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Is Rachael Ray a good dog food?
In this review… The Dog Food Advisor takes a comprehensive look at Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food… and its 6 most popular sub-brands.
We’ll also reveal…
- Is Rachael Ray Dog Food made in the United States?
- Has Rachael Ray Dog Food been recalled?
- Which flavors and recipes get our top ratings?
But first…
Which Rachael Ray Sub-Brand Is Best for You?
In the section below, you’ll find Rachael Ray’s six most popular sub-brands. We’ll also share what makes each different. So you can choose the food that best suits your dog.
Rachael Ray Nutrish
This is Rachael Ray’s original dry kibble. Each recipe is made with grain and ample amounts of animal protein… derived from fresh meat and named meat meals.
- No BHA, BHT or other high-risk preservatives
- Chicken, beef, lamb and other protein options
- 6 recipes (ratings vary)
Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Natural Lamb Meal and Brown Rice Dry
Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain
Nutrish Zero Grain is Rachael Ray’s popular grain-free dry sub-brand.
- No corn, wheat, rice or barley
- Chicken, turkey, beef, fish, or salmon
- Weight control option available
- 6 recipes (ratings vary)
Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient
Nutrish Limited Ingredient (former name: “Nutrish Just 6”) is a dry kibble designed to help dogs suffering from suspected food sensitivities.
- Only 6 natural ingredients
- Lamb meal and brown rice
- 1 recipe only
Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish
Nutrish Dish is Rachael Ray’s premium dry kibble that’s blended with pieces of whole ingredients you can see… like fruits, vegetables and meat.
- One grain-free and 2 grain-inclusive recipes
- 29% dry matter protein (above-average)
- 3 recipesRachael Ray Nutrish Dish Natural Chicken and Brown Rice Dry
Rachael Ray Nutrish Peak
Peak is Rachael Ray’s nutrient-dense product line. These grain-free dry recipes contain about 10% more protein that the company’s basic sub-brands.
- 33% dry matter protein (above-average)
- Novel meat sources like venison, duck and pheasant
- 3 recipes (ratings vary)
Rachael Ray Nutrish Trays
This sub-brand is for those who prefer a grain-free wet recipe… that’s ideal for smaller dogs.
- Chunky stew consistency
- Flavorful topper for dry kibble
- Safe for puppy, adult or senior
- 6 recipes
- Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com
Is Rachael Ray a Good Dog Food?
Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food earns The Advisor’s second-highest rating of 4 stars.
Individual Recipe Ratings
The Rachael Ray Nutrish product line includes 6 dry dog foods.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Use the following links to check prices and package sizes at an online retailer.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Chicken and Veggies was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Chicken and Veggies
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, soybean meal, whole corn, whole grain wheat, dried peas, grain sorghum, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), corn protein concentrate, canola meal, carrots, brown rice, natural flavor, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, salt, fish oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), malted barley flour, taurine, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin A), niacin, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement), choline chloride, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, calcium iodate), lactic acid, citric acid (preservative), carmine (color), rosemary extract.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 23% | 13% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 26% | 14% | 52% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 31% | 46% |
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 soybean meal, a by-product of soybean oil production more commonly found in farm animal feeds.
Although soybean meal contains 48% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The third ingredient is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.
The fourth ingredient is whole grain wheat. Whole grain wheat contains all the essential parts and naturally-occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed in their original proportions. If the grain has been processed (e.g. cracked, crushed, rolled, extruded, and/or cooked), the food product should deliver the same rich balance of nutrients that are found in the original grain seed.
Whole grain wheat contains fibres, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Aside from its energy content, however, this whole grain cereal is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fifth ingredient is dried peas. Dried 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 sixth ingredient is grain sorghum is a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar corn.
Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient.
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 corn protein concentrate, a dried, starch-free powder made from the internal portion of a corn kernel.
A component rarely found in dog food, corn protein concentrate is more commonly used to make feeds for aquaculture (fish farming).
Containing about 80% protein, this inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
Other Notable Ingredients
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 Nutrish product.
With 3 notable exceptions…
First, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.
Taurine is 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.
Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
We view the presence of Taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
In addition, this food includes 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 Summary
Based on its ingredients alone, Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food appears to be an above-average dry dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 26%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 52%.
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 53%.
Which means this Rachael Ray product line contains…
Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the dried peas and soybean meal, this looks like the profile of a kibble still containing a notable amount of meat.
Rachael Ray Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Rachael Ray through November 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Rachael Ray Dog Food
The Dog Food Advisor finds Rachael Ray to be an above-average, grain-inclusive kibble. The recipe uses a notable amount of fresh meat and named meat meal as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4 stars. Nutrish Peak and Nutrish Dish each get 4.5 stars.
A Quick Guide to Rachael Ray’s Sub-Brands
Still not sure which Rachael Ray sub-brand is right for you? This short video from Chewy can help.
Who Makes Rachael Ray Dog Food?
Rachael Ray Nutrish was purchased from Ainsworth Pet Nutrition in 2018 by Big Heart Pet Brands… a division of The J. M. Smucker Company of Orville, Ohio.
All dry foods are produced in the United States. Wet recipes are made in Thailand.
What Do Others Say About Rachael Ray Dog Food?
As of the time of this update…
Chewy customers rate Rachael Ray 4.5 out of 5 stars… and 92% say they would recommend it to others.
Here’s an actual user review…
Sample buyer review… “When the food arrived we knew something was different than the other foods we have used because both dogs immediately followed me into the pantry and sniffed the bag from top to bottom. They actually were drooling when I was putting the food into their bowls. I have not had to ‘enhance’ their meals and they don’t leave until their bowls are empty. For us that is well worth the price for this brand.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Rachael Ray's Best Recipes?
Based on the weighted average of their popularity and ratings, here are our 7 most recommended Rachael Ray flavors and recipes.
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Chicken and Veggies Dry
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Beef, Pea, and Brown Rice Dry
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Natural Lamb Meal and Brown Rice Dry
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Natural Turkey and Potato Grain-Free Dry
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Peak Grain-Free Natural Open Range RecipeDry
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Natural Chicken and Brown Rice Dry
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Hearty Beef Stew Wet
Is Rachael Ray Dog Food made in China?
All Rachael Ray Nutrish dry dog foods are made in the United States by Big Heart Pet Brands… a division of The J. M. Smucker Company of Orville, Ohio. All wet recipes are produced in Thailand.
Is Rachael Ray a healthy dog food?
All Rachael Ray recipes meet nutrient profiles established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials… based on guidelines published by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science. Each Nutrish recipe is considered complete and balanced for the specific life stage printed on the label of each product.
Does Rachael Ray dog food contain grain?
At the time of our most recent research, Rachael Ray offers 17 dry and wet dog food products that are made with cereal grain. An additional 19 recipes are 100% grain-free… including Rachael Ray Zero Grain dry dog food.
Is Rachael Ray Dog Food good for puppies?
Rachael Ray Nutrish offers 9 all life stages formulas… each considered safe for puppies. Nutrish Bright Puppy is designed specifically for growing puppies. The company also offers recipes that are labeled “adult maintenance”. These should not be fed to puppies. View all The Dog Food Advisor’s best puppy foods here.
Compare Rachael Ray Dog Food
How does Rachael Ray compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
