Free Assessment
What Grade Is
My Kibble?
Answer 6 quick questions about your pet's dry food and find out exactly where it stands and why it matters.
Step 1: Grab your kibble bag | Step 2: Flip to the back | Step 3: Let's Grade it
Step 1 of 6Score: 0
Step 1 of 6 - First Ingredient
What is the first ingredient on the back of the bag?
Why this matters: The first ingredient makes up the largest portion of the food by weight. A named animal protein like chicken or salmon means real, identifiable meat. Vague terms like meat or animal meal hide the source, and non-meat first ingredients mean your pet's bowl is mostly filler.
Select the option that best describes your first ingredient
Please make a selection to continue.
Step 2 of 6 - Salt Divider
Find salt on the list. Where are the fruits and veggies?
The Salt Divider: Salt makes up roughly 1% of a kibble bag. Since ingredients are listed largest to smallest by weight, anything listed after salt is less than 1% of the food. If blueberries, spinach, or cranberries appear after salt, there is literally less than one whole blueberry in the entire bag. Fruits and veggies must come before salt to have any real nutritional impact. Corn, peas, potatoes, and sweet potato are starches and do not count regardless of where they appear.
Where do fruits and veggies appear relative to salt?
Please make a selection to continue.
Step 3 of 6 - Preservatives
How is the food preserved? Find the preservative on the label.
What preservatives reveal: Highly processed kibble needs something to stay shelf-stable for up to three years. Manufacturers can choose safe natural preservatives or cheap synthetic ones that have no place in any living body. Look for these specifically on your bag's label.
Natural (Safe)
- Mixed Tocopherols
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Rosemary Extract
- Sprouted Seeds
- Citric Acid (natural)
Synthetic (Avoid)
- BHA
- BHT
- Ethoxyquin
- TBHQ
- Propyl Gallate
What does your bag use?
Please make a selection to continue.
Step 4 of 6 - Artificial Colours
Are there any artificial colours or dyes listed?
The colour trick: Manufacturers add artificial dyes to make food look appealing to YOU - not because it is beneficial for your pet. These dyes are essentially paint and they are toxic. Look for Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2, or any ingredient with colour, dye, or lake in the name. If you see them on any food or treat label, put it back.
Does your bag contain artificial colours or dyes?
Please make a selection to continue.
Step 5 of 6 - Carbohydrate Count
Let's calculate the hidden carbohydrate percentage.
The carb secret manufacturers hide: Most manufacturers never list their carbs - but that's changing. If pet parents knew the actual carb percentage, many would stop buying. Typical kibble contains 50 to 70% carbs per serving, meaning more than half of everything in your pet's bowl converts to sugar. Dogs and cats have zero biological requirement for carbs. Calculate yours using the Guaranteed Analysis on the back of the bag.
Enter your Guaranteed Analysis percentages
Enter the numbers above and your carb count will appear here.
Please select your carb range to continue.
Step 6 of 6 - Ingredient Panel Check
One final scan of the full ingredient list.
The tricks manufacturers use: Ingredient splitting hides how much of one ingredient is really in the food. Unidentified ingredients with no species named are a red flag for poor quality sourcing. By-products and controversial ingredients, many of which sound innocent, are nutritionally inconsistent and often harmful over time. Check all that apply to your bag.
Check all that apply
Leave all unchecked if none apply. Each checked item deducts 10 points.
A
Total Score
50 / 50
Your Score Breakdown
| Grade | Score | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| A | 46 to 50 | One of the best dry foods available |
| B | 40 to 45 | Decent option with room to improve |
| C | 36 to 39 | Average kibble, consider upgrading |
| D | 30 to 35 | Below average, worth a conversation |
| F | Below 30 | Significant concerns, time to upgrade |