Instinct Pet Food FreshDried Raw Meals for Puppies Chicken Recipe
Dry Freeze Dried · complete
Our verdict
Is Instinct Pet Food FreshDried Raw Meals for Puppies Chicken Recipe a good dog food?
We score it 70/100 (Good). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
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 puppies
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- 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 cod
- 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 (30)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- meat 34.3%
- veg 27.9%
- additive 13.5%
- supplement 8.9%
- carb 5.7%
- fibre 5.1%
- oil 4.6%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken | Chicken | meat · medium | - | 4.4 |
| 2 | Beef Liver | Beef Liver | meat · good | - | 4.3 |
| 3 | Beef Spleen | Beef Spleen | meat · good | - | 4.2 |
| 4 | Beef Kidney | Beef Kidney | meat · good | - | 4.2 |
| 5 | Cod | Cod | meat · good | - | 4.1 |
| 6 | Pumpkin Seeds | Pumpkin Seeds | veg · good | - | 4.0 |
| 7 | Carrots | Carrots | veg · good | - | 4.0 |
| 8 | Apples | Apples | veg · good | - | 3.9 |
| 9 | Sweet Potatoes | Sweet Potatoes | carb · good | - | 3.8 |
| 10 | Butternut Squash | Butternut Squash | veg · good | - | 3.7 |
| 11 | Montmorillonite Clay | Clay | additive · medium | - | 3.7 |
| 12 | Ground Miscanthus Grass | Miscanthus Grass | fibre · medium | - | 3.6 |
| 13 | Ground Flaxseed | Ground Flaxseed (2%) | supplement · good | - | 3.5 |
| 14 | Salmon Oil | Salmon Oil | oil · good | - | 3.4 |
| 15 | Lactic Acid | Lactic Acid | additive · medium | - | 3.4 |
| 16 | Chicory Root | Chicory root | veg · good | - | 3.3 |
| 17 | Tricalcium Phosphate | Tricalcium phosphate | supplement · good | - | 3.2 |
| 18 | Salt | Salt | additive · poor | - | 3.2 |
| 19 | Vitamin E Supplement | Vitamin E | supplement · good | - | 3.1 |
| 20 | Thiamine Mononitrate | Thiamine mononitrate | supplement · good | - | 3.0 |
| 21 | Vitamin D3 Supplement | Vitamin D3 supplement | supplement · good | - | 2.9 |
| 22 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 2.9 |
| 23 | Zinc Proteinate | Zinc Proteinate | supplement · good | - | 2.8 |
| 24 | Copper Proteinate | Copper proteinate | supplement · good | - | 2.7 |
| 25 | Manganese Proteinate | Manganese proteinate | supplement · good | - | 2.6 |
| 26 | Calcium Iodate | Calcium iodate | supplement · medium | - | 2.6 |
| 27 | Mixed Tocopherols | Tocopherols | additive · good | - | 2.5 |
| 28 | Blueberries | Blueberries | veg · good | - | 2.4 |
| 29 | Spinach | Spinach | veg · good | - | 2.3 |
| 30 | Rosemary Extract. | Rosemary | veg · good | - | 2.3 |
- 1. Chicken4.4% estimated
- 2. Beef Liver4.3% estimated
- 3. Beef Spleen4.2% estimated
- 4. Beef Kidney4.2% estimated
- 5. Cod4.1% estimated
- 6. Pumpkin Seeds4.0% estimated
- 7. Carrots4.0% estimated
- 8. Apples3.9% estimated
- 9. Sweet Potatoes3.8% estimated
- 10. Butternut Squash3.7% estimated
- 11. Montmorillonite Clay3.7% estimated
- 12. Ground Miscanthus Grass3.6% estimated
- 13. Ground Flaxseed3.5% estimated
- 14. Salmon Oil3.4% estimated
- 15. Lactic Acid3.4% estimated
- 16. Chicory Root3.3% estimated
- 17. Tricalcium Phosphate3.2% estimated
- 18. Salt3.2% estimated
- 19. Vitamin E Supplement3.1% estimated
- 20. Thiamine Mononitrate3.0% estimated
- 21. Vitamin D3 Supplement2.9% estimated
- 22. Potassium Chloride2.9% estimated
- 23. Zinc Proteinate2.8% estimated
- 24. Copper Proteinate2.7% estimated
- 25. Manganese Proteinate2.6% estimated
- 26. Calcium Iodate2.6% estimated
- 27. Mixed Tocopherols2.5% estimated
- 28. Blueberries2.4% estimated
- 29. Spinach2.3% estimated
- 30. Rosemary Extract.2.3% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 38% · Fat 29%
Declared analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 38% |
| Fat | 29% |
| Fibre | 6% |
| Moisture | 6% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.90% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 4% |
| Calcium | 1.20% |
| Phosphorus | 1% |
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Ideal feeding amounts will vary by age, weight, and activity level so the guide should be used as an initial recommendation. Visit the Instinct Pet Food website for more specific feeding recommendations.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin E Supplement; Thiamine Mononitrate; Vitamin D3 Supplement; Zinc Proteinate; Copper Proteinate; Manganese Proteinate; Calcium Iodate
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols (for freshness); Lactic Acid; Rosemary Extract
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-13
Brand and contact: Instinct Pet Food
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-13
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.instinctpetfood.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.
Brand and retailer reviews
External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.
Trustpilot: 0.0/5 · 0 reviews
15 reviews on this product · 4.9/5
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 70 out of 100 based on our assessment. The presence of ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.6 points to the total. On the positive side, the processing format added +6.6 points, while the overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +6 points. Finally, the additives in the recipe added +4 points to the overall score.
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 | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 2.9% | -0.115 | -0.33 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 9.3% | -0.092 | -0.86 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 18.0% | -0.005 | -0.09 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 24.7% | 0.163 | +4.02 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 16.5% | -0.012 | -0.20 |
| Recipe graded poor | 3.8% | -0.065 | -0.25 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 3.8% | 0.060 | +0.23 |
| 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 | -16.32 | 0.222 | -3.62 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.11 | 33.786 | +37.50 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | yes | 6.629 | +6.63 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.00 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 2.9% | -0.115 | -0.33 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 9.3% | -0.092 | -0.86 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 18.0% | -0.005 | -0.09 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 24.7% | 0.163 | +4.02 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 16.5% | -0.012 | -0.20 |
| 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 | 3.8% | -0.065 | -0.25 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 3.8% | 0.060 | +0.23 |
| 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 | -16.32 | 0.222 | -3.62 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.11 | 33.786 | +37.50 |
| 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 | yes | 6.629 | +6.63 |
| 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
- +0.06
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 69.7
- Final score
- 70/100
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 puppies and growth. 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.
Scored against FEDIAF growth minima; puppy scoring is under review; 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 | 38 | 40.4 | 100 |
| Fat | 29 | 30.9 | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.2 | 1.3 | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 1 | 1.1 | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.2 | 1.2 | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100, omega-3 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 6 declared nutrients (combined weight 80); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 6% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 7 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin E Supplement
- Thiamine Mononitrate
- Vitamin D3 Supplement
- Zinc Proteinate
- Copper Proteinate
- Manganese Proteinate
- Calcium Iodate
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) - not on file | 0/5 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 ingredient is responsibly sourced protein raised without antibiotics or added hormones (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Feeding FreshDried raw supports lean muscles, strong bones, a vibrant skin & coat, better digestive and immune health and improved energy and vitality (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Just scoop and serve for an easy, convenient, nutritious meal (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made without grain, corn, wheat, soy, legumes, artificial colors or preservatives (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Protein packed with 85% meat & organs and 15% non-GMO vegetables, fruits & other wholesome ingredients (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| with 3x more real meat and organs than kibble (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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