Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
smallbatch Raw Frozen product range is made up of seven recipes with ratings varying from 3 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| smallbatch Chicken | 5 | A |
| smallbatch Beef | 3 | A |
| smallbatch Turkey | 5 | A |
| smallbatch Duck | 5 | A |
| smallbatch Lamb | 3 | A |
| smallbatch Rabbit | 5 | A |
| smallbatch Pork | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
smallbatch Chicken was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
smallbatch Chicken
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken (with ground bone), chicken, chicken gizzards, chicken hearts, chicken livers, organic carrots, organic sweet potatoes, organic broccoli, organic zucchini, pollock oil, organic apple cider vinegar, organic kale, organic collards, organic blueberry, organic parsley, organic kelp, organic chia seed, organic wheatgrass, organic basil, vitamin E
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 16% | 8% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 58% | 28% | 5% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 44% | 52% | 4% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first two ingredients are chicken and ground chicken and bone. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life. The ground bone is an excellent source of natural calcium.
The next ingredient is chicken gizzard. The gizzard is a low-fat, meaty organ found in the digestive tract of birds and assists in grinding up a consumed food. This item is considered a canine dietary delicacy.
The fourth item is chicken 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 fifth ingredient lists chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The sixth ingredient includes organic carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient lists organic sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The eighth ingredient is organic broccoli. Broccoli is a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. It’s notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.
Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.
The ninth ingredient is zucchini, a type of squash high in complex carbohydrates.
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 product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, wheat grass is prized for its vitamin and mineral content. Yet unlike wheat, wheat grass is gluten-free. So, please ignore our software’s unfavorable treatment of this nutritious ingredient.
And lastly, except for the vitamin E supplement, we find no added vitamins or minerals on the ingredients list. We would assume these essential nutrients are provided by the food ingredients in the recipe.
Since this recipe contains a number of organic ingredients, we feel compelled to grant this line a more favorable status as we consider its final rating.
That’s because organic ingredients must comply with notably more stringent government standards — standards which significantly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, smallbatch Chicken was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. looks like a superior raw product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 58%, a fat level of 28% and estimated carbohydrates of about 5%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 53% and a mean fat level of 33%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 7% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 65%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical raw dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a raw product containing an abundance of meat.
However, due to their high fat-to-protein ratio, the beef and lamb recipes may not be suitable for every animal.
smallbatch Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to smallbatch through November 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of smallbatch Raw Frozen Dog Food
smallbatch is a grain-free raw dog food using a generous amount of named meats and organs as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Compare smallbatch Dog Food
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A Final Word
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