Highly Recommended
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Is NutriSource a good dog food?
In this review… The Dog Food Advisor an in-depth look at NutriSource Dog Food and rates each of its most popular sub-brands.
We’ll also answer 3 important questions:
- Is NutriSource made in the United States?
- Has NutriSource been recalled?
- Which flavors and recipes get our top ratings?
But first…
Which NutriSource sub-brand is best for your dog?
Here are NutriSource’s most popular sub-brands. In this section, we’ll share what makes each different. So, you can pick the type that best meets your dog’s needs.
Who makes NutriSource and where is it made?
All NutriSource dog foods are produced in the United States. All the brand’s dry recipes are manufactured at its family-owned company facilities in Perham, Minnesota.
The company’s wet foods are produced at its own pet food cannery located in Delano, Minnesota.
NutriSource Dry Dog Food
NutriSouce’s original dry kibble. Each recipe is made with grain and generous amounts of animal protein, derived from both fresh meat and named meat meals.
- No BHA, BHT or other high-risk preservatives
- Healthy grain-inclusive formula
- 16 recipes (ratings vary)
NutriSource Grain-Free
This NutriSource sub-brand is recommended for those who prefer a fully-balanced, grain-free dry option.
- Contains no corn, wheat or rice
- Offers top-rated puppy and adult options
- 17 recipes (ratings vary)
NutriSource Grain Free Wet
This NutriSource sub-brand includes the company’s best-selling, grain-free wet recipes.
- Fully balanced, protein-rich blend
- Contains no corn, rice, wheat, or barley
- 9 recipes (ratings vary)
NutriSource PureVita Dry
PureVita is NutriSource’s limited ingredient diet. The grain-inclusive dry formula is a good choice for dog’s with possible food sensitivities.
- Balanced omega-3 and omega-6 fat ratio for healthy skin and coat
- Simple recipe design for gentle digestion
- 3 recipes (ratings vary)
Our Verdict
NutriSource dry product range is made up of 16 recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| NutriSource Small and Medium Breed Puppy | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Large Breed Puppy Chicken and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Adult Chicken and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Small Bites Adult | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Large Breed Chicken and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Beef and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Large Breed Beef and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Lamb Meal and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Large Breed Lamb Meal and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Trout and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Large Breed Trout and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Turkey and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Senior Chicken and Rice | 5 | M |
| NutriSource Weight Management | 5 | M |
| NutriSource Performance Chicken and Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Super Performance | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
NutriSource Large Breed Chicken and Rice was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
NutriSource Large Breed Adult Chicken and Rice
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal, natural chicken and turkey flavors, chicken fat (preserved with tocopherols and citric acid), dried plain beet pulp, whole grain sorghum, dried yeast, brewers rice, flax seed, menhaden fishmeal, salt, potassium chloride, salmon oil (preserved with tocopherols), dl methionine, choline chloride, threonine, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, selenium yeast, copper proteinate, magnesium oxide, manganese proteinate, ethylenediamine dihydroiodide), brewers dried yeast, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), calcium carbonate, taurine, lactic acid, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), yucca schidigera extract, yeast culture, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried bacillus licheniformis fermentation product, dried trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, l-carnitine, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 26% | 16% | 50% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 33% | 44% |
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 is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third 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.
The next ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fifth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.
After the turkey and chicken flavor, we find chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
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 NutriSource product.
With six notable exceptions…
First, brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and 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 addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.
What’s more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
We also 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.
Next, 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.
In addition, we note the use of selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
Next, this food contains dried fermentation products. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.
And lastly, we find 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, NutriSource Large Breed Chicken and Rice looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27.5%, a fat level of 16.5% and estimated carbohydrates of about 46.7%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 30.1% and a mean fat level of 18.1%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 39.7% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseeds and brewers yeast, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.
NutriSource Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to NutriSource through June 2025.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of NutriSource Dog Food
NutriSource Dry is a grain-inclusive kibble using a significant amount of named meat meals as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars. The grain-free sub-brand gets 4.5 stars.
Compare NutriSource Dog Food
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A Final Word
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