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Review of Fromm Gold Dog Food
Fromm Gold 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fromm Gold Adult | 4.5 | G/M |
| Fromm Gold Puppy | 5 | G |
| Fromm Gold Small Breed Adult | 5 | G/M |
| Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy | 5 | G |
| Fromm Gold Weight Management | 4.5 | M |
| Fromm Gold Large Breed Adult | 4 | G/M |
| Fromm Gold Reduced Activity and Senior | 4 | M |
| Fromm Gold Large Breed Weight Management | 4.5 | M |
| Fromm Gold Adult with Ancient Grains | 5 | G/M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Fromm Gold Adult was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Fromm Gold Adult
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken meal, chicken broth, oatmeal, pearled barley, brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), menhaden fish meal, dried tomato pomace, whole oats, white rice, dried egg product, whole barley, chicken liver, potatoes, dried yeast, cheese, flaxseed, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), salt, carrots, duck, lamb, sweet potatoes, celery, alfalfa meal, monocalcium phosphate, vitamins [choline chloride, potassium chloride, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, calcium carbonate, riboflavin supplement, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid], chicory root extract, minerals [zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, zinc proteinate, ferrous proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper sulfate, magnesium proteinate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate], sorbic acid (preservative), yucca schidigera extract, l-tryptophan, taurine, dl-methionine, sodium selenite, dried lactobacillus paracasei fermentation product, dried lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 25% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 28% | 18% | 46% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 24% | 37% | 40% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken 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 second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is 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 includes oat meal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.
The next ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The sixth item is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The seventh ingredient is chicken fat. This item 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 eighth ingredient is menhaden fish meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1
The ninth ingredient is tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
Other Notable Ingredients
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But realistically, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Fromm product.
With four 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 note the use of salmon oil. 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.
Next, although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.
In addition, 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Fromm Gold Dog Food appears to be an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 46%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 49% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 55%.
Which means this Fromm product line contains…
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, brewers yeast and alfalfa meal, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.
Fromm Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Fromm through November 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Fromm Dog Food
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed and alfalfa meal, this Fromm recipe appears to be an above-average, grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes Fromm Dog Food?
Fromm is made by Fromm Family Pet Food. The company owns two dry food manufacturing facilities in its home state of Wisconsin. One plant is located in Mequon and the other is in Columbus. Fromm also owns its own wet food cannery… which is located in Eden, Wisconsin.
Is Fromm Dog Food grain free?
Fromm Family Pet Food offers recipes made both “with” and without cereal grains (grain-free). As of the time of our most recent research, Fromm appears to offer 32 grain-free and 34 grain-inclusive dog food products. Both recipe types are available in either dry or wet formulas.2
Does Fromm dog food contain toxic chemical preservatives?
Label analysis of Fromm’s recipes does not reveal the presence of BHA, BHT or any other high-risk chemical preservatives. Instead, fat ingredients appear to be protected from rancidity and spoil by the presence of safe, natural antioxidants already present in each recipe.
Compare Fromm Dog Food
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