Is Kiwikitchens Freeze-Dried Chicken Dinner 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.
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 points, the processing format added +6.6 points, and being labelled nutritionally complete added a further +2.3 points.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe70
- Nutritionallow93
- Transparency55
- Safety100
- Evidencestrong100
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.
Why you might choose it
- Scores 70, in the top quarter of dry foods we track.
- Doesn't list grain ingredients.
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
Why you might not
- Meat makes up an estimated 4% of the dry matter (12% as fed); carbohydrates dominate.
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 35%
- Fat
- 30%
- Fibre
- 7%
- Moisture
- 5%
- Carbohydrates
- 28%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 1.50%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 3%
Energy: 458 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Iron Amino Acid Chelate; Vitamin E Supplement; Zinc Oxide; Niacin; Copper Amino Acid Chelate; Thiamine Mononitrate; Vitamin A Supplement; Sodium Selenite; Riboflavin; Calcium Pantothenate; Manganese Amino Acid Chelate; Vitamin D3 Supplement; Vitamin B6 Supplement; Biotin; Vitamin B12 Supplement; Vitamin K Supplement; Calcium Iodate; Folic Acid; Taurine; Choline Chloride
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols (preservative); Salt
Feeding guide
Suggested grams/cups per day based on dog weight from 2.3kg to 70+ kg; puppies and pregnant/nursing mothers may need 2-3x the amount; rehydrate 1 part food with 1 part warm water; transition over one week.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- 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 chicken
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon
- 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. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (33)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 4.0 |
| 2 | Chicken Liver | Chicken Liver | meat | good | - | 3.9 |
| 3 | Salmon | Salmon | meat | good | - | 3.9 |
| 4 | Green-Lipped Mussel | Green-Lipped Mussel | supplement | good | - | 3.8 |
| 5 | Flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 3.8 |
| 6 | Fish Oil | Fish Oil | oil | good | - | 3.7 |
| 7 | Pumpkin | Pumpkin | veg | good | - | 3.6 |
| 8 | Kiwi Fruit | Fruit | veg | medium | - | 3.6 |
| 9 | Blackcurrant | Blackcurrant | veg | good | - | 3.5 |
| 10 | Choline Chloride | Choline | supplement | good | - | 3.5 |
| 11 | Salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 3.4 |
| 12 | Mixed Tocopherols (preservative) | Tocopherols | additive | good | - | 3.3 |
| 13 | Taurine | Taurine | supplement | good | - | 3.3 |
| 14 | Calcium Carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement | medium | - | 3.2 |
| 15 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 3.2 |
| 16 | Iron Amino Acid Chelate | Iron Proteinate | mineral | good | - | 3.1 |
| 17 | Vitamin E Supplement | Vitamin E | supplement | good | - | 3.0 |
| 18 | Zinc Oxide | Zinc Oxide | supplement | good | - | 3.0 |
| 19 | Niacin | Niacin | supplement | good | - | 2.9 |
| 20 | Copper Amino Acid Chelate | Copper proteinate | supplement | good | - | 2.8 |
| 21 | Thiamine Mononitrate | Thiamine mononitrate | supplement | good | - | 2.8 |
| 22 | Vitamin A Supplement | Vitamin A | supplement | good | - | 2.7 |
| 23 | Sodium Selenite | Sodium selenite | supplement | poor | - | 2.7 |
| 24 | Riboflavin | Riboflavin | supplement | good | - | 2.6 |
| 25 | Calcium Pantothenate | Calcium pantothenate | supplement | good | - | 2.5 |
| 26 | Manganese Amino Acid Chelate | Manganese proteinate | supplement | good | - | 2.5 |
| 27 | Vitamin D3 Supplement | Vitamin D3 supplement | supplement | good | - | 2.4 |
| 28 | Vitamin B6 Supplement | Vitamin | supplement | good | - | 2.4 |
| 29 | Biotin | Biotin | supplement | good | - | 2.3 |
| 30 | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Vitamin B12 | supplement | good | - | 2.2 |
| 31 | Vitamin K Supplement | Vitamin K | supplement | good | - | 2.2 |
| 32 | Calcium Iodate | Calcium iodate | supplement | medium | - | 2.1 |
| 33 | Folic Acid. | Folic acid | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
Brand
- Website
- https://kiwikitchens.nz/
- [email protected]
- Phone
- +64 800 738 546
- Contact page
- kiwikitchens.nz
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-19
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- kiwikitchens.nz
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 v3 on 2026-09-26. 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 | +6.99 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 4.8% | -0.092 | -0.44 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 6.5% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 7.9% | 0.163 | +1.29 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 72.5% | -0.012 | -0.89 |
| Recipe graded poor | 2.7% | -0.065 | -0.17 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 2.7% | 0.060 | +0.16 |
| 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 | -8.14 | 0.222 | -1.81 |
| 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 | 0.8 | 9.191 | +6.99 |
| 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 | 4.8% | -0.092 | -0.44 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 6.5% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 7.9% | 0.163 | +1.29 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 72.5% | -0.012 | -0.89 |
| 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 | 2.7% | -0.065 | -0.17 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 2.7% | 0.060 | +0.16 |
| 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 | -8.14 | 0.222 | -1.81 |
| 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
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 69.9
- 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.
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 | 35 | 36.8 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 30 | 31.6 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 7 | 7.4 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 458 | 482.1 | 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 5 declared nutrients (combined weight 70); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
Portion-control flag: 458 kcal/100g as fed with fat at 31.6% dry matter, above the reference band. High-energy foods need smaller portions.
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) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| 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 (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.
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 · strong — 3 checkable claims: 3 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "Complete & balanced whole food diet" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
- "No added grains, colours, or flavours" — supported by the declared grain-free data.
- "Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large dogs (70lbs. or more as an adult)" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
8 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Strong: at least three checkable claims, all consistent with the declared label, and no compliance cap.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| made with barn-raised & free-range chicken and salmon from New Zealand (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Freeze-dried to lock in nutrients (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Green-Lipped Mussel provides chondroitin that helps support your dog's joints (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| High in Natural Taurine (on pack) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Complete & balanced whole food diet (on pack) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Contains New Zealand Green Mussel (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| No added grains, colours, or flavours (on pack) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Rich in Omega Three (on pack) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| made with 90% NZ Meat, Organs & Seafood (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large dogs (70lbs. or more as an adult) (on pack) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Naturally high in chondroitin & glucosamine and Omega-3s (on pack) | High/low level | 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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