Merrick Pet Care Grain Free Puppy Plate Chicken Recipe In Gravy
Wet Chunks · complete
Our verdict
Is Merrick Pet Care Grain Free Puppy Plate Chicken Recipe In Gravy a good dog food?
We score it 52/100 (Average). 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 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 fish 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. Find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (28)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- veg 20.7%
- supplement 20.7%
- meat 17.9%
- additive 15.0%
- carb 11.8%
- oil 6.5%
- other 4.5%
- fibre 3.1%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deboned Chicken | Deboned Chicken | meat · good | - | 4.7 |
| 2 | Chicken Broth | Chicken Broth | meat · medium | - | 4.6 |
| 3 | Turkey | Turkey | meat · medium | - | 4.5 |
| 4 | Turkey Broth | Cooking broth | other · medium | - | 4.5 |
| 5 | Sweet Potatoes | Sweet Potatoes | carb · good | - | 4.4 |
| 6 | Carrots | Carrots | veg · good | - | 4.3 |
| 7 | Apples | Apples | veg · good | - | 4.2 |
| 8 | Peas | Peas | veg · good | - | 4.1 |
| 9 | Dried Egg Product | Dried Egg | meat · medium | - | 4.0 |
| 10 | Potato Protein | Potato protein | carb · medium | - | 3.9 |
| 11 | Natural Flavor | Flavor | additive · poor | - | 3.9 |
| 12 | Sodium Phosphate | Sodium phosphate | additive · poor | - | 3.8 |
| 13 | Salt | Salt | additive · poor | - | 3.7 |
| 14 | Guar Gum | Guar gum | additive · medium | - | 3.6 |
| 15 | Calcium Carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement · medium | - | 3.5 |
| 16 | Potato Starch | Potato starch | carb · poor | - | 3.4 |
| 17 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 3.4 |
| 18 | Flaxseed Oil | Linseed oil | oil · good | - | 3.3 |
| 19 | Fish Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols) | Fish Oil | oil · good | - | 3.2 |
| 20 | Flaxseed Meal | Linseed Cake | fibre · medium | - | 3.1 |
| 21 | MINERALS [Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide] | Manganese proteinate | supplement · good | - | 3.0 |
| 22 | Magnesium Sulfate | Magnesium sulfate | supplement · good | - | 2.9 |
| 23 | VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Niacin Supplement (Vitamin B-3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9)] | Pyridoxine hydrochloride | supplement · good | - | 2.9 |
| 24 | Rosemary | Rosemary | veg · good | - | 2.8 |
| 25 | Sage | Sage | veg · good | - | 2.7 |
| 26 | Thyme | Thyme | veg · good | - | 2.6 |
| 27 | Choline Chloride | Choline | supplement · good | - | 2.5 |
| 28 | Yucca Schidigera Extract | Yucca Schidigera | supplement · good | - | 2.4 |
- 1. Deboned Chicken4.7% estimated
- 2. Chicken Broth4.6% estimated
- 3. Turkey4.5% estimated
- 4. Turkey Broth4.5% estimated
- 5. Sweet Potatoes4.4% estimated
- 6. Carrots4.3% estimated
- 7. Apples4.2% estimated
- 8. Peas4.1% estimated
- 9. Dried Egg Product4.0% estimated
- 10. Potato Protein3.9% estimated
- 11. Natural Flavor3.9% estimated
- 12. Sodium Phosphate3.8% estimated
- 13. Salt3.7% estimated
- 14. Guar Gum3.6% estimated
- 15. Calcium Carbonate3.5% estimated
- 16. Potato Starch3.4% estimated
- 17. Potassium Chloride3.4% estimated
- 18. Flaxseed Oil3.3% estimated
- 19. Fish Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)3.2% estimated
- 20. Flaxseed Meal3.1% estimated
- 21. MINERALS [Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide]3.0% estimated
- 22. Magnesium Sulfate2.9% estimated
- 23. VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Niacin Supplement (Vitamin B-3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9)]2.9% estimated
- 24. Rosemary2.8% estimated
- 25. Sage2.7% estimated
- 26. Thyme2.6% estimated
- 27. Choline Chloride2.5% estimated
- 28. Yucca Schidigera Extract2.4% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 9% · Fat 5%
Declared analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9% |
| Fat | 5% |
| Fibre | 1.50% |
| Moisture | 82% |
Energy: 107.6 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
Refrigerate unused portions.
Feeding guide
For puppies over 40 lbs., add 1 can for each additional 10 lbs. Feed pregnant or lactating females up to 1 1/2 for the same weight. Feed adult dogs 1/2 the recommended daily portion for the same weight. Adjust feeding level to your dog's individual needs. Shake well before opening. Keep fresh water available at all times. If feeding with dry food, reduce wet amount by 6 oz. for every 1/2 cup of dry food.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Zinc Proteinate; Iron Proteinate; Copper Proteinate; Cobalt Proteinate; Manganese Proteinate; Sodium Selenite; Potassium Iodide; Vitamin E Supplement; Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1); Niacin Supplement (Vitamin B-3); Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5); Vitamin A Supplement; Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2); Biotin (Vitamin B-7); Vitamin B-12 Supplement; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6); Vitamin D-3 Supplement; Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9)
Technological additives
Agar-Agar; Guar Gum; Fruit Juice Color; Mixed Tocopherols
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-12
Brand and contact: Merrick Pet Care
- 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.
Brand and retailer reviews
External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.
Trustpilot: 0.0/5 · 0 reviews
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 52 out of 100. The inclusion of ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.6 points to the score. Meanwhile, the overall quality of the ingredient list added +4.5 points, and the additives in the recipe contributed +4 points. Finally, the additive load impacted the rating by -4 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 | 0.5 | 9.191 | +4.48 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 5.4% | -0.115 | -0.62 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 11.7% | -0.092 | -1.08 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.7% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 24.6% | 0.163 | +4.01 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 34.8% | -0.012 | -0.42 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.4% | -0.375 | -0.15 |
| Recipe graded poor | 14.8% | -0.065 | -0.96 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 4 | -0.876 | -3.50 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 3.9% | 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 | -18.02 | 0.222 | -4.00 |
| 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 | +4.48 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 5.4% | -0.115 | -0.62 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 11.7% | -0.092 | -1.08 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.7% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 24.6% | 0.163 | +4.01 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 34.8% | -0.012 | -0.42 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.4% | -0.375 | -0.15 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 14.8% | -0.065 | -0.96 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 4 | -0.876 | -3.50 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 3.9% | 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 | -18.02 | 0.222 | -4.00 |
| 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
- 52.5
- Final score
- 52/100
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 | 9 | 42.9 | 100 |
| Fat | 5 | 23.8 | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 107.6 | 512.4 | 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.
Declared fortification: 18 nutritional additives on the label
- Zinc Proteinate
- Iron Proteinate
- Copper Proteinate
- Cobalt Proteinate
- Manganese Proteinate
- Sodium Selenite
- Potassium Iodide
- Vitamin E Supplement
- Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1)
- Niacin Supplement (Vitamin B-3)
- Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5)
- Vitamin A Supplement
- Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2)
- Biotin (Vitamin B-7)
- Vitamin B-12 Supplement
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6)
- Vitamin D-3 Supplement
- Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9)
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.
100/100 · moderate — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "complete and balanced meal" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| contains high protein to support your puppy's developing muscle mass and healthy energy levels (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or by-products (on pack) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Real deboned chicken is the first ingredient (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| natural with added vitamins and minerals (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| complete and balanced meal (on pack) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| grain free (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| gluten free (on pack) | 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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