Nature’s Variety is a US-based brand that takes a unique approach compared to typical dog and cat kibble brands, especially when it comes to cooking methods. They use two distinct techniques: steam-cooking and freeze-drying their kibble.
That’s great news! Now, let’s see if the rest of the criteria meet the standards of the Sheriff Score. Please note that our evaluation will focus solely on the brand’s Selected and Original ranges.
✅ Pros
- No Synthetic Additives: Free from chemically synthesized vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or pre-mixes.
- No Corn, Soy, Gluten : Most formulas avoid these common allergens.
- Rigorous Quality Control: Extensive testing protocols, including mycotoxin and microbiological tests.
- Gentle Cooking Method: Uses a gentle steam cooking process.
- No Artificial Preservatives: Avoids all preservatives, including mixed tocopherols.
- High-quality animal protein source : free-range deboned chicken or boneless salmon (However, it makes up a smaller portion compared to the overall protein content)
❌ Cons
- Incomplete Nutritional Information: Calcium, and phosphorus content not provided on some recipes on the official website.
- Plant-Based Proteins: Estimated 40-50% of protein content may come from plant-based sources in some formulas.
- Average Protein Content: The protein level of the original range (29%) is average, which may not be optimal for very active dogs or those needing higher protein diets.
- Not labeled as non-GMO.
- Splitting technique: peas are divided into multiple ingredients and appear in significant amounts.
- No added taurine (even though it’s a grain-free kibble that’s high in plant-based proteins like peas).
Nature’s Variety Dry Food Review Review Ratings
We will provide a detailed analysis of one recipe, followed by quick reviews of a few other recipes from the brand.
Nature’s Variety Original No Grain Mini Turkey
46/100
Ingredients : Deboned turkey meat* (20%), dried turkey protein (13%), dried peas* (12%), dried potato* (9.5%), dried chicken protein (9%), pea starch*, poultry fat* (7%), dried chickpeas* (6%), protein hydrolysate (4%), pea fibre*, dried chicory root*, minerals, dried carrot* (0.5% equivalent to 4% of fresh carrot), dried apple* (0.3% equivalent to 2% fresh apple)., *Natural ingredients.
| Criteria | Evaluation | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrate Level | 🟠 Medium – 32% | The carbohydrate level is moderate but acceptable for most moderately active dogs. Look for a lower level if seeking weight-loss kibble. |
| Protein Level | 🟠 Medium – 29% | Exceeding the AAFCO minimum. Protein level is ok but some dogs might benefit from higher content. |
| Protein-to-Calorie Ratio | 🟢 Good – 78 | Acceptable in some cases, but could be improved to meet the needs of certain dogs. |
| Protein-to-Phosphorus Ratio | ❓ Not specified | The lack of this information prevents a complete evaluation of the nutritional balance, which is crucial for long-term kidney health or to evaluate the quality of animal proteins. |
| Fat Level | 🟢 Good – 17% | Exceeding the AAFCO minimum. A rate that’s in line with the current market average, suitable for most dogs. |
| Ash Content | 🟠 Medium – 8% | Slightly high. Raises questions about the quality of ingredients used, particularly animal proteins if the protein content is low. |
| Minerals | 🟠 Medium | Standard. |
| Fiber Content | 🟠 Medium – 4% | Fiber, whether soluble or insoluble, helps regulate your dog’s stools and is essential in their diet. Most kibble contains insoluble fiber like cellulose, which shouldn’t be consumed in excess (this level is okay). |
| Moisture | 🟢🟢 Excellent – 10% | Normal moisture level for dry food like kibble. |
| Calcium Level | ❓ Not specified | Without this crucial information, a complete assessment of the kibble is impossible. It’s vital for bone health and overall well-being. |
| Phosphorus Level | ❓ Not specified | Key data is missing for this calculation. |
| Metabolizable Energy | ❓ Not specified | Unfortunately missing. |
| Omega-3 | 🔴 Low – 0.3% | This level is quite low and might not provide sufficient support for skin, coat health, or inflammation reduction. |
| Omega-6 | 🟢 Good – 2.8% | This level is appropriate and should contribute to healthy skin and coat maintenance. |
| Omega 6/Omega 3 Ratio | 🔴 Imbalanced – 9.33 | Commercial pet food is already rich in omega-6, so omega-3s are needed to balance it, particularly for their anti-inflammatory effects. |
| Animal vs Plant Proteins | 🟠 Medium – 60-70% | Although they can be a protein source, plant proteins don’t supply all the essential amino acids needed by dogs. |
| High GI Ingredients | 🟢🟢 Excellent – None | The presence of plant proteins like sweet potatoes avoids this issue. |
| Fat Quality | 🟢 Good | Named animal sources |
| Animal Protein Quality | 🟢 Good | Fresh meat is used, sometimes free-range, but it’s only fresh (loses 75% of its water content). |
| Preservatives | 🟢🟢 Excellent – None | The absence of preservatives is a positive, indicating a more natural and potentially healthier kibble formulation. |
| Manufacturing Location | ❓ Not specified | Manufacturing location is unspecified but seems to be in US. |
| Cooking Method | 🟢 Good – Steam-cooked | Steam cooking is a gentle method that preserves more nutrients than harsher cooking methods, which is a positive aspect. |
| Transparency | 🔴 Disappointing | Overall lack of transparency about several important nutritional aspects like calcium and phosphorus levels is disappointing. |
| Vet Formulated | ❓ Not specified | No indication of a veterinarian’s involvement in recipe |
Nature’s Variety Selected Junior Free Range Chicken
61/100
As is often the case, Junior ranges tend to be better in terms of macronutrients, which naturally boosts the rating here. The protein content is good, the fat content is also adequate, and the carbohydrate level is low. However, the calcium level is crucial for a young dog, and the absence of this information is even more concerning.
🥑 Fats: 20.0%
🌑 Ash: 7%
🌾 Fiber Content: 2.5%
💧 Moisture: 10.0%
🦴 Calcium Content: Not specified
🧬 Phosphorus Content: Not specified
🔥 Metabolizable Energy: 3700 kcal/kg
🐟 Omega-3: ?
🌻 Omega-6: ?
🍞 Carbohydrate Content: 16.5%
⚖️ Protein/Calorie Ratio: 95.0
⚖️ Protein/Phosphorus Ratio: Not specified
🧮 Calcium/Phosphorus Ratio: Not specified
🔄 Omega-6/Omega-3 Ratio: ?
🐾 Animal protein: 60-70%
📈 High Glycemic Ingredients: None
🔄 Fat/Protein Ratio: 57
❌ Human Grade: No
🌽 Corn, Gluten, Wheat, Soja: No
🔧 Chelated Minerals: No or not specified
Nature’s Variety Original No Grain Medium/Maxi Salmon
48/100
The Original range is a bit lower in protein and higher in carbohydrates. As is often the case, there are quite a few peas scattered throughout the ingredient list. It’s certainly more affordable in terms of price, but the proportion of animal protein becomes even more diluted.
🥑 Fats: 17.0%
🌑 Ash: 8%
🌾 Fiber Content: 4%
💧 Moisture: 10.0%
🦴 Calcium Content: Not specified
🧬 Phosphorus Content: Not specified
🔥 Metabolizable Energy: 3700 kcal/kg
🐟 Omega-3: 1.0%
🌻 Omega-6: 2.8%
🍞 Carbohydrate Content: 33%
⚖️ Protein/Calorie Ratio: 76.0
⚖️ Protein/Phosphorus Ratio: Not specified
🧮 Calcium/Phosphorus Ratio: Not specified
🔄 Omega-6/Omega-3 Ratio: 2.80
🐾 Animal protein: 60-70%
📈 High Glycemic Ingredients: None
🔄 Fat/Protein Ratio: 60.71
❌ Human Grade: Partial
🌽 Corn, Gluten, Wheat, Soja: No
🔧 Chelated Minerals: No or not specified
Our Opinion
hen you take a closer look at this brand, the initial enthusiasm gives way to frustration. The steam-cooking process used for the kibble is a major advantage, as it theoretically avoids many of the downsides associated with the high-temperature, high-pressure cooking of extruded kibble (which dominates the market).
Unfortunately, the presence of significant amounts of plant-based proteins, particularly peas, and the lack of added taurine is concerning, especially in light of the investigation into grain-free kibble in the United States. Additionally, what should we think about the quality of the ‘meats’ used? Are they more bone than muscle?
This is something we could have learned from the calcium and phosphorus levels, which unfortunately are missing from the labels. Still, we do appreciate the use of meat from free-range animals, which is a feature found in high-quality dog kibble.
