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Our Verdict
Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Dog Food range is made up of two 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Beef Recipe | 4 | M |
| Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Turkey Recipe | 5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Beef Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Beef Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef lung, beef kidney, beef tripe, herring oil (source of omega 3 fatty acids), mixed tocopherols (preservative), vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), iron amino acid complex, zinc amino acid complex, manganese amino acid complex, copper amino acid complex
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 40% | 33% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 44% | 36% | 13% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 30% | 61% | 9% |
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 second ingredient is beef heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing to us humans, heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The next ingredient is beef liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth item is beef lung. Beef lung is a protein-rich organ meat that’s also low in fat.
The fifth ingredient is beef kidney, which is also low in fat and rich in protein and essential minerals.
The sixth ingredient is beef tripe. Tripe usually consists of the first three chambers of a cud-chewing animal’s stomach. As unappetizing as it may seem to us humans, tripe is favored by dogs and sometimes even includes the stomach’s contents, too.
The seventh 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 bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, herring oil should be considered a commendable addition.
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 one notable exception…
This food contains 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, Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Beef Recipe looks like an above-average raw dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44%, a fat level of 36% and estimated carbohydrates of about 13%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 49% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 16% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical raw dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a raw product containing an abundance of meat.
Halo Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Halo through November 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Grain-Free Dog Food
Halo Meal Bites is a freeze-dried, grain-free raw dog food using a generous amount of named meats and organs as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Compare Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Dog Food
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A Final Word
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