Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Dog Food Review (Canned)

Mike Sagman

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Mike Sagman
Mike Sagman

Mike Sagman

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Dr Mike Sagman is the creator of the Dog Food Advisor. He founded the website in 2008, after his unquestioning trust in commercial dog food led to the tragic death of his dog Penny.

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Updated: July 9, 2024

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Which Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Canned Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?

Fromm Four Star Nutritionals canned dog food receives the Advisor’s second-highest tier rating of 4 stars.

The Fromm Four Star Nutritionals product line includes the 4 canned 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 Shredded Beef Entree 4 A
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Shredded Pork Entree 4 A
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Shredded Chicken Entree 4 A
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Shredded Turkey Entree 4.5 A

Recipe and Label Analysis

Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Shredded Beef Entree 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 Shredded Beef Entree

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

38.9%

Protein

13.9%

Fat

39.2%

CarbsCarbohydrates

Beef broth, beef, potatoes, carrots, peas, green beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, white beans, tomato paste, sunflower oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), minerals [dicalcium phosphate, zinc sulfate, magnesium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, zinc proteinate, calcium carbonate, iron proteinate, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, manganese sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate], xanthan gum, salt, vitamins [potassium chloride, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, choline chloride


Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.2%

Red denotes any controversial items

Estimated Nutrient Content
Method Protein Fat Carbs
Guaranteed Analysis 7% 3% NA
Dry Matter Basis 39% 14% 39%
Calorie Weighted Basis 35% 30% 35%

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is beef broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common addition component in many canned products.

The second ingredient 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 third ingredient includes potatoes. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient lists carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The fifth ingredient includes green beans, a healthy vegetable notable for its vitamin, mineral and natural fiber content.

The next 4 ingredients are each considered a type of legume:

  • Peas
  • Pinto beans
  • Kidney beans
  • White beans

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.

You see, if we were to combine all these individual items together and report them as one, that newer combination would almost certainly occupy a higher position on the list.

In addition, legumes 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 Fromm product.

With 4 notable exceptions

First, salmon 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, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.

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.

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, 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, Fromm Four Star Nutritionals looks like an above-average canned product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 39%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 39%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 43% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 36%.

Which means this Fromm product line contains…

Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, pinto beans, kidney beans and white beans, this looks like the profile of a canned product containing a moderate amount of meat.

Our Rating of Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Canned Dog Food

Fromm Four Star Nutritionals is a grain-free canned dog food using a moderate amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for a nice kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Fromm Four Star Nutritionals dry dog food.

Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Dog Food Recall History

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

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

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More Fromm Brand Reviews

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

Sources

1: Association of American Feed Control Officials

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