Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Merrick Lil’ Plates Dog Food in cups product range is made up of eight 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.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain Free Teeny Texas Steak Tips Dinner was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Teeny Texas Steak Tips Dinner
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Beef, beef broth, venison broth, beef liver, dried egg whites, dried ground peas, potato starch, guar gum, sunflower oil, sodium phosphate, salt, natural flavor, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, minerals (zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, cobalt amino acid chelate, potassium iodide), choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), cinnamon, ground cumin, xanthan gum
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 3% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 44% | 17% | 31% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 38% | 35% | 27% |
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 next two ingredients are beef broth and venison 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 fourth ingredient includes dried egg whites. Eggs are highly digestible and an excellent source of usable protein.
The fifth ingredient lists dried ground peas. Ground peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus they’re naturally rich in dietary fiber.
However, ground peas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
protein.
The sixth ingredient is potato starch, which is a gluten-free carbohydrate used more for its thickening properties than its nutritional value.
The next item is guar gum, a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
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 Merrick product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
Next, 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.
And lastly, 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Merrick Lil’ Plates wet dog food looks like an above-average product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 31%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 45% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 29% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 41%.
Which means this Merrick product line contains…
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to other wet dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the ground peas, this still looks like the profile of a wet product containing a significant amount of meat.
Merrick Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Merrick through November 2024.
- Merrick Recalls Multiple Dog Treats (May 23, 2018)
- Merrick Recalls Dog Treats (August 9, 2011)
- Merrick Pet Treats Recall 2011 (January 30, 2011)
- Merrick Expands Dog Treats Recall (August 16, 2010)
- Merrick Expands Recall of Dog Treats (August 4, 2010)
- Merrick Dog Treats Recall (July 6, 2010)
- Merrick Dog Treats Recall 2010 (January 15, 2010)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Merrick Dog Food
Merrick Lil’ Plates is a grain-free wet dog food using a significant amount of named meats and egg as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Compare Merrick Dog Food
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A Final Word
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