Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Steve’s Real FoodFreeze-Dried Raw product range is made up of seven recipes with ratings varying from 3 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Steve's Real Food Whitefish Diet | 5 | U |
| Steve’s Real Food Beef Diet | 5 | U |
| Steve’s Real Food Pork Diet | 3 | U |
| Steve’s Real Food Turducken Diet | 5 | U |
| Steve’s Real Food Turkey Diet | 5 | U |
| Steve’s Real Food Chicken Diet | 5 | U |
| Steve’s Real Food Lamu Diet | 5 | U |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Steve’s Real Food Chicken Diet was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Steve’s Real Food Chicken Diet
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Ground chicken, ground chicken bone, chicken livers, chicken gizzards, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, cantaloupe, goat’s milk, flaxseed, dried kelp, salmon oil, coconut oil, inulin, New Zealand green lipped mussel, taurine, ground eggshell
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 50% | 33% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 52% | 35% | 5% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 37% | 60% | 4% |
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 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is ground chicken bone, an excellent source of natural calcium.
The third ingredient is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient includes chicken gizzard. The gizzard is a low-fat, meaty organ found in the digestive tract of birds and assists in grinding up a consumed food. This item is considered a canine dietary delicacy.
The fifth ingredient is broccoli. Broccoli is a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. It’s notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.
Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.
The sixth ingredient includes carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient is lettuce. This green leafy vegetable is naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. In fact, lettuce boasts an exceptionally high nutrient Completeness Score2 of 88.
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 Steve’s Real Food product.
With five notable exceptions…
First, 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.
Next, we find coconut oil, a natural oil rich in medium-chain fatty acids.
Medium-chain triglycerides have been shown to improve cognitive function in older dogs.3
Because of its proven safety4 as well as its potential to help in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and chronic skin disorders, MCT can be considered a positive addition to this recipe.
In addition, we note the inclusion of taurine, 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.
Next, inulin is a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
And lastly, we find no added vitamins or minerals on the ingredients list. However, we’re reassured to find a detailed list of naturally present nutrients on the company’s website.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Steve’s Real Food freeze-dried dog food looks like an above-average raw product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 52%, a fat level of 35% and estimated carbohydrates of about 5%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 51% and a mean fat level of 30%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 11% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical raw dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a raw product containing an abundance of meat.
Steve's Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Steve's through December 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Steve's Real Food Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
Steve’s Real Food is a grain-free freeze-dried raw dog food using an abundance of named meats and organs as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Compare Steve's Real Food Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
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A Final Word
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