Our verdict
Is Nunn Milling Company Essentials Bacon a good dog food?
We score it 35/100 (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, turkey, lamb, fish, venison, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken oil and fat
- Your dog avoids pork: the label lists bacon fat
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists maize / corn
- 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 (11)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 42.8%
- supplement 21.4%
- oil 18.2%
- meat 10.2%
- additive 7.5%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ground Corn | Maize / Corn | carb · medium | - | 11.8 |
| 2 | Ground Wheat | Wheat | carb · poor | - | 11.2 |
| 3 | Corn Protein Feed | Maize gluten | carb · poor | - | 10.7 |
| 4 | Meat Meal | Meat Meal | meat · medium | - | 10.2 |
| 5 | Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil · good | - | 9.6 |
| 6 | Soybean Meal | Soybean Meal | carb · poor | - | 9.1 |
| 7 | Dried Bacon Fat | Bacon Fat | oil · medium | - | 8.6 |
| 8 | Calcium Carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement · medium | - | 8.0 |
| 9 | Salt | Salt | additive · poor | - | 7.5 |
| 10 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 7.0 |
| 11 | Choline Chloride | Choline | supplement · good | - | 6.4 |
- 1. Ground Corn11.8% estimated
- 2. Ground Wheat11.2% estimated
- 3. Corn Protein Feed10.7% estimated
- 4. Meat Meal10.2% estimated
- 5. Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)9.6% estimated
- 6. Soybean Meal9.1% estimated
- 7. Dried Bacon Fat8.6% estimated
- 8. Calcium Carbonate8.0% estimated
- 9. Salt7.5% estimated
- 10. Potassium Chloride7.0% estimated
- 11. Choline Chloride6.4% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 20% · Fat 7%
Declared analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 20% |
| Fat | 7% |
| Fibre | 7% |
| Moisture | 10% |
Energy: 310 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Feeding amounts based on a standard 8 oz dry measuring cup; adjust as necessary to maintain optimal weight. When introducing, mix increasing amounts with decreasing amounts of current food over a 7 to 10-day period. Offer clean fresh water at all times.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin E Supplement; Niacin; Calcium Pantothenate; Vitamin A Supplement; Riboflavin Supplement; Thiamine Mononitrate; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride; Biotin; Vitamin B12 Supplement; Vitamin D3 Supplement; Folic Acid; Zinc Sulfate; Ferrous Sulfate; Copper Sulfate; Manganese Sulfate; Zinc Proteinate; Copper Proteinate; Manganese Proteinate; Sodium Selenite; Calcium Iodate
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols (preservative for chicken fat)
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-20
Brand and contact: Nunn Milling Company
- Website
- https://www.nunnmilling.com/
- Phone
- (812) 867-4500
- Address
- 9634 Hedden Rd, Evansville, IN 47725
- Contact page
- www.nunnmilling.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-20
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.nunn-better.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?
The overall score came in at 35 out of 100, after several negative factors weighed against the product. Ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.6 points, while the processing format took off -6.7. The carbohydrate content reduced the score by -4.8, and lower-quality ingredients cost a further -2.5 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 | 0.0 | 9.191 | +0.02 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 41.3% | -0.115 | -4.75 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 19.7% | -0.092 | -1.81 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 7.4% | 0.163 | +1.20 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 21.5% | -0.012 | -0.26 |
| Recipe graded poor | 38.5% | -0.065 | -2.50 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 4 | -0.876 | -3.50 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 11.2% | 0.060 | +0.67 |
| 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 | -9.13 | 0.222 | -2.03 |
| 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 | 0.0 | 9.191 | +0.02 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 41.3% | -0.115 | -4.75 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 19.7% | -0.092 | -1.81 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.005 | +0.00 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 7.4% | 0.163 | +1.20 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 21.5% | -0.012 | -0.26 |
| 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 | 38.5% | -0.065 | -2.50 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 4 | -0.876 | -3.50 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 11.2% | 0.060 | +0.67 |
| 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 | -9.13 | 0.222 | -2.03 |
| 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
- 34.9
- Final score
- 35/100
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 | 20 | 22.1 (band 18 to 40%) | 81.2 |
| Fat | 7 | 7.7 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 79.2 |
| Fibre | 7 | 7.7 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 310 | 342.5 | 100 |
Scored over 4 declared nutrients (combined weight 60); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 20 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin E Supplement
- Niacin
- Calcium Pantothenate
- Vitamin A Supplement
- Riboflavin Supplement
- Thiamine Mononitrate
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Biotin
- Vitamin B12 Supplement
- Vitamin D3 Supplement
- Folic Acid
- Zinc Sulfate
- Ferrous Sulfate
- Copper Sulfate
- Manganese Sulfate
- Zinc Proteinate
- Copper Proteinate
- Manganese Proteinate
- Sodium Selenite
- 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) | 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) - 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| supports dental health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| supports healthy digestion, immune health, strong muscles and bones, and a shiny coat (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| complete, balanced everyday care (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Crunchy Texture Helps Clean Teeth (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Balanced Nutrition (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| bold, smoky bacon flavor (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.
Alternatives to Essentials Bacon
Similar on ingredients, protein, format or nutrition, using the same stored data.
Community0 comments
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share how this went down with your dog.