Rating: 
By Nature Organics dry dog food earns the Advisor’s top rating of five stars.
The By Nature Organics product line lists just one dry dog food… By Nature Organics Chicken Formula. The recipe is designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
By Nature Organics Chicken Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Organic chicken, chicken meal, organic ground brown rice, organic ground oats, organic ground barley, organic peas, fish meal, organic flaxseed meal, tomato pomace, lamb meal, natural flavors, chicken fat (stabilized with mixed tocopherols), organic canola oil, monocalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, salt, taurine, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, organic dried tomatoes, organic cranberries, organic carrots, organic spinach, organic kelp, dried chicory root, turmeric, niacin supplement, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, d-calcium pantothenate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium iodate, folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite, dried yeast fermentation solubles
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first item in this dog food is organic chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably occupy a lower position on the list.
Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (more likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.
Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is organic brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fourth item includes organic oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fifth item is organic barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs. Another favorable grain ingredient.
The sixth ingredient includes organic peas. Peas are considered yet another source of quality carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re loaded with fiber.
What’s more, peas contain about 25% protein which must be taken into account when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
The seventh item includes fish meal. Like chicken meal, fish meal is considered another high-protein meat concentrate.
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different oils, we would have preferred to have known the species.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.
The eighth item includes organic flaxseed meal… one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Plus the seeds are rich in soluble and insoluble fiber.
The ninth ingredient lists tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient… a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content… while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
Lamb meal is yet one more protein-rich meat concentrate.
After the natural flavors, we observe chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.
The next item is canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content… while a vocal minority fear it as an unhealthy fat.
Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.2
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, although we find no mention of probiotics on the list, we do find chicory root. Chicory contains inulin… a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
Next, this food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
And lastly, we note the use of dried yeast fermentation solubles which contain protein and other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast should be considered a moderately nutritious additive.
By Nature Organics Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Since By Nature Organics Dog Food contains a generous number of quality organic ingredients, we feel compelled to accord this line favored status as we consider its final rating.
That’s because organic ingredients are produced under remarkably strict government standards… standards which greatly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 30%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 46%.
Near-average protein. Average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Excluding the mildly protein-enhancing peas at a low number six position on the list, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a respectable amount of meat.
What’s more, it’s difficult to ignore the noteworthy quality of this recipe’s organic components.
Bottom line?
By Nature Organics is a plant-based dry dog food using an ample amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a wet product from the same company may wish to visit our review of By Nature Organics canned dog food.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
04/25/2010 Original review
11/25/2010 Review updated
- By Nature Customer Service, 11/9/2010 ↩
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.