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

Backcountry Raw Infused Grain-Free Large Breed Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 20-lb bag

Evidence Fair
freeze dried $4.25/lb

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

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

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

PQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

Named fresh meat paired with same-species meal, a strong extrusion architecture.

STACK

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • 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.

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
31 total
  1. 1 deboned chicken
  2. 2 chicken meal
  3. 3 turkey meal
  4. 4 sweet potato
  5. 5 peas
  6. 6 potato
  7. 7 pea protein
  8. 8 chicken fat
  9. 9 natural flavor
  10. 10 lamb
  11. 11 miscanthus grass
  12. 12 dried yeast
  13. 13 flaxseed
  14. 14 tapioca starch
  15. 15 chicken livers
  16. 16 potassium chloride
  17. 17 salt
  18. 18 chicken hearts
  19. 19 choline chloride
  20. 20 zinc amino acid complex
  21. 21 iron amino acid complex
  22. 22 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.
  23. 23 manganese amino acid complex
  24. 24 copper amino acid complex
  25. 25 calcium iodate

Showing first 25 of 31. Position 1-5 has the largest weight.