Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Dog Food Review (Dry)
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Review of Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Dog Food
Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Dog Food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of 3 stars.
The Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient product line includes 1 dry dog food, a recipe claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient guidelines for adult maintenance.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Lamb Meal and Brown Rice
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Lamb meal, brown rice, brewers rice, peas, pearled barley, grain sorghum, chicken meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavor, salt, potassium chloride, minerals (zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, calcium iodate), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), niacin, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate , D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement), taurine, choline chloride, lactic acid, citric acid (used as a preservative), rosemary extract.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 20% | 13% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 22% | 14% | 55% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 20% | 31% | 49% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is lamb meal. Lamb meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh lamb.
The second ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The next ingredient is ground rice, another name for rice flour. Ground rice is made from either white or brown rice and is considered a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.
The fourth ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
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.
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 Rachael Ray 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.
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 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, Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 22%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 55%.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 65%.
Which means this Rachael Ray product line contains…
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing just a moderate amount of meat.
Our Rating of Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Dog Food
Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient is grain-inclusive dry dog food that uses a moderate amount of named meat meal as its main source of animal protein, thus receiving 3 stars.
Recommended.
Rachael Ray Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Rachael Ray.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Rachael Ray Brand Reviews
The following Rachael Ray dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
- Rachael Ray Dog Food Review
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food Review (Trays)
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Peak Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Dog Food Review (Dry)
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