Our verdict
Is PawCo GreenBites Pumpkin 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 all lifestages
- Doesn't list chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - white
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 (15)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 35.9%
- supplement 24.9%
- veg 19.1%
- additive 11.9%
- oil 8.1%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Textured Soy Protein Product | Soy Protein | carb · poor | - | 8.7 |
| 2 | Soybean Meal | Soybean Meal | carb · poor | - | 8.4 |
| 3 | Sunflower Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols) | Sunflower oil | oil · good | - | 8.1 |
| 4 | Brewers Dried Yeast | Yeast | supplement · good | - | 7.8 |
| 5 | Pea Protein | Pea protein | carb · medium | - | 7.5 |
| 6 | Peas | Peas | veg · good | - | 7.2 |
| 7 | Natural Flavor | Flavor | additive · poor | - | 7.0 |
| 8 | Rice | Rice - white | carb · medium | - | 6.7 |
| 9 | Ground Flaxseed | Ground Flaxseed (2%) | supplement · good | - | 6.4 |
| 10 | Pumpkin | Pumpkin | veg · good | - | 6.1 |
| 11 | Beet Root Powder | Beetroot | veg · good | - | 5.8 |
| 12 | Dicalcium Phosphate | Dicalcium phosphate | supplement · medium | - | 5.5 |
| 13 | Calcium Carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement · medium | - | 5.2 |
| 14 | Salt | Salt | additive · poor | - | 4.9 |
| 15 | Potato Starch | Potato starch | carb · poor | - | 4.6 |
- 1. Textured Soy Protein Product8.7% estimated
- 2. Soybean Meal8.4% estimated
- 3. Sunflower Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)8.1% estimated
- 4. Brewers Dried Yeast7.8% estimated
- 5. Pea Protein7.5% estimated
- 6. Peas7.2% estimated
- 7. Natural Flavor7.0% estimated
- 8. Rice6.7% estimated
- 9. Ground Flaxseed6.4% estimated
- 10. Pumpkin6.1% estimated
- 11. Beet Root Powder5.8% estimated
- 12. Dicalcium Phosphate5.5% estimated
- 13. Calcium Carbonate5.2% estimated
- 14. Salt4.9% estimated
- 15. Potato Starch4.6% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 12% · Fat 3%
Guaranteed analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 12% |
| Fat | 3% |
| Fibre | 3.50% |
| Moisture | 73% |
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
Fresh in the freezer for up to 9 months or in the fridge for 4 days. Thaw in the fridge about 24 hours before serving.
Feeding guide
Adult: <10 lbs 1/2-1 cup; 10-20 lbs 1-1 3/4 cups; 20-40 lbs 1 3/4-2 3/4 cups; 40-60 lbs 2 3/4-3 3/4 cups; 60-80 lbs 3 3/4-4 3/4 cups per day (standard 8 oz measuring cup). Over 80 lbs add 1/2 cup per 10 lbs. Puppies: feed up to 2 times per pound of body weight over adult levels.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A Supplement; Vitamin D2 Supplement; Vitamin E Supplement; Thiamin Mononitrate; Riboflavin; Niacinamide; D-Pantothenic Acid; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride; Folic Acid; Vitamin B12 Supplement; Choline Chloride; Zinc Proteinate; Iron Proteinate; Copper Proteinate; Sodium Selenite; Taurine
Technological additives
Sunflower Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-18
Brand and contact: PawCo
- Website
- https://www.mypawco.com/
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-18
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.mypawco.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: 4.5/5 · 51 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 score of 42 out of 100 reflects four deductions. Undeclared ingredient shares, meaning ingredients without printed percentages, took away -10.6 points, while the carbohydrate content cost -4.3 points. The additive load contributed a further -3.2 point deduction, and the processing format subtracted -2.4 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 | 0.2 | 9.191 | +1.51 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 37.1% | -0.115 | -4.27 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.3% | -0.092 | -0.95 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 9.3% | -0.005 | -0.05 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 13.8% | 0.163 | +2.24 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 29.5% | -0.012 | -0.36 |
| Recipe graded poor | 33.6% | -0.065 | -2.18 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 5 | -0.876 | -4.38 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 8.7% | 0.060 | +0.52 |
| 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 | -14.36 | 0.222 | -3.19 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.07 | 33.786 | +36.15 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | yes | -2.354 | -2.35 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.2 | 9.191 | +1.51 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 37.1% | -0.115 | -4.27 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.3% | -0.092 | -0.95 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 9.3% | -0.005 | -0.05 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 13.8% | 0.163 | +2.24 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 29.5% | -0.012 | -0.36 |
| 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 | 33.6% | -0.065 | -2.18 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 5 | -0.876 | -4.38 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 8.7% | 0.060 | +0.52 |
| 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 | -14.36 | 0.222 | -3.19 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.07 | 33.786 | +36.15 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | yes | -2.354 | -2.35 |
| 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 | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- -1.74
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 42.4
- 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 | 12 | 44.4 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 3 | 11.1 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 93.2 |
| Fibre | 3.5 | 13 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
Fibre: Declared as a maximum; the high-fibre taper is not applied.
Scored over 3 declared nutrients (combined weight 50); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 73% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 16 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin A Supplement
- Vitamin D2 Supplement
- Vitamin E Supplement
- Thiamin Mononitrate
- Riboflavin
- Niacinamide
- D-Pantothenic Acid
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Folic Acid
- Vitamin B12 Supplement
- Choline Chloride
- Zinc Proteinate
- Iron Proteinate
- Copper Proteinate
- Sodium Selenite
- Taurine
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.
100/100 · strong — 3 checkable claims: 3 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "Free from meat, corn, wheat, byproducts, and artificial flavors" — supported by the declared beef data.
- "complete & balanced recipe" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
- "Designed to meet and exceed AAFCO standards for all life stages" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
5 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Strong: at least three checkable claims, all consistent with the declared label, and no compliance cap.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real whole foods rich in fiber and antioxidants to help support gut and immune health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Includes probiotics and fiber to help maintain digestive balance and daily energy (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Vet-developed to exceed AAFCO standards (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Free from meat, corn, wheat, byproducts, and artificial flavors (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| complete & balanced recipe (on page) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Designed to meet and exceed AAFCO standards for all life stages (on page) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Human-grade ingredients are lightly cooked to lock in nutrients and flavor (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Plant-based & environmentally friendly (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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