Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
The Simple Food Project (Freeze-Dried Raw) product range is made up of six recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4.5 stars.
Pros
- USDA certified
- Limited ingredients
- Vitamins & minerals from natural sources
- Easily identifiable ingredients
Cons
- Expensive
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| The Simple Food Project Beef and Salmon Recipe | 5 | M |
| The Simple Food Project Bison Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| The Simple Food Project Duck and Trout Recipe | 4 | M |
| The Simple Food Project Duck Recipe | 5 | A |
| The Simple Food Project Chicken and Turkey Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| The Simple Food Project Lamb Recipe | 4 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
The Simple Food Project Duck Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
The Simple Food Project Duck Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Duck, duck neck, duck heart, flaxseed, organic squash, organic kale, organic carrots, whole ground krill, organic blueberries, chia seeds, organic turmeric, sea salt, cod liver oil, dried kelp, dried yeast, mixed tocopherols (natural preservative), black pepper, fennel, guava
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 40% | 28% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 44% | 30% | 18% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 32% | 55% | 13% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is duck. Duck is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”.1
Duck is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is duck neck, which consists of muscle meat and bone and contains optimal levels of both protein and natural calcium.
The third ingredient is duck heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, heart tissue is pure muscle – all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The fourth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The fifth ingredient is organic squash. Squash is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth ingredient is organic kale. Kale is a type of cabbage in which the central leaves do not form a head. This dark green vegetable is especially rich in beta-carotene, vitamins C, vitamin K and calcium.
And like broccoli, kale contains sulforaphane, a natural chemical believed to possess potent anti-cancer properties.
The seventh ingredient is organic carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The eighth ingredient is whole ground krill. Krill are small crustaceans closely related to shrimp. Krill meal is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Because it’s considered a meat concentrate, krill meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh krill itself.
The ninth ingredient is organic blueberries. Blueberries are a good source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
This recipe has two notable exceptions.
Firstly, it contains a number of organic ingredients. We feel compelled to grant this line a more favorable status as we consider its final rating as organic ingredients must comply with more stringent government standards — standards that significantly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.
Secondly, dried yeast, which can be a controversial item. Dried yeast contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients. Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system. Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies.
This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself. In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a positive addition.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, The Simple Food Project Duck recipe looks like an above-average raw product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44%, a fat level of 30% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 18%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 41% and a mean fat level of 29%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 23% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 70%.
This means The Simple Food Project freeze-dried raw product line contains near-average protein, near-average carbohydrate, near-average fat when compared to typical raw dog food.
The Simple Food Project Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to The Simple Food Project through December 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of The Simple Food Project Dog Food
The Simple Food Project dog food provides quality limited ingredient wholefoods, with vitamins and minerals coming from natural food sources.
Compare The Simple Food Project Dog Food
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A Final Word
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