Is The Maine Pooch Raw Blend Cage-Free 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.
Why this score?
We scored this recipe out of 100 and arrived at 52. Undeclared ingredient shares, meaning ingredients without printed percentages, contributed -10.6. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +6.9. The processing format contributed -6.7, while being labelled nutritionally complete contributed +2.3.
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.
- Recipe52
- Nutritionallow100
- Transparency40
- Safety100
- Evidencelimited50
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.
- 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.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 35%
- Fat
- 14%
- Fibre
- 5%
- Moisture
- 12%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 0.60%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 3.60%
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Taurine (min) 0.2%; Zinc Proteinate; Iron Proteinate; Copper Proteinate; Manganese Proteinate; Sodium Selenite; Vitamin E Supplement; Calcium Iodate; Thiamine Mononitrate; Niacin Supplement; D-calcium Pantothenate; Riboflavin Supplement; Vitamin A Supplement; Vitamin D3 Supplement; Vitamin B12 Supplement; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride; Folic Acid
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols (preservative); Rosemary Extract
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 as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- Your dog avoids duck: the label lists duck
- 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 (53)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cage-Free Chicken | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 2.5 |
| 2 | Chicken Meal | Dried chicken protein | meat | good | - | 2.5 |
| 3 | Peas | Peas | veg | medium | - | 2.5 |
| 4 | Lentils | Lentils | veg | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 5 | Cage-Free Duck | Duck | meat | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 6 | Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 7 | Tomato Pomace | Tomato Pomace | fibre | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 8 | Chicken Liver | Chicken Liver | meat | good | - | 2.3 |
| 9 | Natural Chicken Flavor | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 10 | Quail | Quail | meat | good | - | 2.3 |
| 11 | Chicken Gizzard | Chicken Gizzard | meat | good | - | 2.3 |
| 12 | Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 2.2 |
| 13 | Sun Cured Alfalfa | Alfalfa | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
| 14 | Fenugreek Seed | Fenugreek | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
| 15 | Flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
| 16 | Coconut Flour | Coconut Flour | carb | medium | - | 2.1 |
| 17 | Pumpkin Seeds | Pumpkin Seeds | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 18 | Organic Cranberries | Cranberries | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 19 | Organic Spinach | Spinach | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 20 | Organic Broccoli | Broccoli | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 21 | Organic Beets | Beetroot | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 22 | Organic Carrots | Carrots | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 23 | Organic Squash | Butternut Squash | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 24 | Organic Blueberries | Blueberries | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 25 | Pumpkin | Pumpkin | veg | good | - | 1.9 |
| 26 | Inulin | Inulin | fibre | good | - | 1.9 |
| 27 | Blueberries | Blueberries | veg | good | - | 1.9 |
| 28 | Rosemary Extract | Rosemary | veg | good | - | 1.9 |
| 29 | Mixed Tocopherols (preservative) | Tocopherols | additive | good | - | 1.8 |
| 30 | Dried Kelp | Kelp | veg | good | - | 1.8 |
| 31 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 1.8 |
| 32 | Taurine | Taurine | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 33 | Zinc Proteinate | Zinc Proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 34 | Iron Proteinate | Iron Proteinate | mineral | good | - | 1.7 |
| 35 | Copper Proteinate | Copper proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 36 | Manganese Proteinate | Manganese proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 37 | Sodium Selenite | Sodium selenite | supplement | poor | - | 1.7 |
| 38 | Vitamin E Supplement | Vitamin E | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 39 | Calcium Iodate | Calcium iodate | supplement | medium | - | 1.6 |
| 40 | Thiamine Mononitrate | Thiamine mononitrate | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 41 | Niacin Supplement | Niacin | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 42 | D-calcium Pantothenate | Calcium pantothenate | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 43 | Riboflavin Supplement | Riboflavin | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 44 | Vitamin A Supplement | Vitamin A | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 45 | Vitamin D3 Supplement | Vitamin D3 supplement | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 46 | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Vitamin B12 | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 47 | Pyridoxine Hydrochloride | Pyridoxine hydrochloride | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 48 | Folic Acid | Folic acid | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 49 | Salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 1.4 |
| 50 | Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici fermentation product | unmatched | - | - | - | 1.3 |
| 51 | Dried Lactobacillus | Dried Lactobacillus lactis Fermentation Product | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 52 | Dried Bifidobacterium Longum fermentation product | Bifidobacterium Longum | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 53 | Dried Bacillus Coagulans fermentation product | Dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
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 | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.87 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 3.1% | -0.115 | -0.36 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 7.4% | -0.092 | -0.68 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 18.7% | -0.005 | -0.10 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 4.7% | 0.163 | +0.76 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 46.0% | -0.012 | -0.56 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 1.1% | -0.027 | -0.03 |
| Recipe graded poor | 1.7% | -0.065 | -0.11 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 1.7% | 0.060 | +0.10 |
| 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 | -3.88 | 0.222 | -0.86 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.87 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 3.1% | -0.115 | -0.36 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 7.4% | -0.092 | -0.68 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 18.7% | -0.005 | -0.10 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 4.7% | 0.163 | +0.76 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 46.0% | -0.012 | -0.56 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 1.1% | -0.027 | -0.03 |
| Recipe graded poor | 1.7% | -0.065 | -0.11 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 1.7% | 0.060 | +0.10 |
| 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 | -3.88 | 0.222 | -0.86 |
| 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 | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| 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
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 52.1
- 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 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 | 35 | 39.8 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 14 | 15.9 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 5 | 5.7 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 4 declared nutrients (combined weight 60); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 12% 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) - not on file | 0/5 |
| 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, 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.
50/100 · limited — 2 checkable claims: 1 consistent, 1 contradicted.
Contradicted by the label
- "Raw Blend Cage-Free recipe delivers a unique combination of protein-rich, grain-free baked kibble coated with their irresistible freeze-dried raw and mixed with real, whole pieces of freeze-dried raw chicken" — the declared label says otherwise on single protein.
Consistent with the label
- "Grain & gluten free" — supported by the declared grain-free data.
5 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Limited: at least one claim contradicts the declared label, or a recent upheld ASA ruling applies.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| The result is a great-tasting and convenient high-protein diet (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Coated with irresistible freeze-dried raw (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Oven-baked kibble (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Unique blend of proteins - Duck, Chicken, and Quail (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Grain & gluten free (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Real, freeze-dried raw pieces mixed in (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Raw Blend Cage-Free recipe delivers a unique combination of protein-rich, grain-free baked kibble coated with their irresistible freeze-dried raw and mixed with real, whole pieces of freeze-dried raw chicken (on page) | Content | contradicted | 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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