Now Grain Free Dog Food (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

Now Grain Free Dog Food receives the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.

The Now Grain Free product line includes 7 dry dog foods.

Although we found no AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these foods on the Now Grain Free website, each product appears to be designed for the life stages suggested in the product names.

  • Now Grain Free Adult
  • Now Grain Free Puppy
  • Now Grain Free Senior
  • Now Grain Free Large Breed Adult
  • Now Grain Free Large Breed Puppy
  • Now Grain Free Large Breed Senior
  • Now Grain Free Small Breed All Ages

Now Grain Free Adult Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Now Grain Free Adult

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 29% | Fat = 18% | Carbs = 45%

Ingredients: De-boned turkey, potato flour, peas, apples, whole dried egg, pea fibre, tomato, potatoes, flaxseed, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavour, salmon, de-boned duck, sundried alfalfa, coconut oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), carrots, pumpkin, bananas, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, papayas, pineapple, grapefruit, lentil beans, broccoli, spinach, cottage cheese, alfalfa sprouts, dried kelp, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, lecithin, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (a source of vitamin C), niacin, inositol, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, beta-carotene, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), minerals (zinc proteinate , ferrous sulphate, zinc oxide, iron proteinate, copper sulphate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, selenium yeast), taurine, DL-methionine, L-lysine, dried chicory root, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, yeast extract, Yucca schidigera extract, marigold, L-carnitine, dried rosemary

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first ingredient in this dog food lists turkey. Although it is a quality item, raw turkey 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.

Which brings us to potato flour, the second and (more likely) the dominant ingredient in this dog food.

Potato flour is frequently confused with potato starch. Potato flour is made from the whole potato (even the skins)… whereas potato starch is made solely from the starch.

Potato flour actually tastes and nourishes like potatoes and yet contains only a slight amount of protein (about 7%).

The third 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 evaluating the total protein reported in this food.

The fourth ingredient mentions apple, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.

The fifth ingredient lists whole dried egg, a dehydrated product. Quality can vary greatly. 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.

The sixth ingredient is pea fiber, a mix of soluble and insoluble plant fiber derived from pea hulls. Except for the usual benefits of dietary fiber, pea fiber can contribute a small amount of additional protein to this food.

The seventh ingredient lists tomato. Tomatoes are rich in nutrients and contain about 72% carbohydrates.

The eighth ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.

The ninth ingredient is flaxseed, 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.

The tenth ingredient lists canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content while a vocal minority condemn 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.1

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 four notable exceptions…

First, garlic can be a controversial item. Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.2

However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic, especially in small amounts (as it is here).

Next, 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.

Thirdly, the yeast extract mentioned here is probably used as a flavor and immune system enhancer. Although this ingredient can be controversial, the glutamic acid found in yeast extract is a food additive generally recognized as safe by the USFDA.3

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.

Now Grain Free Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Now Grain Free looks 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 29%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 45%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 30% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.

Above-average protein. Average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

In addition, when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Now Grain Free is a plant-based dry dog food using a fair amount of turkey as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for another grain free kibble from the same manufacturer may wish to visit our review of Go Natural Grain Free 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 brand? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

05/29/2010 Original review
12/30/2010 Review updated
11/16/2011 Review updated, 3 new recipes added

  1. Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
  2. Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
  3. L-Glutamic Acid, FDA Select Committee on GRAS Substances ↩
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  • Toxed2loss

    Danea,
    Before I got poisoned, I would have been, too. But after talking with countless companies, I found that many manufacturers don’t know that much about what goes into their products. They are told that those ingredients are “perfectly safe.” Then they are refered to the US Code of Federal Regulation, and AAFCO for pet food, and told it wouldn’t be allowed under the regs, if it wasn’t… So many manufacturers are just as deceived as the general public. Then there are those who know they’re harmful but figure it’s o.k. because “everybody does it.” Anyway, I’ve found that truly reputable companies will correct a problem like that, when presented with factual research. Most rely on the MSDS as the gold standard for determining the safety of a chemical. Ever asked your self who writes the MSDS? The chemical industry. Another case of the fox guarding the hen house. I’ve found time after time research on many chemicals shows far more adverse effects at lower levels than what’s listed on MSDS. IMO, MSDS are woefully inadequate. It’s a compound problem.

    If they are a reputable company, and you bring them verifiable data, they should fix it. :-}

  • Danea

    Richard

    I hope that
    someday it will come true :)

    But at
    least you have “superficial” organic foods, where I live it is really
    hard to come by.

    “I can’t
    imagine wanting to ingest it or feed it to a dog” that’s exactly what I
    thought! 

     

    Mike

    Thanks!

     

    Toxed2loss

    I read that
    yesterday, I am quite shocked that a reputable company like Petcurean would put
    something like that in their food for tartar control…

  • Toxed2loss

    Richard, LOL You know me well! GFETE

    Danea, Here is an excerpt from Food and Water Watch’s article, “What’s On Your Fish?”

    “Sodium tripolyphosphate, or STPP, is a suspected neuro- toxin according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances.1 Food-grade STPP may cause acute skin irritation, and prolonged contact with skin should be avoided.2 STPP is listed on the U.S. Environmental Protec- tion Agency’s Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenti- cide Act as a registered pesticide,3 and it is also registered as an air contaminant under California’s Occupational and Safety Health Act.4 Although the FDA considers STPP to be “generally recognized as safe” as a food preservative,5 its household and industrial uses — such as in cleaning and sanitizing agents — suggest that exposure can be danger- ous in the short-term, particularly if it is inhaled. Based on these warnings from federal agencies, it is likely that consumers may be adversely affected when preparing and cooking STPP-soaked seafood. Exposure may occur on the skin during handling and preparation, from vapors during the cooking process (especially if steam is gener- ated), or even from inhaling the vapors while you eat.”

    You can read the rest at documents. foodandwaterwatch. org/stpp

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com/ Mike Sagman

    Hi Danea,

    Sodium tripolyphosphate is used primarily in industry as a cleaner. But is can also be used in both human and pet foods as a preservative.

    As to its safety, the FDA classifies this ingredient as generally recognized as safe – also known as GRAS.

    Hope this helps.

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