Highly Recommended
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Our Verdict
American Journey Grain-Free canned dog food product range is made up of seven recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.
A great price for a quality wet option. Contains no cheap fillers. Makes a nice “topper” to enhance the flavour of any kibble.
Pros
- Highly palatable
- No corn, wheat, or soy ingredients, or poultry by-product meals
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Only grain free options
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
American Journey Grain-Free Beef Recipe Premium Loaf was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
American Journey Grain-Free Beef Recipe Premium Loaf
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Beef, beef broth, chicken, pork liver, potatoes, whitefish, natural flavor, sunflower oil, pumpkin, ground flaxseed, guar gum, cassia gum, xanthan gum, salt, potassium chloride, blueberries, cranberries, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, cobalt proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide), vitamins (thiamine mononitrate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), choline chloride, yucca schidigera extract, magnesium sulfate
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 9% | 6% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 41% | 27% | 24% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 31% | 51% | 18% |
Ingredients Analysis
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 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is beef broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many canned products.
The third ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.2
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is pork liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fifth ingredient is potatoes. 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 sixth ingredient is whitefish, a marine or freshwater species native to Canada and the California coast.
After natural flavor, we find sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3’s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
The ninth ingredient is pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary 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 American Journey product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, we find 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.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
And lastly, this food includes 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, American Journey Grain-Free Beef Recipe Premium Loaf appears to be an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 40.4%, a fat level of 26.9% and estimated carbohydrates of about 21.2%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 39.6% and a mean fat level of 26.9%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 22% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 68%.
Which means this American Journey product line contains…
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other moisture-rich dog foods.
American Journey Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to American Journey through March 2026.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
What do pet parents think?
Our Rating of American Journey Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
American Journey Grain-Free is a canned dog food using a notable amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
About
American Journey was established in 2017 and is exclusively made for and distributed by Chewy.
With dry and wet recipes for cats and dogs, the brand focuses on deboned protein, free from corn, wheat, and soy. American Journey offers a wide range of products, including limited-ingredient dog food, grain-free dry cat food, dog treats, and more.
Compare American Journey Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
How does American Journey Grain-Free Canned compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
