Vitalin Chicken with Thyme & Root Veg
Dry Extruded · completeHigh meatClear label
Our verdict
Is Vitalin Chicken with Thyme & Root Veg a good dog food?
We score it 64/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Complete extruded dry food for puppies, with dried chicken protein, chicken and potatoes as the main ingredients.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
56% 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 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 dried chicken protein
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- 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. Find foods that fit your dog.
Nutrition and feedingProtein 28% · Fat 12%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 28% |
| Fat | 12% |
| Fibre | 2% |
| Ash | 7.50% |
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
With recyclable packaging and our handy reseal, the last bowl will be as fresh as the first, delivering holistic vitality from farm to tail.
Feeding guide
Toy (1-5): 2-4 months 30-115g; 4-6 months 35-120g; 6-8 months 35-120g; 8-10 months 35-115g; 10-12 months Adult; 12-14 months Adult; 14-18 months Adult Small (5-10): 2-4 months 95-190g; 4-6 months 115-200g; 6-8 months 120-200g; 8-10 months 120-200g; 10-12 months 115-195g; 12-14 months Adult; 14-18 months Adult Medium (10-25): 2-4 months 145-370g; 4-6 months 190-395g; 6-8 months 200-400g; 8-10 months 200-395g; 10-12 months 200-390g; 12-14 months Adult; 14-18 months Adult Large (25-45): 2-4 months 255-555g; 4-6 months 370-605g; 6-8 months 395-620g; 8-10 months 370-605g; 10-12 months 395-620g; 12-14 months 400-620g; 14-18 months 395-615g Giant (45+): 2-4 months 380-800g; 4-6 months 555-900g; 6-8 months 605-940g; 8-10 months 620-955g; 10-12 months 620-960g; 12-14 months 615-955g; 14-18 months 610-935g
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 25000 iu/kg; Vitamin D3 1500 iu/kg; Vitamin E 125 mg/kg; Zinc sulphate monohydrate 100 mg/kg; Iron (II) sulphate monohydrate 60 mg/kg; Manganous sulphate monohydrate 50 mg/kg; Copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate 5 mg/kg; Calcium iodate; anhydrous 1 mg/kg; Sodium selenite 0.05 mg/kg
Technological additives
Natural Antioxidants
Ingredients (24)56% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- meat 37.0%
- carb 23.6%
- veg 19.0%
- supplement 9.2%
- oil 5.8%
- additive 5.3%
- fibre 0.1%
- mineral 0.1%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dried Chicken 25% | Dried chicken protein | meat · good | 25 | 25.0 |
| 2 | Freshly Prepared Chicken 10% | Chicken | meat · medium | 10 | 10.0 |
| 3 | Chicken Gravy 2% | Chicken | meat · medium | 2 | 2.0 |
| 4 | Potato | Potatoes | carb · medium | - | 6.6 |
| 5 | Sweet Potato | Sweet Potatoes | carb · good | - | 6.3 |
| 6 | Potato Protein | Potato protein | carb · medium | - | 6.0 |
| 7 | Chicken Oil | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil · good | - | 5.7 |
| 8 | Whole Peas (2.0%) | Peas | veg · good | 2 | 2.0 |
| 9 | Dried Carrot (2.0%) | Carrots | veg · good | 2 | 2.0 |
| 10 | Dried Parsnip (2.0%) | Parsnips | veg · good | 2 | 2.0 |
| 11 | 0.07% Salmon Oil | Salmon Oil | oil · good | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| 12 | 0.07% Sugar Beet | Sugar Beet | carb · medium | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| 13 | 0.07% Monosodium Phosphate | Sodium phosphate | additive · poor | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| 14 | 0.07% Chicory Root Extract | Chicory Root Extract | fibre · good | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| 15 | Citrus Extracts (0.2%) | Citric Acid | additive · medium | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| 16 | Mannan-oligosaccharides (Prebiotic MOS) (0.1%) | Mannanoligosaccharides | supplement · good | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 17 | High Nucleotide Yeast | Yeast | supplement · good | - | 5.4 |
| 18 | Apple Cider Vinegar Powder | Apple Cider Vinegar | additive · medium | - | 5.1 |
| 19 | Dried Spearmint | Spearmint | veg · good | - | 4.8 |
| 20 | Honey Powder | Honey Powder | carb · medium | - | 4.5 |
| 21 | Dried Nettle | Nettles | veg · good | - | 4.2 |
| 22 | Dried Thyme | Dried Thymus Vulgaris | veg · medium | - | 3.9 |
| 23 | Extract of Yucca Schidigera | Yucca Schidigera | supplement · good | - | 3.6 |
| 24 | Tyndallised Lactobacillus Helveticus HA-122 (0.01%) | Tyndallised Lactobacillus | supplement · medium | 0.01 | 0.01 |
- 1. Dried Chicken 25%25% declared25.0% estimated
- 2. Freshly Prepared Chicken 10%10% declared10.0% estimated
- 3. Chicken Gravy 2%2% declared2.0% estimated
- 4. Potato6.6% estimated
- 5. Sweet Potato6.3% estimated
- 6. Potato Protein6.0% estimated
- 7. Chicken Oil5.7% estimated
- 8. Whole Peas (2.0%)2% declared2.0% estimated
- 9. Dried Carrot (2.0%)2% declared2.0% estimated
- 10. Dried Parsnip (2.0%)2% declared2.0% estimated
- 11. 0.07% Salmon Oil0.07% declared0.07% estimated
- 12. 0.07% Sugar Beet0.07% declared0.07% estimated
- 13. 0.07% Monosodium Phosphate0.07% declared0.07% estimated
- 14. 0.07% Chicory Root Extract0.07% declared0.07% estimated
- 15. Citrus Extracts (0.2%)0.2% declared0.2% estimated
- 16. Mannan-oligosaccharides (Prebiotic MOS) (0.1%)0.1% declared0.1% estimated
- 17. High Nucleotide Yeast5.4% estimated
- 18. Apple Cider Vinegar Powder5.1% estimated
- 19. Dried Spearmint4.8% estimated
- 20. Honey Powder4.5% estimated
- 21. Dried Nettle4.2% estimated
- 22. Dried Thyme3.9% estimated
- 23. Extract of Yucca Schidigera3.6% estimated
- 24. Tyndallised Lactobacillus Helveticus HA-122 (0.01%)0.01% declared0.01% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-14
Brand and contact: Vitalin
- [email protected]
- Phone
- +44
- Address
- Vitalin Pet Food, Lodge Farm, Wigsley Road, North Scarle, Lincoln, LN6 9HD
- Contact page
- vitalinpetfood.co.uk
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-14
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- vitalinpetfood.co.uk
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 achieves an overall score of 64 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list adds +7.1 points, and the meat content contributes +3.6 points to the total. However, the processing format reduces the score by -6.7 points, and ingredients without printed percentages deducts -6 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 | 0.8 | 9.191 | +7.13 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 37.3% | 0.096 | +3.59 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 12.8% | -0.115 | -1.47 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 8.3% | -0.092 | -0.76 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 22.4% | -0.005 | -0.12 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.9% | 0.163 | +1.12 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 12.1% | -0.012 | -0.15 |
| Undeclared quantities | 56.4% | -0.106 | -5.96 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| Additive penalty | -6.39 | 0.222 | -1.42 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.8 | 9.191 | +7.13 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 37.3% | 0.096 | +3.59 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 12.8% | -0.115 | -1.47 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 8.3% | -0.092 | -0.76 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 22.4% | -0.005 | -0.12 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.9% | 0.163 | +1.12 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 12.1% | -0.012 | -0.15 |
| 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 | 56.4% | -0.106 | -5.96 |
| 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 | -6.39 | 0.222 | -1.42 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| 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 | 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 | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| 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
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 64.3
- Final score
- 64/100
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 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 | 28 | 30.9 | 100 |
| Fat | 12 | 13.3 | 100 |
Scored over 2 declared nutrients (combined weight 40); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 10 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin A 25000 iu/kg
- Vitamin D3 1500 iu/kg
- Vitamin E 125 mg/kg
- Zinc sulphate monohydrate 100 mg/kg
- Iron (II) sulphate monohydrate 60 mg/kg
- Manganous sulphate monohydrate 50 mg/kg
- Copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate 5 mg/kg
- Calcium iodate
- anhydrous 1 mg/kg
- Sodium selenite 0.05 mg/kg
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 (43.6% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 8.7/20 |
| 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) | 10/10 |
| 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, 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
- "Grain Free" — supported by the declared grain-free data.
5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| With added prebiotics & paraprobiotics to support healthy gut function (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Grain Free (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chicken with thyme & root veg – Puppy (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Crude Fat 12.0% (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Crude Protein 28.0% (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Our Chicken with Thyme & Root Veg Puppy recipe includes freshly prepared chicken, thyme, peas, potato, parsnip, carrot, and a tasty gravy. (on page) | Content | 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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