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Which Acana Classics (Canada) Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?

Acana Classics Dog Food (Canada) receives the Advisor’s second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.

The Acana Classics product line includes 3 dry dog foods.

Each recipe below includes its related AAFCO nutrient profile when available on the product’s official webpage: Growth, Maintenance, All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Acana Classics Classic Red 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.

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The first ingredient in this dog food is lamb meal. Lamb meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh lamb.

The second ingredient includes oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

The third ingredient is beef. Although it’s a quality item, raw beef 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 fourth ingredient is pork, another quality raw item inclusive of moisture.

The fifth ingredient is lamb fat. Lamb fat is obtained from rendering lamb, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Lamb fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, lamb fat is actually a quality ingredient.

It’s important to note that a number of ingredients included in this recipe are each a type of legume:

• Red lentils
• Green peas
• Green lentils
• Garbanzo beans
• Yellow peas

Although they’re a mixture of quality plant ingredients, there’s an important issue to consider here. And that’s the recipe design practice known as ingredient splitting.

If we were to combine all these individual items together and report them as one, that newer combination would likely occupy a significantly higher position on the list.

In addition, legumes contain about 25% protein, a factor that must also be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The next ingredient is lamb. Although it is a quality item, raw lamb 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 ninth ingredient lists additional oats.

The tenth ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component. Although it is a quality item, raw organ meat 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.

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 5 notable exceptions…

First, we find herring oil. Herring oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, herring oil should be considered a commendable addition.

Next, this recipe includes sun-cured alfalfa. Although alfalfa is high in protein (18%) and fiber, it’s uncommon to see it used in dog food. This hay-family ingredient is more commonly associated with horse feeds.

In addition, 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.

Next, lentil fiber is a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from lentils. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

And lastly, this food contains one chelated mineral, a mineral that has been chemically attached to protein. This makes it easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Judging by its ingredients alone, Acana Classics looks like an above-average dry dog food.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 19% and estimated carbohydrates of about 40%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 33% and a mean fat level of 19%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 40% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the lentils, peas, garbanzo beans and alfalfa, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.

Our Rating of Acana Classics Dog Food

Acana Classics (Canada) is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meats as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.

Highly recommended.

Acana Classics Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Champion Petfoods through November.

No recalls noted

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

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More Champion Petfoods Reviews

The following Champion dog food reviews are also posted on this website:

• Acana Dog Food Review (Dry)
• Acana Heritage Dog Food Review | Canada (Dry)
• Acana Highest Protein Dog Food Review (Dry)
• Acana Highest Protein Dog Food Review | Canada (Dry)
• Acana Limited Ingredient Singles Dog Food Review (Dry)
• Acana Singles Dog Food Review | Canada (Dry)
• Orijen Dog Food Review (Dry)
• Orijen Dog Food Review | Canada (Dry)
• Orijen Freeze-Dried Dog Food Review