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Our Verdict
Hartfelt Angus Beef Recipe receives the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 3 stars, a recipe claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient guidelines for maintenance.
Although it has a high fat content, this recipe is worth considering because of its quality ingredients and is especially suitable for active dogs.
Pros
- Nutrient-rich organ meats
- Omega-3 rich food
- Antioxidant-rich superfoods
Cons
- High fat, so unsuitable for inactive dogs or those susceptible to weight gain
Hartfelt Angus Beef Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Angus beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef kidney, whitefish, salmon, flaxseed, sweet potato, carrot, beet root juice, papaya, tart cherry, egg, cranberry, broccoli, salt, dried kelp, potassium chloride, mixed tocopherols (preservative), yeast culture, taurine, zinc amino acid complex, blueberry, inulin, diatomaceous earth, iron amino acid complex, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried bacillus amyloliquefaciens fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, yucca schidigera extract, niacin supplement, copper amino acid complex, l-carnitine, manganese amino acid complex, vitamin B12 supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 15%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 38% | 36% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 40% | 38% | 14% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 27% | 63% | 10% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is Angus 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 heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing to us humans, heart tissue is pure muscle – all meat. It’s
naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The third ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient is beef kidney, an organ meat low in fat and rich in protein and essential minerals.
The fifth ingredient is whitefish, a marine or freshwater species native to Canada and the California coast.
The sixth 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 seventh 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.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The eighth 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 ninth ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals 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 the product.
This recipe has five notable exceptions.
First 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.
We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
Next we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
We note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
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.
This food also contains chelated minerals, that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Next diatomaceous earth, also called fossil shell flour. This substance is derived from a fossilized form of microscopic one-celled plants known as diatoms.
Diatomaceous earth is EPA approved for mixing with cereal grains to help control mealworms, crawling insects and other pests. It’s also used as an anti-caking agent in animal feeds.
Diatomaceous earth can be included into dog foods as a mycotoxin binder, as well as to bind water in the colon to support digestion. More studies to support this are required.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Hartfelt Angus Beef Recipe looks like an above-average freeze-dried product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 41.6%, a fat level of 38.9% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 12.6%, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 94%.
This means this Hartfelt product contains average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and above-average fat, when compared to typical freeze-dried dog food.
Hartfelt Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Hartfelt through January 2026.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Hartfelt Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Hartfelt Angus Beef Recipe is a freeze-dried food that uses a significant amount of named meat as its main source of animal protein. Unfortunately, this recipe has a very high fat-to-protein ratio; otherwise, we would have been compelled to award this product a higher rating.
About
Hartfelt pet food brand was founded by comedian and actor Kevin Hart and was launched on November 4, 2025. Hartfelt has partnered with animal experts.
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