Cage Free Duck Meal & Pumpkin Formula Small Bites

Duck Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato, Pumpkin, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Brewer's Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, DL–Methionine, Blueberries, Raspberries, Cranberries, Threonine, Calcium Propionate (a preservative), Taurine, Minerals ( Zinc Proteinate Iron Proteinate Manganese Proteinate Copper Proteinate Selenium Yeast Calcium Iodate ), Rosemary extract

First 5 ingredients

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

  Duck Meal is a named animal ingredient in position 1.

  +8 / 8

• Animal Prominence Index

  Animal Prominence Index 44 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.

  +1.4 / 5

• Liver

  No liver in the ingredient panel.

  0 / 2

• Heart

  No heart in the ingredient panel.

  0 / 2

• Other appropriate organs

  No additional organ meats identified.

  0 / 2

• Whole egg

  No meaningful egg inclusion.

  0 / 1

• Named animal or marine fats

  Named animal or marine fat sources: Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols).

  +1 / 2

• Verified animal ingredient proportion

  The manufacturer has not published an animal ingredient percentage. Excluded from the score rather than counted against the product.

  NOT SCORED

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

  8 food ingredients assessed by quality tier with early positions weighted most heavily. 9 fortifying nutrients or preservatives excluded from the average.

  +15.1 / 20

• Estimated carbohydrate: 34 percent
• Pulse ingredients detected: none
• Plant protein concentrates: none
• Ingredient splitting: not detected

Estimated carbohydrate, calculated as 100 minus protein, fat, moisture, fibre and ash.

• Carbohydrate burden

  Calculated with a published ash value carbohydrate of 34 percent.

  +3 / 7

• Ingredient based plant load

  Plant load assessed as MODERATE. Carbohydrate bearing plant ingredients: Burbank Potato (starchy vegetable), Norkotah Potato (starchy vegetable).

  +4 / 8

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.

  +5 / 10

• Animal species clearly identified

  Every animal ingredient names its species.

• Ingredient sourcing disclosed

  The manufacturer publishes ingredient sourcing information.

• Country or region identified

  Country or region of origin published: Canada.

• Manufacturing location identified

  Manufacturing location published: FirstMate-owned and operated manufacturing facilities, Canada.

• Detailed nutritional analysis

  A detailed nutritional analysis is published.

• Traceability information

  Traceability information is available.

• 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

  FirstMate Cage Free Duck Meal & Pumpkin Formula is Formulated to meet the Nutritional Guidelines Established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lbs. 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 1.6 percent and phosphorus 1.1 percent disclosed.

• Batch testing

  Not publicly verified

• Pathogen testing

  Not publicly verified

• Supplier verification

  Not publicly verified

• Lot traceability

  Lot level traceability is documented.

• Nutrient verification

  Not publicly verified

• Manufacturing quality program

  A recognised manufacturing quality program is documented (for example HACCP, SQF or CFIA registration).

• 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.