Our verdict
Is NutriSource Performance Chicken a good dog food?
We score it 42/100 (Poor). The main reasons are set out in "Why you might not" below, and every step of the calculation is shown under "How we calculated this score".
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.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Doesn't list beef, lamb, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dried chicken protein
- Your dog avoids turkey: it is listed as an ingredient
- 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 (12)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 24.8%
- veg 18.0%
- meat 18.0%
- supplement 15.3%
- oil 9.9%
- fibre 8.1%
- additive 5.9%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | chicken meal | Dried chicken protein | meat · good | - | 10.8 |
| 2 | peas | Peas | veg · good | - | 10.4 |
| 3 | chicken fat (preserved with tocopherols and citric acid) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil · good | - | 9.9 |
| 4 | pea starch | Pea Starch | carb · poor | - | 9.5 |
| 5 | dried yeast | Yeast | supplement · good | - | 9.0 |
| 6 | barley | Barley | carb · medium | - | 8.6 |
| 7 | dried plain beet pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre · medium | - | 8.1 |
| 8 | flax seed | Linseed | veg · good | - | 7.7 |
| 9 | natural chicken and turkey flavors | Chicken | meat · medium | - | 7.2 |
| 10 | sunflower meal | Sunflower Meal | carb · poor | - | 6.8 |
| 11 | potassium chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 6.3 |
| 12 | salt | Salt | additive · poor | - | 5.9 |
- 1. chicken meal10.8% estimated
- 2. peas10.4% estimated
- 3. chicken fat (preserved with tocopherols and citric acid)9.9% estimated
- 4. pea starch9.5% estimated
- 5. dried yeast9.0% estimated
- 6. barley8.6% estimated
- 7. dried plain beet pulp8.1% estimated
- 8. flax seed7.7% estimated
- 9. natural chicken and turkey flavors7.2% estimated
- 10. sunflower meal6.8% estimated
- 11. potassium chloride6.3% estimated
- 12. salt5.9% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 30% · Fat 20%
Declared analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 30% |
| Fat | 20% |
| Fibre | 6% |
| Moisture | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 28.11% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 1% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 3% |
| Calcium | 1.79% |
| Phosphorus | 1.15% |
| Sodium | 0.34% |
Energy: 414 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
Promptly refrigerate the unused portion. Food should be fed at room temperature.
Feeding guide
Feed based on adult dog weight (1–100 lbs); amounts range from 1/8 to 3 1/4 cups (16–342 g) per day. Divide into 2 feedings daily; add ~1/4 cup (26 g) for every 10 lbs over 100 lbs. Adjust for activity level, age, breed and environment.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Iron 150 mg/kg; Copper 12 mg/kg; Manganese 15 mg/kg; Zinc 150 mg/kg; Vitamin E supplement; Niacin supplement; Vitamin A supplement; Riboflavin supplement; d-Calcium pantothenate; Thiamine mononitrate; Pyridoxine hydrochloride; Vitamin B12 supplement; Biotin; Vitamin D3 supplement; Folic acid; Taurine; L-Carnitine
Technological additives
Chicken fat preserved with tocopherols and citric acid; Rosemary extract
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 rating of 42 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +2.7 points to the total. However, the presence of ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6. Furthermore, the processing format decreased the score by -6.7, and the carbohydrate content lowered the final result by -3.2.
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 | 0.3 | 9.191 | +2.71 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 27.8% | -0.115 | -3.20 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 12.4% | -0.092 | -1.15 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 10.7% | -0.005 | -0.06 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.7% | 0.163 | +1.09 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 17.9% | -0.012 | -0.22 |
| Recipe graded poor | 22.1% | -0.065 | -1.43 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 9.5% | 0.060 | +0.57 |
| 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 | -7.14 | 0.222 | -1.59 |
| 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 | 0.3 | 9.191 | +2.71 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 27.8% | -0.115 | -3.20 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 12.4% | -0.092 | -1.15 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 10.7% | -0.005 | -0.06 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.7% | 0.163 | +1.09 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 17.9% | -0.012 | -0.22 |
| 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 | 22.1% | -0.065 | -1.43 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 9.5% | 0.060 | +0.57 |
| 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 | -7.14 | 0.222 | -1.59 |
| 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
- 42.0
- Final score
- 42/100
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 | 30 | 33.1 (band 20.585635359116022 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 20 | 22.1 (band 6.290055248618785 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 6 | 6.6 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.79 | 2 (band 0.5718232044198895 to 2.5%) | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 1.15 | 1.3 (band 0.45745856353591163 to 1.6%) | 100 |
| Sodium | 0.34 | 0.4 (band 0.11436464088397791+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.6 | 1.6 (band 1 to 2%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 414 | 457.5 | 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 9 declared nutrients (combined weight 105); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Portion-control flag: 414 kcal/100g as fed with fat at 22.1% dry matter, above the reference band. High-energy foods need smaller portions.
Declared fortification: 17 nutritional additives on the label
- Iron 150 mg/kg
- Copper 12 mg/kg
- Manganese 15 mg/kg
- Zinc 150 mg/kg
- Vitamin E supplement
- Niacin supplement
- Vitamin A supplement
- Riboflavin supplement
- d-Calcium pantothenate
- Thiamine mononitrate
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride
- Vitamin B12 supplement
- Biotin
- Vitamin D3 supplement
- Folic acid
- Taurine
- L-Carnitine
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 · moderate — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "formulated to meet AAFCO guidelines for maintenance of adult dogs" — supported by the declared complete and balanced 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| enriched with balanced Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for healthy development, skin, and coat (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| supplemented with taurine, choline chloride, and L-Carnitine to promote a strong, healthy heart (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| chicken as the #1 ingredient (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| grain-inclusive formula (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| formulated to meet AAFCO guidelines for maintenance of adult dogs (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.
Alternatives to Performance Chicken
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