Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Dog Food Review (Dry)

Earthborn Holistic Grain Free product range is made up of five recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.

This range of food includes many excellent ingredients, such as nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, along with taurine for heart health.

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

Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Great Plains Feast was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is bison meal. Bison meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh bison.

The second ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The third ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.

Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label – a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The fourth item is canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. That’s because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.

Yet others cite the fact that canola oil can be a significant source of essential omega-3 fatty acids.

In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.

The fifth ingredient is beef meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

Next, 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.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The seventh ingredient is dried-yeast, which can be a controversial item. Dried yeast contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients. Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system. Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies.

This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself. In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a positive addition.

The eighth ingredient is tapioca, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.

The ninth ingredient lists pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

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 Earthborn Holistic product.

With four notable exceptions…

First we find dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.

We also note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.

Next, chicory root. Chicory is rich in , 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 used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

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, Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Great Plains Feast looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36.4%, a fat level of 20.7% and estimated carbohydrates of about 29.6%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 33.2% and a mean fat level of 17.4%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 35.5% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.

Which means this Earthborn product line contains…

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

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, pea protein, and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.

Earthborn Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Earthborn through December 2025.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Dog Food

Earthborn Holistic Grain Free is a dry dog food using a significant amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus receiving 5 stars.

Those looking for additional grain-free products may wish to check out our special report on grain-free dog foods.

Highly Recommended

About

Earthborn Holistic is a family-owned company now in its 4th generation of family leadership. It was founded in 1926 as a small milling business called Midwestern Pet Foods.

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