Rating: 
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals canned dog food earns the Advisor’s second highest tier rating of 4 stars.
The Fromm Four Star Nutritionals product line lists three canned dog foods, … each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Shredded Pork Entree
- Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Shredded Beef Entree
- Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Shredded Chicken Entree
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Shredded Beef Entree dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Shredded Beef Entree
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Beef, beef broth, carrots, russet potatoes, peas, potato starch, tomato paste, calcium sulfate, choline chloride, salt, potassium chloride, taurine, vitamin E supplement, iron chelate, zinc chelate, niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, potassium iodate, riboflavin supplement, manganese supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate, copper chelate, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, biotin
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 7.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 3% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 39% | 12% | 41% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 36% | 27% | 37% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient includes beef broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third item lists carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fourth ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fifth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The sixth ingredient is listed as potato starch. Potato starch is a gluten-free carbohydrate used more in canned foods for its thickening properties than its nutritional value.
Unlike its more controversial cousin (tomato pomace), the tomato paste detailed here does not include the skin or seeds of the fruit.
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 one notable exception…
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Fromm Four Star Nutritionals appears to be an above-average canned dog food.
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 39%, a fat level of 12% and estimated carbohydrates of about 41%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 41% and a mean fat level of 11%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 40% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 28%.
Near-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a canned food containing a moderate amount of meat.
Although we try not to allow supplementary website information to influence our ratings, we note the company claims its foods are all manufactured using human-grade USDA-inspected meat “ordered as needed depending on what recipe is being made that particular day”.2
Bottom line?
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals is a meat-based canned dog food using a moderate amount of pork, chicken or beef as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a nice kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Fromm Four Star Nutritionals dry dog food.
Special Alert
Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.
A Final Word
The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.
Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.
Each review is offered in good faith and has been 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 analyze each product, please 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 qualified veterinary professional for help.
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Other spellings: Fromms
Notes and Updates
02/27/2010 Original review
09/30/2010 Review updated
06/24/2012 Last Update
