Rating: 
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Grain-Free dry dog food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Grain-Free product line includes four dry dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Grain Free Game Bird
- Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Grain-Free Beef Frittata
- Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Grain-Free Surf and Turf
- Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Grain Free Salmon Tunalini
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Grain-Free Surf and Turf dry dog food was selected to represent both products in the line for this review.
Fromm Four Star Grain-Free Surf and Turf
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Fresh pacific wild salmon, duck meal, fresh russet potatoes, pea flour, fresh sweet potatoes, fresh duck, chicken fat, dried tomato pomace, salmon meal, whole dried egg, pea protein, fresh chicken, flaxseed, fresh Wisconsin cheese, salmon oil, chicken broth, fresh carrots, fresh broccoli, fresh cauliflower, fresh apples, fresh green beans, chicken cartilage, potassium chloride, fresh cranberries, fresh blueberries, salt, chicory root extract, fresh alfalfa sprouts, Yucca schidigera extract, sodium selenite, folic acid, taurine, fresh parsley, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, choline bitartrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, copper sulfate, cobalt carbonate, calcium iodate, sorbic acid (preservative), ferrous proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, magnesium proteinate, manganese proteinate, cobalt proteinate, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Enterococcous faecium fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 30% | 19% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 33% | 21% | 38% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 27% | 42% | 31% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is salmon. Although it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, raw salmon 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 account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is duck meal. Duck meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh duck.
The third ingredient is russet potato. Sometimes referred to as an Idaho potato, this is the most common type of potato grown in the United States.
Assuming they’re cooked, potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, they’re of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is pea flour, a powder made from roasted yellow peas. Pea flour makes a slightly healthier substitute for wheat and can support more stable blood sugar levels.
The fifth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The sixth ingredient is duck. Like salmon, raw duck is also mostly water. So, after cooking, it is subject to the same moisture loss as all raw meats.
The seventh ingredient is 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth ingredient is dried 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.
The ninth ingredient is salmon meal, like duck meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.
The tenth ingredient is whole dried egg, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries… from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
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 two notable exceptions…
First, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
Next, chicory root is naturally rich in 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’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
And lastly, we note the use of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Grain-Free
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Grain-Free appears to be an above-average dry 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 33%, a fat level of 21% and estimated carbohydrates of about 38%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 33% and a mean fat level of 19%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 40% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even considering the protein boosting effect of the pea ingredients found in many of the recipes, this still looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Fromm Four Stars Nutritionals Grain-Free is a plant based kibble using a generous amount of named meats as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a nice wet food to go with this kibble may wish to visit our review of Fromm Four Star Nutritionals 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 a specific health benefit 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.
Other spellings: Fromms
Notes and Updates
10/01/2010 Original review
11/01/2010 Updated (added Beef Frittata product)
03/17/2012 Last update
03/17/2012 Last Update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.