Is The Maine Pooch CHICKEN Freeze Dried Nuggets a good dog food?
We score it 69/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
The overall score is 69 out of 100. Ingredients without printed percentages weighed the score down by -10.6 points. The overall quality of the ingredient list added +7.1 points, the processing format added +6.6 points, and being labelled nutritionally complete added a further +2.3 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.
- Recipe69
- Nutritionallow91
- Transparency35
- Safety100
- Evidencemoderate100
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
- Scores 69, in the top quarter of dry foods we track.
- Doesn't list grain ingredients.
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
Why you might not
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 49.50%
- Fat
- 33.10%
- Fibre
- 2.50%
- Moisture
- 4.80%
Energy: 490 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
No additives recorded yet.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists green-lipped mussel
- 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 (18)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ground Chicken | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 7.3 |
| 2 | Ground Chicken Bone | Bone | mineral | medium | - | 7.1 |
| 3 | Chicken Livers | Chicken Liver | meat | good | - | 6.9 |
| 4 | Chicken Gizzards | Chicken Gizzard | meat | good | - | 6.7 |
| 5 | Broccoli | Broccoli | veg | good | - | 6.5 |
| 6 | Carrots | Carrots | veg | good | - | 6.3 |
| 7 | Romaine Lettuce | Lettuce | veg | medium | - | 6.1 |
| 8 | Cantaloupe | unmatched | - | - | - | 5.9 |
| 9 | Goat's Milk | Goat milk | meat | good | - | 5.7 |
| 10 | Flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 5.5 |
| 11 | Dried Kelp | Kelp | veg | good | - | 5.3 |
| 12 | Salmon Oil | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 5.1 |
| 13 | Coconut Oil | Coconut Oil | oil | medium | - | 4.8 |
| 14 | Inulin | Inulin | fibre | good | - | 4.6 |
| 15 | New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel | Green-Lipped Mussel | supplement | good | - | 4.4 |
| 16 | Ground Eggshells | Crushed Eggshells | supplement | good | - | 4.2 |
| 17 | Taurine | Taurine | supplement | good | - | 4.0 |
| 18 | Ground Eggshell | Crushed Eggshells | supplement | good | - | 3.8 |
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-21
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- themainepooch.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 | 0.8 | 9.191 | +7.07 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 16.9% | -0.092 | -1.56 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 21.5% | -0.005 | -0.11 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 26.3% | -0.012 | -0.32 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 5.1% | -0.027 | -0.13 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 0.8 | 9.191 | +7.07 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.115 | +0.00 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 16.9% | -0.092 | -1.56 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 21.5% | -0.005 | -0.11 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.163 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 26.3% | -0.012 | -0.32 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 5.1% | -0.027 | -0.13 |
| Recipe graded poor | 0.0% | -0.065 | +0.00 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 0 | -0.876 | +0.00 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 0.0% | 0.060 | +0.00 |
| 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 | 0.00 | 0.222 | +0.00 |
| 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
- Subtotal
- 68.6
- Final score
- 69/100
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 | 49.5 | 52 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 33.1 | 34.8 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 2.5 | 2.6 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 98.3 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 490 | 514.7 | 50 |
Scored over 4 declared nutrients (combined weight 60); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
Portion-control flag: 490 kcal/100g as fed with fat at 34.8% dry matter, above the reference band. High-energy foods need smaller portions.
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) - not on file | 0/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) - not on file | 0/10 |
| 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, Additives declared, Feeding guidance given, 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 · moderate — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "complete and balanced for all stages of life" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| sustainable farming free from added hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| raw chicken dog food is high in manganese and magnesium, which are crucial for ligament health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| packed with functional foods that provide protein and all the essential vitamins and minerals that help promote strong bones and support healthy organ function (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| complete and balanced for all stages of life (on page) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| B.A.R.F. formulation, making our meat-to-produce ratio at 80%/20% (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| uses organic chicken, conveniently freeze-dried to retain the benefits of raw feeding (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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