Farmina N&D Tropical Selection Dog Food Review (Dry)

Farmina N&D Tropical Selection dry product range is made up of 10 recipes with ratings varying from 4.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.

Each recipe in this range includes tropical fruits like kiwi, mango, papaya, and pineapple. Kiwis are rich in vitamin C, while pineapple is a source of vitamin B6, thiamine, and niacin—a range of recipes for different life stages and breed sizes.

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.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Farmina N&D Tropical Selection Chicken, Spelt, Oats and Tropical Fruits Adult Mini was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is chicken. 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 second ingredient is dehydrated chicken. Dehydrated chicken is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh chicken.

The third ingredient is whole spelt. Spelt is a species of wheat that has been cultivated since 5000 BC. Yet because it requires the additional step of husk removal prior to milling, spelt is typically more costly than modern wheat.

However, aside from its energy content, this unique grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient is whole oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

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

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

The sixth ingredient is dehydrated herring. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, dried herring contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.

The seventh ingredient is ​​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.

The eighth ingredient is 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 bioavailability to dogs and humans.

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

The ninth ingredient is dried carrot. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, 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 four notable exceptions.

First, dried brewers yeast, which can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and 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 addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.

What’s more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

It also contains yeast extract, it is the common name for a broad group of products made by removing the cell wall from the yeast organism.

A significant number of these ingredients are added as specialized nutritional supplements while others are used as flavor enhancers. 

However, the glutamic acid (and its chemical cousin, monosodium glutamate, or MSG) found in a minority of yeast extracts can be controversial.

That’s because even though the Food and Drug Administration designated these food additives to be safe decades ago, the agency continues to receive reports of adverse effects.

So, detractors still object to the use of yeast extract and other glutamic acid derivatives and blame them for everything from Alzheimer’s (in humans) to obesity.

In any case, since the label reveals little about the actual type of yeast extract included in any recipe, it’s impossible for us to judge the quality of this ingredient.

Next, this recipe contains fructooligosaccharide, an alternative sweetener probably used here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics function to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine.

This recipe also 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.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Farmina N&D Tropical Selection Chicken, Spelt, Oats and Tropical Fruits Adult Mini looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29.7%, a fat level of 17.6% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 44.7%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 30.2% and a mean fat level of 19.8%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 42% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 65%.

This means Farmina N&D Tropical Selection dry contains near-average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and near-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.

Farmina Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Farmina through October 2024.

No recalls noted.

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

Our Rating of Farmina Dog Food

Farmina is a premium high-quality product that formulates all its dog foods with natural, non-GMO ingredients and through strict production and quality control.

Highly Recommended

About

Francesco Russo founded the Russo Mangimi company in 1965 specializing in animal nutrition.  In 1999, the company’s focus shifted to the pet food industry with a new perspective of developing foods based on scientific studies focused on the well-being of pets.

The Mangimi company started to collaborate with Farmina, an English company specializing in food research and formulation. 

Mangima manufacturing facilities are based in Europe and Farmina foods are mostly sourced from Italy.  Some ingredients are sourced from Europe and New Zealand.

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