Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
American Journey Grain-Free canned dog food product range is made up of nine recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4.5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| American Journey Grain-Free Chicken and Salmon Premium Loaf | 4.5 | U |
| American Journey Grain-Free Lamb Premium Loaf | 4 | U |
| American Journey Grain-Free Chicken and Turkey Premium Loaf | 4.5 | U |
| American Journey Grain-Free Beef Premium Loaf | 4.5 | U |
| American Journey Grain-Free Beef and Vegetable Stew | 5 | U |
| American Journey Grain-Free Turkey Premium Loaf | 4.5 | U |
| American Journey Grain-Free Chicken and Vegetable Stew | 5 | U |
| American Journey Grain-Free Chicken Premium Loaf | 4.5 | U |
| American Journey Grain-Free Beef and Chicken Premium Loaf | 4.5 | U |
Recipe and Label Analysis
American Journey Grain-Free Beef and Vegetable Stew was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
American Journey Grain Free Beef and Vegetable Stew
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Beef, beef broth, chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, dried egg product, carrots, natural flavor, peas, potatoes, potato starch, chicken heart, guar gum, dried plain beet pulp, flaxseed meal, salt, sunflower oil, sodium phosphate, fish oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potassium chloride, sodium carbonate, choline chloride, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, yucca schidigera extract, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, vitamin E supplement, cobalt proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, potassium iodide, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 5% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 44% | 25% | 23% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 35% | 48% | 18% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The next two ingredients are beef broth and chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many canned products.
The fourth ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.2
Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The fifth ingredient is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The sixth ingredient includes dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries – from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The seventh ingredient lists carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
After natural flavor, we find peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
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 American Journey product.
With five notable exceptions…
First, we find 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.
Next we find beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
In addition, this food contains fish oil, which 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, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
Next, 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.
And lastly, this food includes chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, American Journey Grain-Free Beef and Vegetable Stew appears to be an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44%, a fat level of 25% and estimated carbohydrates of about 23%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 41% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 24% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 66%.
Which means this American Journey product line contains…
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other moisture-rich dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a canned dog food containing a notable amount of meat.
However, with 51% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 34% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for every animal.
American Journey Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to American Journey through January 2025.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of American Journey Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
American Journey Grain-Free is a canned dog food using a notable amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Compare American Journey Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
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A Final Word
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