Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition product range is made up of 11 recipes with ratings varying from 3 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4 stars.
Vital Clean Nutrition rolls are generally rich in protein and include antioxidant-rich superfoods like cranberries, spinach, sweet potatoes, and blueberries.
Pros
- Locally sourced ingredients
- Developed by vet-nutritionists
- No artificial preservatives, colors, flavors or additives
Cons
- Short shelf life due to refrigeration
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.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Puppy Grain Free Chicken, Beef and Salmon Recipe | 4.5 | G |
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Puppy Grain Free Beef and Bison Recipe | 3 | A |
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Healthy Aging Chicken and Salmon Recipe | 5 | M |
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Small Breed Grain Free Chicken and Turkey Recipe | 3.5 | A |
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Small Breed Grain Free Chicken, Beef, Egg and Salmon Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Chicken Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Turkey Recipe | 4 | A |
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Grain Free Turkey Recipe | 4 | A |
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Grain Free Wild Alaskan Pollock and Salmon Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Grain Free Chicken Recipe | 4 | A |
| freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Grain Free Chicken, Beef, Salmon and Egg | 4.5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Healthy Aging Chicken and Salmon Recipe was selected to represent both products in the line for this detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Healthy Aging Chicken and Salmon Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken liver, chicken broth, cranberries, salmon, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, brown rice, pumpkin, pea protein, pea fiber, carrageenan, natural flavors, blueberries, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), celery powder, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid), choline chloride
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 10% | 5% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 46% | 23% | 24% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 37% | 44% | 19% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient includes chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common addition component in many canned products.
The fourth ingredient is cranberries, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.
The fifth ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The sixth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The seventh ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The eighth ingredient is spinach. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, spinach exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score2 of 91.
The ninth ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice 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 Freshpet product.
With one notable exception…
This food 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Healthy Aging Chicken and Salmon Recipe appears to be an above-average refrigerated product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44.2%, a fat level of 23.1% and estimated carbohydrates of about 23.8%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 40.8% and a mean fat level of 29.5%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 20.7% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 73%.
Which means this freshpet product line contains…
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical moist dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a moist product containing a significant amount of meat.
However, with 58% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 30% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for animals on a low fat diet.
freshpet Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to freshpet through December 2025.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition Dog Food
freshpet Vital Clean Nutrition is a grain-inclusive rolled dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
It is worth noting that the lower rating of some of these recipes is due to a high fat-to-protein ratio. With lower fat content, all of these recipes would have been rated higher.
About
freshpet was founded in 2006 by a group of three former pet food execs with their headquarters in Bedminster, New Jersey.
The company began in Secaucus, New Jersey, and expanded into Pennsylvania, then acquired a second facility in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, just seven years later. 2014. In 2020, another factory was opened in Texas to meet demand for the products.
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