Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Pure Balance wet product range consists of eight recipes with ratings varying from 2.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4 stars.
Pros
- Supports hydration
- Budget-friendly
- A variety of recipes
Cons
- Some recipes contain controversial ingredients
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Balance Grain-Free Chicken Dinner Tray | 5 | G/M |
| Pure Balance Beef, Vegetables and Brown Rice Stew | 2.5 | G/M |
| Pure Balance Grain-Free Turkey Dinner Tray | 5 | M |
| Pure Balance Grain-Free Lamb Dinner with Peas Tray | 3.5 | M |
| Pure Balance Grain-Free Beef Stew with Carrots Tray | 5 | M |
| Pure Balance Chicken, Vegetables and Brown Rice Stew | 5 | G/M |
| Pure Balance Grain-Free Chicken Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Peas Tray | 5 | M |
| Pure Balance Grain-Free Beef in Savory Juices Tray | 2.5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Pure Balance Grain-Free Beef Stew with Carrots Tray recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Pure Balance Grain-Free Beef Stew with Carrots Tray
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Beef, chicken broth, water sufficient for processing, liver, carrots, natural flavor, dried egg product, pea starch, potato starch, ground flaxseed, canola oil, fish oil, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, salt, spinach powder, xanthan gum, choline chloride, taurine, blueberries, cranberries, guar gum, vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ascorbic acid, thiamine hydrochloride, copper amino acid chelate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulphate, vitamin D3 supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, calcium iodate, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 4% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 47% | 21% | 24% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 39% | 41% | 20% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient 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 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 component in many wet products.
The third ingredient is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most wet dog foods.
The fourth ingredient is liver. Normally, liver can be considered a quality component. However, in this case, the source of the liver is not identified. For this reason, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.
The fifth ingredient includes carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
After natural flavor, we find dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The next two ingredients are potato and pea starch. Starch is a gluten-free carbohydrate used more for its thickening properties than its nutritional value.
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 Pure Balance product.
With four notable exceptions…
First, fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high-quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
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.
Also, 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 its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
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, Pure Balance Grain-Free Beef Stew with Carrots Tray looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 45.2%, a fat level of 21.4% and estimated carbohydrates of about 19%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 43.2% and a mean fat level of 23.2%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 20.1% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 54%.
Which means this Pure Balance product line contains…
Near-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other wet dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a wet product containing a significant amount of meat.
Pure Balance Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Pure Balance through February 2026.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Pure Balance Dog Food
Pure Balance includes both grain-inclusive and grain-free wet dog foods using a significant amount of named meats as their dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
About
Walmart owns the Pure Balance brand of dog food, a private-label line sold exclusively in their stores. The brand was introduced by Walmart in 2012 as its first ultra-premium, veterinarian-formulated dog food.
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