Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
The Honest Kitchen Wholemade dehydrated product range is made up of 12 recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.
Each of the recipe’s are made with real, whole foods that are gently dehydrated to maintain nutrients.
Pros
- Human-grade ingredients
- B Corp Certification
- Non-GMO produce
Cons
- Expensive
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
The Honest Kitchen Wholemade Whole Grain Chicken Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
The Honest Kitchen Wholemade Whole Grain Chicken Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, barley, potatoes, flaxseed, oats, peas, carrots, tricalcium phosphate, parsley, bananas, celery, minerals [potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite], taurine, vitamins [vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), vitamin D3 supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2)], dried kelp, salt, fish oil, choline chloride
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 25% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 27% | 15% | 50% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 33% | 44% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is dehydrated chicken. Dehydrated chicken is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh chicken.
Plus (unlike chicken meal) dehydrated chicken is not exposed to high temperatures during processing, so it preserves more of the meat’s natural nutrients.
The second ingredient is organic 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 next ingredient is dried potato, a dehydrated item usually made from the by-products of potato processing. In most cases, dried potato can contain about 10% dry matter protein which can have a slight affect on our estimate of the total meat content of this recipe.
The fourth ingredient is 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.
The fifth ingredient includes oats, which are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth ingredient lists peas. Peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus they’re naturally rich in dietary fiber.
However, dried peas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The seventh ingredient includes dried carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The eighth ingredient is tricalcium phosphate, a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorous. In addition, this additive is used in wet foods as an emulsifier – an agent designed to disperse a food’s fats more evenly in water.
The ninth ingredient is parsley. Parsley is a particularly rich source of Vitamin K, also delivering Vitamin A and flavonoid antioxidants. Folate, potassium, calcium and magnesium are also present in parsley. Some studies have even suggested that parsley has potential as an anticancer agent, because of the powerful antioxidants, such as apigen, although more research is needed here. Some foods contain parsley to support breath freshening, although again, more research is needed here.
We consider parsley as a positive inclusion in this 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 Honest Kitchen product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, we find taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
Next, fish 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, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
And lastly, 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
Before we conclude, it’s worth noting The Honest Kitchen has taken the rather unusual step of applying for (and actually receiving) FDA approval to label its pet foods “human grade“.
The company only uses human-edible components and produces all its products in a human food manufacturing facility.
So, judging by its ingredients alone, The Honest Kitchen Wholemade Whole Grain Chicken Recipe appears to be a superior product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28.3%, a fat level of 16.3% and estimated carbohydrates of about 43.9%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 30.7% and a mean fat level of 15.5%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 41.3% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 51%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, dried peas and potatoes, this looks like the profile of a dry product containing a significant amount of meat.
The Honest Kitchen Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to The Honest Kitchen through December 2025.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of The Honest Kitchen Wholemade Dehydrated Dog Food
The Honest Kitchen Wholemade is a grain-inclusive dehydrated dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein and it receives 5 stars. The brand is marketed as the world’s first human-grade pet food company. It produces high-quality foods and formulates all its recipes with the assistance of veterinary nutritionists.
About
Lucy Postins is the founder of The Honest Kitchen, a pet food company that specializes in human-grade food. The company has its headquarters in San Diego, California. All the products are manufactured in the U.S. using ingredients sourced from around the world.
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