
An independent Feed Wise evaluation of Acana ACANA Classics, Beef and Barley Recipe, built from the published ingredient panel, guaranteed analysis, certifications and processing method.
Complete diet: complete and balanced (aafco)
Share of scoring criteria backed by published evidence.
Protein
25%
Fat
15%
Estimated carbohydrate
Not calculable
Processing
Extruded
Feed Wise considers this a workable everyday option for ACANA Classics, Beef and Barley Recipe, an extruded kibble formula built on beef and pork. The manufacturer publishes a nutritional adequacy statement, so it can be fed as a complete daily diet for the life stage named on the label. Supporting the rating, it is manufactured in United States and the label declares 25% crude protein.
Beef, beef meal, pearled barley, whole peas, oat groats, pork fat, pork meal, whole oats, lentil fiber, natural pork flavor, pea starch, fish oil, potassium chloride, vitamin E supplement, dried kelp, salt, choline chloride, DL-methionine, taurine, zinc proteinate, mixed tocopherols (preservative), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, whole apples, whole butternut squash, whole carrots, collard greens, whole pears, whole pumpkin, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, copper proteinate, citric acid (preservative), rosemary extract, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product
1. Beef
Tier A, exceptional food ingredient
Named Animal Protein
Named animal muscle meat. Highest value protein source in the FeedWise model.
2. beef meal
Tier B, high quality supportive ingredient
Named Rendered Protein
Named rendered animal meal. Concentrated named animal protein, but rendered rather than whole.
3. pearled barley
Tier C, moderate or neutral ingredient
Whole Carbohydrate
Whole carbohydrate source. Evaluated on position, quantity and combined plant load rather than treated as automatically poor.
4. whole peas
Tier C, moderate or neutral ingredient
Whole Carbohydrate
Whole pea. A pulse carbohydrate and plant protein source.
5. oat groats
Tier C, moderate or neutral ingredient
Whole Carbohydrate
Whole oat grain. A moderate glycemic whole carbohydrate.
This is the largest single category in FeedWise. It looks at which animal ingredients are present, whether the species is named, whether organs, egg and named fats are included, and whether concentrated plant proteins are diluting the animal content.
Named animal protein first
Beef is a named animal ingredient in position 1.
Animal Prominence Index
Animal Prominence Index 48 of 100. This is a FeedWise position-weighted measure of how far animal ingredients dominate the ingredient panel. It is a label-position index, not a manufacturer-disclosed recipe percentage.
Liver
No liver in the ingredient panel.
Heart
No heart in the ingredient panel.
Other appropriate organs
No additional organ meats identified.
Whole egg
No meaningful egg inclusion.
Named animal or marine fats
Named animal or marine fat sources: pork fat, fish oil.
Verified animal ingredient proportion
The manufacturer has not published an animal ingredient percentage. Excluded from the score rather than counted against the product.
Plant protein dilution
No concentrated plant proteins detected.
Every ingredient is classified into a quality tier and weighted by its position on the label, so ingredient number one counts far more than ingredient number fifteen.
Position weighted ingredient quality
19 food ingredients assessed by quality tier with early positions weighted most heavily. 24 fortifying nutrients or preservatives excluded from the average.
Ingredient splitting
Multiple fractions of the same core ingredient appear: PEA FAMILY (whole peas, pea starch).
Carbohydrate is not calculable because ash is not disclosed. It is left blank rather than overstated.
Carbohydrate burden
Carbohydrate is not precisely calculable because ash has not been disclosed. This is an evidence limitation, not evidence of high carbohydrate, so it is removed from the score and reported as reduced confidence.
Ingredient based plant load
Plant load assessed as VERY HIGH. Carbohydrate bearing plant ingredients: pearled barley (whole grain), whole peas (whole pulse), oat groats (whole grain), whole oats (whole grain), lentil fiber (whole pulse), pea starch (refined starch), whole butternut squash (starchy vegetable).
Combined pulse load
4 pulse ingredients detected at positions 3, 4, 9, 11: pearled barley, whole peas, lentil fiber, pea starch. Together these represent a substantial plant contribution.
Split plant fractions
Split plant fractions understate the true plant load in the ingredient order.
Processing method: Extruded. This category measures food integrity only. Raw handling safety is assessed separately under Safety and Quality Control, so a raw food can score well here and still lose safety points.
Processing method
Extruded processing. Food integrity only. Raw handling safety is assessed separately under Safety and Quality Control.
Animal species clearly identified
Every animal ingredient names its species.
Ingredient sourcing disclosed
Not publicly verified
Country or region identified
Country or region of origin published: USA.
Manufacturing location identified
Manufacturing location published: United States.
Detailed nutritional analysis
A detailed nutritional analysis is published.
Traceability information
Not publicly verified
Manufacturer provides sourcing detail
Not publicly verified
Overall formulation transparency
A complete ingredient panel and an identified manufacturer are on file.
Marketing language alone does not count. Anything that has not been published is shown as not publicly verified rather than as a failure.
Complete and balanced for the stated life stage
ACANA Classics Beef * Barley Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, except growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult).
Detailed nutritional analysis available
A full guaranteed analysis with energy content is on file.
Qualified formulation expertise
Not publicly verified
Feeding trial or validation
Not publicly verified
Calcium and phosphorus disclosed
Calcium 1.5 percent and phosphorus 1 percent disclosed.
Batch testing
Not publicly verified
Pathogen testing
Not publicly verified
Supplier verification
Not publicly verified
Lot traceability
Not publicly verified
Nutrient verification
Not publicly verified
Manufacturing quality program
Not publicly verified
Recall context and corrective action
No recalls on file.
A recall alone does not destroy a score. Severity, cause, frequency, recency and documented corrective action are all considered.
Unknown information is not treated as bad information. It is scored as unverified and it lowers the confidence rating instead.
Canadian retailers on record. Stock and price vary by store and province.
ACANA Classics Beef * Barley Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, except growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult).
Only certifications we can confirm from the brand's own documentation or the certifying body appear here. Nothing is assumed — if a program isn't listed, it isn't disclosed for this product.
| Animal Protein Quality | 13.4 / 25 |
| Ingredient Quality | 14.1 / 20 |
| Carbohydrate and Plant Load | 0 / 15 |
| Processing and Food Integrity | 5 / 10 |
| Transparency and Sourcing | 8 / 10 |
| Nutritional Formulation | 8 / 10 |
| Safety and Quality Control | 3.3 / 10 |
| Total | 51.8 / 100 |
FeedWise Score 5.2 · Fair · High Confidence
How FeedWise Scores Dog Food →Scored by the FeedWise 100 point model. Read the full methodology.
Community reviews do not affect the Feed Wise score.
Real experiences from Paw Privileges members. Reviews never affect the Wise score — scoring is based only on label evidence.







