Is Naturalnzpetfood MEGA Large Breed Adult a good dog food?
We score it 67/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This recipe scores 67 out of 100. The undeclared ingredient shares, meaning ingredients without printed percentages, cost the product -10.6 points, while the overall quality of the ingredient list lifted it by +6.3. The processing format contributed +6.3, and being labelled nutritionally complete added a further +2.3.
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.
- Recipe67
- Nutritionallow92
- Transparency60
- Safety100
- Evidencemoderate100
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
- Doesn't list grain ingredients.
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
- Meat makes up an estimated 8% of the dry matter (7% as fed); carbohydrates dominate.
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
- Its additive load costs about 2 points in the rating.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 20%
- Fat
- 13%
- Fibre
- 4%
- Moisture
- 10%
Energy: 328 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A Supplement; Vitamin D3 Supplement; Vitamin E Supplement; Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1); Riboflavin Supplement; Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5); Niacin (Vitamin B3); Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6); Folic Acid (Vitamin B9); Vitamin B12 Supplement; Ferrous Sulfate; Copper Sulfate; Manganese Sulfate; Zinc Sulfate; Calcium Iodate; Sodium Selenite; Cobalt Sulfate; Taurine 0.18% (1800 mg/kg); Glucosamine Hydrochloride 1200 mg/kg
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols for added freshness; Rosemary Extract; Tea Extract; Spearmint Extract
Storage
Store unopened bags below 25°C in low-humidity environments; transfer opened product to hermetic containers and use within 6 weeks
Feeding guide
12-20 lbs: 114-171 g (1-1½ cups); 20-50 lbs: 171-342 g (1½-3 cups); 50-100 lbs: 342-570 g (3-5 cups); 100-200 lbs: 570-1026 g (5-9 cups). Transition gradually over 10-14 days.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at large dogs
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list turkey, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken oil and fat
- Your dog avoids beef: the label lists beef
- Your dog avoids lamb: the label lists lamb
- 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 (38)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamb Meal | Lamb | meat | medium | - | 3.5 |
| 2 | Beef Meal | Beef | meat | medium | - | 3.4 |
| 3 | Potatoes | Potatoes | carb | medium | - | 3.4 |
| 4 | Peas | Peas | veg | medium | - | 3.3 |
| 5 | Tapioca | Tapioca | carb | medium | - | 3.3 |
| 6 | Chicken Fat | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | medium | - | 3.2 |
| 7 | Flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 3.2 |
| 8 | Natural Flavors | Flavor | additive | poor | - | 3.2 |
| 9 | Sea Salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 3.1 |
| 10 | Dried Cranberries | Cranberries | veg | good | - | 3.1 |
| 11 | Dried Blueberries | Blueberries | veg | good | - | 3.0 |
| 12 | Kelp | Kelp | veg | good | - | 3.0 |
| 13 | Brewers Dried Yeast | Yeast | supplement | good | - | 2.9 |
| 14 | Choline Chloride | Choline | supplement | good | - | 2.9 |
| 15 | Magnesium Sulfate | Magnesium sulfate | supplement | good | - | 2.8 |
| 16 | Vitamin A Supplement | Vitamin A | supplement | good | - | 2.8 |
| 17 | Vitamin D3 Supplement | Vitamin D3 supplement | supplement | good | - | 2.7 |
| 18 | Vitamin E Supplement | Vitamin E | supplement | good | - | 2.7 |
| 19 | Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1) | Thiamine mononitrate | supplement | good | - | 2.7 |
| 20 | Riboflavin Supplement | Riboflavin | supplement | good | - | 2.6 |
| 21 | Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5) | Calcium pantothenate | supplement | good | - | 2.6 |
| 22 | Niacin (Vitamin B3) | Niacin | supplement | good | - | 2.5 |
| 23 | Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) | Pyridoxine hydrochloride | supplement | good | - | 2.5 |
| 24 | Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) | Folic acid | supplement | good | - | 2.4 |
| 25 | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Vitamin B12 | supplement | good | - | 2.4 |
| 26 | Ferrous Sulfate | Iron sulfate | supplement | good | - | 2.3 |
| 27 | Copper Sulfate | Copper sulphate | supplement | good | - | 2.3 |
| 28 | Manganese Sulfate | Manganese sulfate | supplement | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 29 | Zinc Sulfate | Zinc sulfate | supplement | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 30 | Calcium Iodate | Calcium iodate | supplement | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 31 | Sodium Selenite | Sodium selenite | supplement | poor | - | 2.1 |
| 32 | Cobalt Sulfate | unmatched | - | - | - | 2.1 |
| 33 | Taurine | Taurine | supplement | good | - | 2.0 |
| 34 | Glucosamine Hydrochloride | Glucosamine | supplement | good | - | 2.0 |
| 35 | Mixed Tocopherols | Tocopherols | additive | good | - | 1.9 |
| 36 | Rosemary Extract | Rosemary | veg | good | - | 1.9 |
| 37 | Tea Extract | Green Tea | veg | good | - | 1.8 |
| 38 | Spearmint Extract | Spearmint | veg | good | - | 1.8 |
Brand
- Website
- https://naturalnzpetfood.nz/
- [email protected]
- Phone
- 0275 89 39 29
- Address
- THE HOUSE OF FOOD LIMITED T/a Natural NZ Pet Foods and Treats, 55 Ryburn Road, Newstead, Hamilton, 3286
- Contact page
- naturalnzpetfood.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
- naturalnzpetfood.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 | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.26 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 2.1% | -0.115 | -0.24 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 4.0% | -0.092 | -0.37 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 15.5% | -0.005 | -0.08 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 9.3% | 0.163 | +1.51 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 59.8% | -0.012 | -0.73 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 1.3% | -0.027 | -0.03 |
| Recipe graded poor | 5.3% | -0.065 | -0.34 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 3.2% | 0.060 | +0.19 |
| 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 | -9.89 | 0.222 | -2.20 |
| 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 | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.26 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 2.1% | -0.115 | -0.24 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 4.0% | -0.092 | -0.37 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 15.5% | -0.005 | -0.08 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 9.3% | 0.163 | +1.51 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 59.8% | -0.012 | -0.73 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 1.3% | -0.027 | -0.03 |
| Recipe graded poor | 5.3% | -0.065 | -0.34 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 3.2% | 0.060 | +0.19 |
| 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 | -9.89 | 0.222 | -2.20 |
| 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
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 66.8
- Final score
- 67/100
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 | 20 | 22.2 (band 18 to 40%) | 81.5 |
| Fat | 13 | 14.4 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 4 | 4.4 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 328 | 364.4 | 100 |
Scored over 4 declared nutrients (combined weight 60); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
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) | 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.
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 — 2 checkable claims: 2 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "grain-free formulation" — supported by the declared grain-free data.
- "free from artificial additives, grains, or generic fillers" — supported by the declared grain-free data.
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ethically sourced, free-range New Zealand lamb and beef (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| carries the New Zealand Made endorsement (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Glucosamine fortifies joint cartilage and synovial fluid integrity (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| taurine offers prophylactic support for cardiac efficiency and ocular health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| rapid-air drying process (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| exceeds AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Premium Grain-Free Nutrition for Large & Giant Breed Dogs (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| oversized pellets (22-25mm diameter) (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| grain-free formulation (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| free from artificial additives, grains, or generic fillers (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
Other products from Naturalnzpetfood
See all products from Naturalnzpetfood
Alternatives to MEGA Large Breed Adult
Foods in our database that are similar on ingredients, protein, format or price. Scores and figures are from the same deterministic model used everywhere on the site.
Community
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share how this went down with your dog.