Our verdict
Is NutriSource Chicken & Barley Dog Formula a good dog food?
We score it 51/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
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
- Doesn't list turkey, lamb, 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 liver
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists barley
- 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.
Ingredients (10)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- meat 24.5%
- carb 21.3%
- additive 17.4%
- other 12.3%
- supplement 9.0%
- oil 8.4%
- fibre 7.1%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | chicken | Chicken | meat · medium | - | 12.9 |
| 2 | water sufficient for processing | Water | other | - | 12.3 |
| 3 | beef liver | Beef Liver | meat · good | - | 11.6 |
| 4 | barley | Barley | carb · medium | - | 11.0 |
| 5 | brown rice | Rice - brown / whole grain | carb · medium | - | 10.3 |
| 6 | agar-agar | Agar-agar | additive · medium | - | 9.7 |
| 7 | potassium chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 9.0 |
| 8 | salmon oil (preserved with tocopherols) | Salmon Oil | oil · good | - | 8.4 |
| 9 | natural flavor | Flavor | additive · poor | - | 7.7 |
| 10 | dehydrated alfalfa meal | Alfalfa Meal | fibre · medium | - | 7.1 |
- 1. chicken12.9% estimated
- 2. water sufficient for processing12.3% estimated
- 3. beef liver11.6% estimated
- 4. barley11.0% estimated
- 5. brown rice10.3% estimated
- 6. agar-agar9.7% estimated
- 7. potassium chloride9.0% estimated
- 8. salmon oil (preserved with tocopherols)8.4% estimated
- 9. natural flavor7.7% estimated
- 10. dehydrated alfalfa meal7.1% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 9.70% · Fat 6.39%
Declared analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9.70% |
| Fat | 6.39% |
| Fibre | 0.36% |
| Ash | 1.87% |
| Moisture | 76.20% |
| Carbohydrates | 5.47% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.09% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 1.19% |
| Calcium | 0.41% |
| Phosphorus | 0.30% |
| Sodium | 0.12% |
Energy: 107.6 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
Promptly refrigerate the unused portion. Fresh water should be available at all times.
Feeding guide
Adult: Feed 3/4 to 1 can per 15 lbs. of body weight per day. Puppy: Feed up to twice the adult amount per day. Gestation and Lactation: Feed up to three times the adult amount per day. For combination feeding, feed 1/3 cup less dry food for every 1/2 can of wet food.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Zinc proteinate; Iron proteinate; Copper proteinate; Manganese proteinate; Sodium selenite; Ethylenediamine dihydroiodide; Vitamin E supplement; Niacin supplement; Thiamine mononitrate; D-calcium pantothenate; Vitamin A supplement; Riboflavin supplement; Vitamin B12 supplement; Pyridoxine hydrochloride; Biotin; Folic acid; Vitamin D3 supplement
Technological additives
Lactic acid; Rosemary extract; Tocopherols (preservative in chicken fat); Citric acid (preservative in chicken fat)
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-29
Brand and contact: NutriSource
- Phone
- (800) 525-9155
- Contact page
- discovernutrisource.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-29
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- discovernutrisource.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?
This recipe achieves an overall score of 51 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +3.9 points, while the additives in the recipe added +4 points. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6 points, and the additive load further adjusted the total by -4.6 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 | 0.4 | 9.191 | +3.93 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 29.1% | -0.115 | -3.35 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 12.9% | -0.092 | -1.19 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 24.4% | 0.163 | +3.97 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 12.9% | -0.012 | -0.16 |
| Recipe graded poor | 7.7% | -0.065 | -0.50 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 7.7% | 0.060 | +0.46 |
| 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 | -20.90 | 0.222 | -4.64 |
| 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 | 0.4 | 9.191 | +3.93 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 29.1% | -0.115 | -3.35 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 12.9% | -0.092 | -1.19 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.005 | +0.00 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 24.4% | 0.163 | +3.97 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 12.9% | -0.012 | -0.16 |
| 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 | 7.7% | -0.065 | -0.50 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 7.7% | 0.060 | +0.46 |
| 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 | -20.90 | 0.222 | -4.64 |
| 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
- 51.2
- Final score
- 51/100
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 | 9.7 | 35.9 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 6.39 | 23.7 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 0.36 | 1.3 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 81.1 |
| Calcium | 0.41 | 1.5 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 0.3 | 1.1 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 100 |
| Sodium | 0.12 | 0.4 (band 0.1+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.4 | 1.4 (band 1 to 2%) | 92 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 107.6 | 398.5 | 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 9 declared nutrients (combined weight 105); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 73% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 17 nutritional additives on the label
- Zinc proteinate
- Iron proteinate
- Copper proteinate
- Manganese proteinate
- Sodium selenite
- Ethylenediamine dihydroiodide
- Vitamin E supplement
- Niacin supplement
- Thiamine mononitrate
- D-calcium pantothenate
- Vitamin A supplement
- Riboflavin supplement
- Vitamin B12 supplement
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride
- Biotin
- Folic acid
- Vitamin D3 supplement
Medium confidence: the full five-part analysis is on file; where moisture was not declared it was 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) | 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 (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.
50/100 · limited — 2 checkable claims: 1 consistent, 1 contradicted.
Contradicted by the label
- "Formulated without corn, wheat, soy or by-products" — the declared label says otherwise on grain-free.
Consistent with the label
- "Formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages including growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult)" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
3 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Limited: at least one claim contradicts the declared label, or a recent upheld ASA ruling applies.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superior palatability, nutrient dense (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made with wholesome grains (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chicken is the #1 ingredient (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Formulated without corn, wheat, soy or by-products (on page) | Free-from | contradicted | Manufacturer assertion |
| Formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages including growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult) (on page) | Content | consistent | 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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