Rating: 
Newman’s Own Organics dry dog food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Newman’s Own Organics product line includes two kibbles… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for “complete and balanced”. However, we found no further life stage details to report.
- Newman’s Own Organics Adult Formula
- Newman’s Own Organics Advanced Formula
Newman’s Own Organics Advanced Formula Dog Food was selected to represent both products in the line for this review.
Newman's Own Organics Advanced Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, organic oats, organic barley, organic peas, organic soybean meal, organic sorghum, organic brown rice, organic millet, organic rice, chicken fat (naturally stabilized with mixed tocopherols [a source of vitamin E), organic flax seed, dicalcium phosphate, organic carrots, chicken liver, sea salt, potassium chloride, parsley, zinc amino acid complex (source of chelated zinc), choline chloride, iron amino acid complex (source of chelated iron), vitamin E supplement, rosemary extract, manganese amino acid complex (source of chelated manganese), lecithin, copper amino acid complex (source of chelated copper), vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A acetate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin D3 supplement, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), riboflavin, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamin hydrochloride, biotin, cobalt proteinate (source of chelated cobalt), ethylenediamine dihydriodide (source of iodine), sodium selenite, dehydrated Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dehydrated Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dehydrated Bifidobacterium thermophilum fermentation product, dehydrated Bifidobacterium pseudolongum fermentation product, dehydrated Enterococcus faecium fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.1%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists 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.
The company claims its chicken is human-grade and does “not contain antibiotics, artificial preservatives, additives or colors”.1
The second and predominant meat ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient lists organic oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fourth 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.
The fifth ingredient lists organic peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
The sixth ingredient is organic soybean meal. Soybean meal is actually a useful by-product. It’s what remains of soybeans after all the oil has been removed.
Soybean meal contains 48% protein. However, compared to meat, this item is considered an inferior plant-based protein providing a lower biological value.
The seventh ingredient is organic sorghum. Sorghum is a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn.
Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient.
The eighth item lists organic brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The ninth ingredient includes organic millet… a gluten-free grain harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber… as well as other essential minerals.
The tenth ingredient is organic rice. Is this whole grain rice, brown rice or white rice? Since the phrase “organic rice” doesn’t tell us much, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.
The next 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. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality addition.
Organic flaxseed is one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
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 company 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.
And lastly, 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.
Newman’s Own Organics Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Since Newman’s Own contains a notable 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 27%, a fat level of 11% and estimated carbohydrates of about 54%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 25% and a mean fat level of 12%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 55% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Low fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
In addition, when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the soybean meal, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing only a modest amount of meat.
However, we must acknowledge the exceptional quality of its organic ingredients.
Bottom line?
Newman’s Own Organics is a plant-based dry dog food using a modest amount of chicken or chicken meal as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a wet food from the same company may wish to visit our review of Newman’s Own Organics Grain Free 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.
Notes and Updates
03/18/2010 Original review
08/15/2010 Vitamin K error corrected
10/18/2010 Review updated
10/23/2010 Vitamin K removed
- Newman’s Own Organics, 3/18/2010 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.
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