Merrick Pet Care Grain Free Pint Sized Puppy Plate Recipe in Gravy
Wet Chunks complete
Is Merrick Pet Care Grain Free Pint Sized Puppy Plate Recipe in Gravy 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?
This recipe achieves a total score of 54 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +4.9 points and the additives in the recipe contributed +5.1 points. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6 points, and the additive load deducted -4.5 points.
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
- Transparency60
- 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
- Doesn't list grain ingredients.
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
- Its additive load costs about 5 points in the rating.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 8.50%
- Fat
- 3.50%
- Fibre
- 1.40%
- Moisture
- 82%
Energy: 96.8 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Zinc Amino Acid Chelate; Iron Amino Acid Chelate; Copper Amino Acid Chelate; Manganese Amino Acid Chelate; Sodium Selenite; Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate; Potassium Iodide; Vitamin E Supplement; Thiamine Mononitrate; Niacin Supplement; d-Calcium Pantothenate; Vitamin A Supplement; Riboflavin Supplement; Biotin; Vitamin B12 Supplement; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride; Vitamin D3 Supplement; Folic Acid; Choline Chloride
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols
Feeding guide
Feed an adult dog 3 to 4 bowls (3.5 oz) per 10 lbs of body weight daily. Up to 11 weeks of age, feed as much as your puppy will eat in 3 to 4 feedings per day. 11 to 26 weeks of age, feed 3 to 4 bowls per 5 lbs of body weight per day. 26 to 52 weeks of age, feed 2 to 3 bowls per 5 lbs of body weight per day. Adjust feeding level to your dog's individual needs. Serve at room temperature. Keep fresh water available at all times.
Reviews
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Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for puppies
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list beef, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists deboned chicken
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists turkey
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- 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 (19)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deboned Chicken | Deboned Chicken | meat | good | - | 6.9 |
| 2 | Chicken Broth | Cooking broth | other | medium | - | 6.7 |
| 3 | Turkey Broth | Cooking broth | other | medium | - | 6.5 |
| 4 | Chicken Liver | Chicken Liver | meat | good | - | 6.4 |
| 5 | Deboned Turkey | Turkey | meat | medium | - | 6.2 |
| 6 | Dried Egg Whites | Dried Egg | meat | medium | - | 6.0 |
| 7 | Potato Starch | Potato starch | carb | poor | - | 5.8 |
| 8 | Potatoes | Potatoes | carb | medium | - | 5.6 |
| 9 | Peas | Peas | veg | medium | - | 5.4 |
| 10 | Apples | Apples | veg | good | - | 5.3 |
| 11 | Red Peppers | Red Pepper | veg | good | - | 5.1 |
| 12 | Guar Gum | Guar gum | additive | medium | - | 4.9 |
| 13 | Sunflower Oil | Sunflower oil | oil | good | - | 4.7 |
| 14 | Salmon Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols) | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 4.5 |
| 15 | Tricalcium Phosphate | Tricalcium phosphate | supplement | good | - | 4.4 |
| 16 | Sodium Phosphate | Sodium phosphate | additive | poor | - | 4.2 |
| 17 | Salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 4.0 |
| 18 | Natural Flavor | Flavor | additive | poor | - | 3.8 |
| 19 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 3.6 |
Brand
- Phone
- 1-800-664-7387
- Address
- Office of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 340, Neenah, WI 54957
- Contact page
- www.merrickpetcare.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-12
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.merrickpetcare.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 | 0.5 | 9.191 | +4.89 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 5.9% | -0.115 | -0.68 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 18.9% | -0.092 | -1.74 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 4.9% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 31.3% | 0.163 | +5.10 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 15.1% | -0.012 | -0.18 |
| Other share of dry matter | 1.4% | -0.375 | -0.51 |
| Recipe graded poor | 13.8% | -0.065 | -0.90 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 5.8% | 0.060 | +0.35 |
| 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 | -20.33 | 0.222 | -4.51 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 33.786 | +33.79 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | yes | -0.672 | -0.67 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.5 | 9.191 | +4.89 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 5.9% | -0.115 | -0.68 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 18.9% | -0.092 | -1.74 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 4.9% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 31.3% | 0.163 | +5.10 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 15.1% | -0.012 | -0.18 |
| Other share of dry matter | 1.4% | -0.375 | -0.51 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 13.8% | -0.065 | -0.90 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 5.8% | 0.060 | +0.35 |
| 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 | -20.33 | 0.222 | -4.51 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 33.786 | +33.79 |
| 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 | 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 | yes | -0.672 | -0.67 |
- Processing-type offset
- -0.08
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 53.7
- 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 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 | 8.5 | 40.5 | 100 |
| Fat | 3.5 | 16.7 | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 96.8 | 461 | 100 |
Scored over 3 declared nutrients (combined weight 50); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 79% from the food type.
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) | 10/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) | 5/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High protein to help developing healthy muscles and energy levels (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Complete and balanced nutrition with essential vitamins and minerals (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Real deboned chicken is the first ingredient (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made with a holistic blend of ingredients, including potatoes, peas, and apples (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Premium, Soft And Natural With Added Vitamins And Minerals (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Grain Free (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives (on pack) | Free-from | 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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