Our verdict
Is NutriSource Large Breed Chicken Meal & Barley 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
- Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at large dogs
- Doesn't list beef, lamb, 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 fish: the label lists fish meal
- 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 (14)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 31.6%
- meat 20.9%
- veg 15.6%
- supplement 12.6%
- oil 7.3%
- fibre 6.6%
- additive 5.3%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken Meal | Dried chicken protein | meat · good | - | 9.3 |
| 2 | Barley | Barley | carb · medium | - | 9.0 |
| 3 | Peas | Peas | veg · good | - | 8.6 |
| 4 | Whole Grain Sorghum | Sorghum | carb · medium | - | 8.3 |
| 5 | Pea Starch | Pea Starch | carb · poor | - | 8.0 |
| 6 | Dried Yeast | Yeast | supplement · good | - | 7.6 |
| 7 | Chicken Fat (preserved with tocopherols and citric acid) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil · good | - | 7.3 |
| 8 | Flax Seed | Linseed | veg · good | - | 7.0 |
| 9 | Dried Plain Beet Pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre · medium | - | 6.6 |
| 10 | Sunflower Meal | Sunflower Meal | carb · poor | - | 6.3 |
| 11 | Natural Chicken and Turkey Flavors | Chicken | meat · medium | - | 6.0 |
| 12 | Menhaden Fishmeal | Fish Meal | meat · medium | - | 5.6 |
| 13 | Salt | Salt | additive · poor | - | 5.3 |
| 14 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 5.0 |
- 1. Chicken Meal9.3% estimated
- 2. Barley9.0% estimated
- 3. Peas8.6% estimated
- 4. Whole Grain Sorghum8.3% estimated
- 5. Pea Starch8.0% estimated
- 6. Dried Yeast7.6% estimated
- 7. Chicken Fat (preserved with tocopherols and citric acid)7.3% estimated
- 8. Flax Seed7.0% estimated
- 9. Dried Plain Beet Pulp6.6% estimated
- 10. Sunflower Meal6.3% estimated
- 11. Natural Chicken and Turkey Flavors6.0% estimated
- 12. Menhaden Fishmeal5.6% estimated
- 13. Salt5.3% estimated
- 14. Potassium Chloride5.0% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 24% · Fat 12%
Declared analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 24% |
| Fat | 12% |
| Fibre | 6% |
| Moisture | 10% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.80% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 2% |
Energy: 379.3 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Feed 1/8–3 2/3 cups (17–374 g) daily based on adult weight 1–100 lbs; divide into 2 feedings. Add ~1/4 cup (26 g) per 10 lbs over 100 lbs. Adjust for activity, age, breed, environment. Standard 8-oz cup holds ~3.7 oz (104 g).
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Zinc proteinate; Iron proteinate; Copper proteinate; Selenium yeast; Manganese proteinate; Ethylenediamine dihydroiodide; Choline chloride; 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; Calcium carbonate; 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 +2.9 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 -4.
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 | +2.89 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 34.7% | -0.115 | -3.99 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 9.0% | -0.092 | -0.83 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 9.4% | -0.005 | -0.05 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 5.9% | 0.163 | +0.97 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 14.4% | -0.012 | -0.18 |
| Recipe graded poor | 19.6% | -0.065 | -1.27 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 8.0% | 0.060 | +0.48 |
| 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 | -6.49 | 0.222 | -1.44 |
| 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 | +2.89 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 34.7% | -0.115 | -3.99 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 9.0% | -0.092 | -0.83 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 9.4% | -0.005 | -0.05 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 5.9% | 0.163 | +0.97 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 14.4% | -0.012 | -0.18 |
| 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 | 19.6% | -0.065 | -1.27 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 8.0% | 0.060 | +0.48 |
| 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 | -6.49 | 0.222 | -1.44 |
| 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
- 41.9
- 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 | 24 | 26.5 (band 18.860220994475142 to 40%) | 91.7 |
| Fat | 12 | 13.3 (band 5.762845303867405 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 6 | 6.6 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 379.3 | 419.1 | 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 5 declared nutrients (combined weight 70); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 21 nutritional additives on the label
- Zinc proteinate
- Iron proteinate
- Copper proteinate
- Selenium yeast
- Manganese proteinate
- Ethylenediamine dihydroiodide
- Choline chloride
- 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
- Calcium carbonate
- 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.
Claims on file; none we can check against the 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 L-Carnitine to support cellular health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supplemented with taurine, choline chloride and L-Carnitine to support heart health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chicken Meal is the #1 ingredient (on page) | Content | 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 pack) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids (balanced) (on pack) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
Alternatives to Large Breed Chicken Meal & Barley
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