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Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Grain-Free Big Game Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 20-lb bag
Merrick

Backcountry Raw Infused Grain-Free Big Game Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 20-lb bag

Evidence Fair
freeze dried $4.25/lb

Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Grain-Free Big Game Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 20-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 59/100 (C) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Strong protein profile with lamb as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.

MNI

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF

Contains menadione. Banned for human OTC use but tolerated at AAFCO-permitted levels in pet food. The only AAFCO-permitted vitamin K source..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 2

  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.
  • menadione
    Synthetic vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns at high doses. Permitted in pet food but premium brands use natural vitamin K alternatives.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Protein
34%
min
Fat
17%
min
Fiber
3.5%
max
Moisture
11%
max
Ingredients
39 total
  1. 1 lamb
  2. 2 chicken meal
  3. 3 turkey meal
  4. 4 sweet potato
  5. 5 potato
  6. 6 peas
  7. 7 pea protein
  8. 8 chicken fat
  9. 9 natural flavor
  10. 10 venison
  11. 11 beef
  12. 12 flaxseed
  13. 13 beef liver
  14. 14 dried yeast
  15. 15 tapioca
  16. 16 potassium chloride
  17. 17 salt
  18. 18 choline chloride
  19. 19 zinc amino acid complex
  20. 20 iron amino acid complex
  21. 21 sodium selenite ⚠ Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.
  22. 22 manganese amino acid complex
  23. 23 copper amino acid complex
  24. 24 calcium iodate
  25. 25 dl-methionine

Showing first 25 of 39. Position 1-5 has the largest weight.