Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Lotus Stews product range is made up of five recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lotus Grain Free Beef Stew | 5 | A |
| Lotus Grain Free Chicken Stew | 5 | A |
| Lotus Grain Free Pork Stew | 5 | A |
| Lotus Grain Free Turkey Stew | 5 | A |
| Lotus Grain Free Venison Stew | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Lotus Grain Free Chicken Stew was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Lotus Grain Free Chicken Stew
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken broth, potato starch, asparagus, chicken fat, blueberries, carrots, monosodium phosphate, salt, calcium carbonate, salmon oil, olive oil, ground flaxseed, New Zealand green mussel, dried kelp, potassium chloride, whole cranberries, agar-agar, choline chloride, betaine, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, niacin, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 0.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 10% | 4% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 50% | 20% | 22% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 42% | 40% | 18% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food 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 ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second 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 addition component in many canned products.
The third ingredient is potato starch, which is a gluten-free carbohydrate used more for its thickening properties than its nutritional value.
The next ingredient is asparagus. Asparagus is especially rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fifth 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 sixth ingredient includes blueberries, which are a good source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient lists carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other ingredients.
But realistically, items located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Lotus product.
With five notable exceptions…
First, we find olive oil. Olive oil contains oleic acid, a healthy monounsaturated fat. It’s also rich in natural antioxidants and carotenoids.
Next, flaxseed is 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.
We also note the use of green-lipped mussel. Mussels are clam-like animals notably rich in glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients proven to support long-term joint health.
Next, this recipe includes 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.
And lastly, this product 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, Lotus Stews Dog Food looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 50%, a fat level of 20% and estimated carbohydrates of about 22%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 50% and a mean fat level of 20%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 22% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 40%.
Which means this Lotus product line contains…
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other canned dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a wet product containing a liberal amount of meat.
Lotus Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Lotus through December 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Lotus Stews Grain Free Dog Food
Lotus Stews is a grain-free canned dog food using an abundance of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Compare Lotus Stews Dog Food
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A Final Word
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