Is Blue Buffalo Beef Meatball Recipe a good dog food?
We score it 54/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
The product scores 54 out of 100. Undeclared ingredient shares, where ingredients appear without printed percentages, weighed on the result at -10.6, while the overall quality of the ingredient list lifted things by +5.6. The additive load pulled the score down by -2.4, and the processing format contributed a further -2.4.
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.
- Recipe54
- Nutritionallow100
- Transparency55
- Safety100
- EvidenceNot recorded
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
- 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 3% of the dry matter (8% 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
- 19%
- Fat
- 9%
- Fibre
- 2%
- Moisture
- 60%
Energy: 210.2 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Taurine; Zinc Amino Acid Chelate; Iron Amino Acid Chelate; Vitamin E Supplement; L-Carnitine; Vitamin A Supplement; Copper Amino Acid Chelate; Vitamin B12 Supplement; Manganese Amino Acid Chelate; Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1); Niacin (Vitamin B3); Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5); Biotin (Vitamin B7); Riboflavin (Vitamin B2); Vitamin D3 Supplement; Folic Acid (Vitamin B9); Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6); Potassium Iodide; Sodium Selenite
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols; Oil of Rosemary
Storage
Keep refrigerated and use within 7 days of opening.
Feeding guide
For X Small dogs (5–15 lb): full meal ¾–1½ cups per day, 50/50 ⅓–¾ cup per day, or ¼ cup as a topper. For Small dogs (16–25 lb): full meal 1½–2¼ cups per day, 50/50 ¾–1¼ cups per day, or ¼–½ cup as a topper. Adjust as required to maintain optimal body condition. Provide clean, cool, fresh water at all times.
Reviews
Trustpilot: 1.9/5 · 14 reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at small dogs
- Doesn't list turkey, lamb, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids beef: the label lists beef
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists oat flour
- 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 (47)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beef | Beef | meat | medium | - | 2.8 |
| 2 | Chicken | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 2.8 |
| 3 | Egg | Egg | meat | good | - | 2.8 |
| 4 | Pea Protein | Pea protein | carb | medium | - | 2.7 |
| 5 | Carrots | Carrots | veg | good | - | 2.7 |
| 6 | Peas | Peas | veg | medium | - | 2.7 |
| 7 | Oat Flour | Oat Flour | carb | medium | - | 2.6 |
| 8 | Natural Flavor | Flavor | additive | poor | - | 2.6 |
| 9 | Brown Rice | Rice - brown / whole grain | carb | medium | - | 2.6 |
| 10 | Celery Juice | Celery Seeds | veg | good | - | 2.5 |
| 11 | Flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 2.5 |
| 12 | Oat Fiber | Crude Fibre | fibre | medium | - | 2.5 |
| 13 | Vinegar | Vinegar | additive | medium | - | 2.5 |
| 14 | Cane Molasses | Cane Molasses | carb | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 15 | Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 16 | Dicalcium Phosphate | Dicalcium phosphate | supplement | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 17 | Calcium Carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 18 | Sodium Acetate | unmatched | - | - | - | 2.3 |
| 19 | DL-Methionine | Methionine | supplement | good | - | 2.3 |
| 20 | Acetic Acid | Acetic acid | additive | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 21 | Dried Chicory Root | Chicory root | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
| 22 | Lactic Acid | unmatched | - | - | - | 2.2 |
| 23 | L-Threonine | Threonine | supplement | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 24 | L-Tryptophan | L-Tryptophan | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
| 25 | Magnesium Sulfate | Magnesium sulfate | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
| 26 | Blueberries | Blueberries | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 27 | Cranberries | Cranberries | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 28 | Taurine | Taurine | supplement | good | - | 2.0 |
| 29 | Zinc Amino Acid Chelate | Zinc Proteinate | supplement | good | - | 2.0 |
| 30 | Iron Amino Acid Chelate | Iron Proteinate | mineral | good | - | 1.9 |
| 31 | Vitamin E Supplement | Vitamin E | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 32 | L-Carnitine | L-Carnitine | supplement | medium | - | 1.9 |
| 33 | Vitamin A Supplement | Vitamin A | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 34 | Copper Amino Acid Chelate | Copper proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 35 | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Vitamin B12 | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 36 | Manganese Amino Acid Chelate | Manganese proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 37 | Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1) | Thiamine mononitrate | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 38 | Niacin (Vitamin B3) | Niacin | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 39 | Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5) | Calcium pantothenate | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 40 | Biotin (Vitamin B7) | Biotin | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 41 | Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) | Riboflavin | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 42 | Vitamin D3 Supplement | Vitamin D3 supplement | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 43 | Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) | Folic acid | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 44 | Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) | Pyridoxine hydrochloride | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 45 | Potassium Iodide | Potassium iodide | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 46 | Sodium Selenite | Sodium selenite | supplement | poor | - | 1.5 |
| 47 | Oil of Rosemary | Rosemary | veg | good | - | 1.4 |
Brand
- Website
- https://www.bluebuffalo.com/
- Contact page
- www.bluebuffalo.com
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
- www.bluebuffalo.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.
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 | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.61 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 12.1% | -0.115 | -1.40 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 3.1% | -0.092 | -0.29 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 8.3% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 11.0% | 0.163 | +1.79 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 53.9% | -0.012 | -0.66 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 3.0% | -0.027 | -0.08 |
| Recipe graded poor | 4.0% | -0.065 | -0.26 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 2.6% | 0.060 | +0.15 |
| 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 | -10.90 | 0.222 | -2.42 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.07 | 33.786 | +36.15 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | yes | -2.354 | -2.35 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.61 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 12.1% | -0.115 | -1.40 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 3.1% | -0.092 | -0.29 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 8.3% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 11.0% | 0.163 | +1.79 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 53.9% | -0.012 | -0.66 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 3.0% | -0.027 | -0.08 |
| Recipe graded poor | 4.0% | -0.065 | -0.26 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 2.6% | 0.060 | +0.15 |
| 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 | -10.90 | 0.222 | -2.42 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.07 | 33.786 | +36.15 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | yes | -2.354 | -2.35 |
| 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 | 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
- -1.74
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 54.2
- Final score
- 54/100
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 | 19 | 47.5 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 9 | 22.5 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 2 | 5 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 210.2 | 525.5 | 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) | 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.
Claims on file; none we can check against the label
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supporting heart health with every scoop. (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| We add Taurine to every Love Made Fresh recipe to give your dog some extra heart health support. (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| you won't find poultry by-product meals or artificial flavors or preservatives here (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| REAL, NATURAL INGREDIENTS (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Refrigerated Fresh Dog Food (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Crafted with real beef, delicious carrots & peas, and cooked to perfection. (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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