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Our Verdict
Simply Nourish Grain Free 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Chicken and Vegetable Stew | 5 | M |
| Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Beef and Vegetable Stew | 5 | M |
| Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Chicken and Beef Stew | 5 | M |
| Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Chicken and Tuna Stew | 5 | M |
| Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Tuna and Salmon Stew | 5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Chicken and Tuna Stew was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Chicken and Tuna Stew
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken broth, water sufficient for processing, tuna, pumpkin, tapioca starch, sunflower oil, calcium lactate, xanthan gum, calcium carbonate, zinc sulfate, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, calcium pantothenate, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, niacin, vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, potassium iodide, vitamin B12 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 10% | 1% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 59% | 8% | 25% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 57% | 19% | 24% |
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 component in many canned products.
The third ingredient is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The fourth item is tuna. Tuna is an oily marine fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
This item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.2
The fifth ingredient is pumpkin, a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.
The sixth ingredient is tapioca starch, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.
The seventh ingredient is sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3’s, 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.
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 product.
With one notable exception…
The minerals in this product do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Chicken and Tuna Stew looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 59%, a fat level of 8% and estimated carbohydrates of about 25%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 57% and a mean fat level of 8%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 28% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 13%.
Which means this Simply Nourish 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 peas listed in some of the product line’s recipes, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing a generous amount of meat.
Simply Nourish Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Simply Nourish through December 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Simply Nourish Dog Food
Simply Nourish Grain Free in cups is a wet dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
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A Final Word
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