Primal Pet Foods Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets Dog Food - Turkey & Sardine Recipe
Dry Freeze Dried · complete
Our verdict
Is Primal Pet Foods Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets Dog Food - Turkey & Sardine Recipe 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.
Complete freeze-dried food for dogs of all life stages, with turkey, turkey liver and sardines as the main ingredients.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list chicken, beef, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists turkey
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists sardines
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
- You are limiting fat: 26.6% 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 56% · Fat 25%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 56% |
| Fat | 25% |
| Fibre | 2.61% |
| Ash | 6.77% |
| Moisture | 6% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 1.18% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 8.49% |
| Calcium | 1.24% |
| Phosphorus | 1.12% |
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
Freeze-dried food is shelf-stable and should be kept in a cool, dry place.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Iron 106.79 mg/kg; Copper 9.04 mg/kg; Manganese 13.5 mg/kg; Zinc 162.74 mg/kg; Iodine 4.5 mg/kg; Selenium 0.64 mg/kg; Thiamine: B1 8.94 mg/kg; Riboflavin: B2 8.8 mg/kg; Niacin: B3 41.83 mg/kg; Pyridoxine: B6 10.981 mg/kg; Vitamin B12 0.14 mg/kg; Folic Acid 6.89 mg/kg; Pantothenic Acid 26.79 mg/kg; Choline 1669.67 mg/kg; Vitamin A 46913.3 IU/kg; Vitamin D 1632.43 IU/kg; Vitamin E 285.51 IU/kg; Arginine 2.66%; Cystine 0.57%; Histidine 2.17%; Isoleucine 2.54%; Leucine 4.03%; Lysine 4.46%; Methionine 1.27%; Phenylalanine 2.20%; Threonine 2.11%; Tryptophan 0.53%; Tyrosine 1.73%; Valine 2.70%; Taurine 0.27%
Ingredients (24)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- veg 52.6%
- meat 16.1%
- supplement 12.9%
- oil 11.0%
- additive 7.4%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turkey (with ground bone) | Turkey | meat · medium | - | 5.5 |
| 2 | Turkey Livers | Turkey liver | meat · good | - | 5.4 |
| 3 | Whole Sardines | Sardines | meat · good | - | 5.3 |
| 4 | Organic Squash | Butternut Squash | veg · good | - | 5.1 |
| 5 | Organic Kale | Kale | veg · good | - | 5.0 |
| 6 | Organic Carrots | Carrots | veg · good | - | 4.9 |
| 7 | Organic Apples | Apples | veg · good | - | 4.8 |
| 8 | Organic Parsley | Parsley | veg · good | - | 4.7 |
| 9 | Organic Pumpkin Seeds | Pumpkin Seeds | veg · good | - | 4.6 |
| 10 | Organic Sunflower Seeds | Sunflower Seeds | veg · good | - | 4.5 |
| 11 | Organic Broccoli | Broccoli | veg · good | - | 4.3 |
| 12 | Organic Blueberries | Blueberries | veg · good | - | 4.2 |
| 13 | Organic Cranberries | Cranberries | veg · good | - | 4.1 |
| 14 | Organic Sunflower Oil | Sunflower oil | oil · good | - | 4.0 |
| 15 | Dried Yeast | Yeast | supplement · good | - | 3.9 |
| 16 | Montmorillonite Clay | Clay | additive · medium | - | 3.8 |
| 17 | Organic Apple Cider Vinegar | Apple Cider Vinegar | additive · medium | - | 3.7 |
| 18 | Fish Oil | Fish Oil | oil · good | - | 3.5 |
| 19 | Organic Coconut Oil | Coconut Oil | oil · medium | - | 3.4 |
| 20 | Organic Rosemary Extract | Rosemary | veg · good | - | 3.3 |
| 21 | Vitamin E Supplement | Vitamin E | supplement · good | - | 3.2 |
| 22 | Organic Ground Alfalfa | Alfalfa | veg · good | - | 3.1 |
| 23 | Dried Organic Kelp | Organic Kelp | supplement · good | - | 3.0 |
| 24 | Taurine | Taurine | supplement · good | - | 2.9 |
- 1. Turkey (with ground bone)5.5% estimated
- 2. Turkey Livers5.4% estimated
- 3. Whole Sardines5.3% estimated
- 4. Organic Squash5.1% estimated
- 5. Organic Kale5.0% estimated
- 6. Organic Carrots4.9% estimated
- 7. Organic Apples4.8% estimated
- 8. Organic Parsley4.7% estimated
- 9. Organic Pumpkin Seeds4.6% estimated
- 10. Organic Sunflower Seeds4.5% estimated
- 11. Organic Broccoli4.3% estimated
- 12. Organic Blueberries4.2% estimated
- 13. Organic Cranberries4.1% estimated
- 14. Organic Sunflower Oil4.0% estimated
- 15. Dried Yeast3.9% estimated
- 16. Montmorillonite Clay3.8% estimated
- 17. Organic Apple Cider Vinegar3.7% estimated
- 18. Fish Oil3.5% estimated
- 19. Organic Coconut Oil3.4% estimated
- 20. Organic Rosemary Extract3.3% estimated
- 21. Vitamin E Supplement3.2% estimated
- 22. Organic Ground Alfalfa3.1% estimated
- 23. Dried Organic Kelp3.0% estimated
- 24. Taurine2.9% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-08-22
Brand and contact: Primal Pet Foods
- Website
- https://primalpetfoods.com/
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
- primalpetfoods.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 is 70 out of 100. Ingredients without printed percentages weighed the score down by -10.6 points. The overall quality of the ingredient list added +7.9 points, the processing format added +6.6 points, and being labelled nutritionally complete added a further +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.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.9 | 9.191 | +7.85 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 22.3% | -0.092 | -2.06 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 30.2% | -0.005 | -0.16 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 13.8% | 0.163 | +2.24 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 24.4% | -0.012 | -0.30 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -8.90 | 0.222 | -1.98 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.11 | 33.786 | +37.50 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | yes | 6.629 | +6.63 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.9 | 9.191 | +7.85 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.115 | +0.00 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 22.3% | -0.092 | -2.06 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 30.2% | -0.005 | -0.16 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 13.8% | 0.163 | +2.24 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 24.4% | -0.012 | -0.30 |
| 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 | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| 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) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| 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 | -8.90 | 0.222 | -1.98 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.11 | 33.786 | +37.50 |
| 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 | yes | 6.629 | +6.63 |
| 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 | 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
- +0.06
- Additives declared on label
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 70.3
- 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.
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.
Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 56 | 59.6 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 25 | 26.6 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 2.61 | 2.8 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.24 | 1.3 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 94.6 |
| Phosphorus | 1.12 | 1.2 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.1 | 1.1 (band 1 to 2%) | 76.4 |
| 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. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 6% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 30 nutritional additives on the label
- Iron 106.79 mg/kg
- Copper 9.04 mg/kg
- Manganese 13.5 mg/kg
- Zinc 162.74 mg/kg
- Iodine 4.5 mg/kg
- Selenium 0.64 mg/kg
- Thiamine: B1 8.94 mg/kg
- Riboflavin: B2 8.8 mg/kg
- Niacin: B3 41.83 mg/kg
- Pyridoxine: B6 10.981 mg/kg
- Vitamin B12 0.14 mg/kg
- Folic Acid 6.89 mg/kg
- Pantothenic Acid 26.79 mg/kg
- Choline 1669.67 mg/kg
- Vitamin A 46913.3 IU/kg
- Vitamin D 1632.43 IU/kg
- Vitamin E 285.51 IU/kg
- Arginine 2.66%
- Cystine 0.57%
- Histidine 2.17%
- Isoleucine 2.54%
- Leucine 4.03%
- Lysine 4.46%
- Methionine 1.27%
- Phenylalanine 2.20%
- Threonine 2.11%
- Tryptophan 0.53%
- Tyrosine 1.73%
- Valine 2.70%
- Taurine 0.27%
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 (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| 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) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (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 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
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeze-dried and minimally processed to preserve vital nutrients (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Backed by peer reviewed research to be highly digestible and support a healthier gut compared to foods cooked at high heat (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made with cage-free turkey raised without antibiotics, steroids, or added hormones and wild caught sardines (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Cage-Free Turkey (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Wild Caught Sardines (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Whole food nutrition with no synthetic vitamins or minerals (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Organic Produce (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Crafted in USA (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| No Synthetic Vitamins or Minerals (on page) | Free-from | 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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