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Review of Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Dog Food
Which Fromm Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.
The Fromm Four Star Nutritionals product line includes the 8 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Duck A La Veg | 4.5 | A |
| Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Salmon A La Veg | 4.5 | A |
| Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Chicken A La Veg | 4.5 | A |
| Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Whitefish and Potato | 4 | A |
| Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Pork and Applesauce | 4.5 | A |
| Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Highlander Beef, Oats ‘n Barley | 5 | A |
| Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Zealambder Recipe | 5 | A |
| Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Trout and Whitefish | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Duck A La Veg was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Duck A La Veg
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Duck,duck meal,chicken,oatmeal,brown rice,pearled barley,white rice,chicken meal,sweet potatoes,chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols),dried tomato pomace,dried egg product,millet,whole oats,whole barley,salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols),dried yeast,cheese,flaxseed,chicken liver,carrots,apples,broccoli,cauliflower,salt,monosodium phosphate, [choline chloride, potassium chloride, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, calcium carbonate, riboflavin supplement, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid],chicory root extract, [zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, zinc proteinate, ferrous proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper sulfate, magnesium proteinate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate], cranberries,sorbic acid (preservative),yucca schidigera extract,blueberries,sodium selenite,taurine,dried lactobacillus paracasei fermentation product,dried lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product,dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product,dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 27% | 17% | 49% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 35% | 42% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is duck. Although it is a quality item, raw duck contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is duck meal. Duck meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh duck.
The third ingredient is chicken, another quality, raw item.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The fourth ingredient includes oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.
The fifth ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The sixth item is barley, a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The seventh ingredient is white rice, a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.
The eighth ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The ninth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
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 this Fromm product.
With five notable exceptions…
First, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
In addition, flaxseed is 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.
Next, chicory root is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
We also note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
And lastly, although the vitamins and minerals added to this product are not detailed sufficiently here to permit us to judge their quality, we’re reassured to find a detailed list of naturally present nutrients on the company’s website.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 49%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 48% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.
Which means this Fromm product line contains…
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.
Our Rating of Fromm Dog Food
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Highly recommended.
Fromm Dog Food Recalled History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Fromm.
- Fromm Dog Food Recalled Due to High Levels of Vitamin D (10/3/2021)
- Fromm Dog Food Recall of March 2016 (3/18/2016)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Fromm Reviews
The following Fromm dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
- Fromm Dog Food Review
- Fromm Family Classics Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Fromm Family Heartland Gold Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Grain-Free Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Fromm Gold Coast Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Fromm Pate Dog Food Review (Canned)
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