/5

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.

Claims on file; none we can check against the label

ClaimTypeCheckSubstantiation
raw dog food for all life stages (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
No synthetic additives, supplements, flavours or preservatives (on page)Free-fromnot checkableManufacturer assertion
All natural raw dog food with the convenience of kibble (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
great for puppies and active dogs (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
high-quality omega fatty acids from Atlantic herring help keep the skin healthy and coats shiny (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Lamb is rich in iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin B12, niacin, and folates (on page)Nutrientnot checkableManufacturer 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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