Rating: 
Newman’s Own Organics Grain Free Dog Food earns the Advisor’s highest rating of 5 stars.
The Newman’s Own Organics Grain Free product line includes three canned dog foods.
However, since we’re unable to locate AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these dog foods on the Newman’s Own Organics website, it’s impossible for us to report specific life stage recommendations for these recipes.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review:
- Newman’s Own Organics Grain Free Beef
- Newman’s Own Organics Grain Free Liver
- Newman’s Own Organics Grain Free Beef and Liver
The company also offers a “with grain” product, Newman’s Own Organics Canned Dog Food which we cover in a separate review.
Newman’s Own Organics Grain Free Beef Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Newman's Own Organics Grain Free Beef and Liver
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Organic beef, organic beef liver, organic beef broth, organic guar gum, carrageenan, potassium chloride, minerals (calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, iron carbonate, copper proteinate, manganese iodate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), vitamins (vitamin A acetate, vitamin E supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, choline chloride, niacin, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.6%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 10% | 3% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 56% | 17% | 20% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 48% | 35% | 17% |
The first ingredient listed in this dog food mentions organic 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 is organic beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is organic beef broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add needed moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The fourth ingredient is guar gum, a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
The fifth ingredient is carrageenan, a gelatin-like thickening agent extracted from seaweed. Although carrageenan has been used as a food additive for hundreds of years, there does appear to be some recent controversy regarding its long term biological safety.
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 protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Newman’s Own Organics Grain Free Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Based on its ingredients alone, Newman’s Own Organics Grain Free to be an above-average canned dog food.
Because the company claims these products are 95% organic, the brand must be given special consideration.
That’s because organic ingredients are by law produced under strict government standards… standards which greatly restrict the use of any pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.
Just the same, ingredient quality alone does not tell the whole story. It’s still important to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 56%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 20%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 62% and an average fat level of 19%. Together, these figures suggest an overall carbohydrate content of 11% for the full product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 30%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs as compared to a typical canned dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a canned dog food containing a significant amount of meat.
We note impressive nutritional figures like these throughout the entire product line — with nutrient content for all the recipes approaching the ratios of a dog’s natural ancestral diet.
Bottom line?
Newman’s Own Organics Grain Free is a meat-based canned dog food using an abundance of organic beef and beef liver as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
However, since we could not locate an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement posted on the company website, readers should check the label to be sure a food is “complete and balanced” before feeding it on a long term basis.
Those looking for a nice kibble from the same company may wish to check out our review of Newman’s Own Organics 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.
In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.
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Notes and Updates
07/04/2010 Original review
10/19/2010 Review updated
07/11/2012 Last Update
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
