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Our methodology

How we grade dog food

Every brand starts at zero and earns its score across five categories, 100 points total. The rubric is based on veterinary nutrition science and expert opinion, and we publish the full criteria. Here's how it works.

The grade scale

What the letters mean

A 90 - 100
B 80 - 89
C 70 - 79
D 60 - 69
F 0 - 59

Every brand is scored out of 100. The letter grade reflects the total. Higher is better, and the bar is high on purpose.

The five categories

What we actually score

The two biggest categories carry the most weight because they matter the most: who's behind the formula and how safe is the food.

Formulation & Expertise

35 of 100 points

Who formulated the food? What are their credentials? How involved are they? What AAFCO compliance pathway was used? This is the single biggest factor in whether a food is well made.

Formulator transparency Credential level Ongoing involvement AAFCO pathway

Safety & Quality

35 of 100 points

How often is the food tested for nutrients, pathogens, and contaminants? Does the brand own its facility or use a co-manufacturer? For raw products, does it use a validated kill step like HPP? What food safety systems are in place overall?

Nutrient analysis Pathogen testing Contaminant testing Facility control Food safety systems

Scientific Integrity

10 of 100 points

When a brand makes health or longevity claims, are they backed by peer-reviewed research? Are premium ingredient claims verified by a third party?

Health claims Evidence accuracy Premium ingredient claims

Marketing Ethics

10 of 100 points

Does the brand use fear to sell? Do they trash competitors with misleading comparisons? Are the claims on their website actually true? Marketing that relies on scaring pet parents gets scored accordingly.

Fear-based marketing Competitor disparagement Claim accuracy

Transparency

10 of 100 points

Can you see the full ingredient list and guaranteed analysis before you buy? When we reach out with questions, do they answer? And if there's been a recall, did they handle it well or try to hide it?

Pre-purchase info Response to inquiry Recall history
Grade caps

Some things limit a grade

A high score alone isn't enough for the top grades. Two structural requirements can cap a brand's letter.

Required for an A

Adult-Specific Formula

If a brand only sells "All Life Stages" food and doesn't offer an adult-specific formula, the highest it can get is a B. Puppies, adults, and seniors have different nutritional needs. A single formula can meet minimums, but it can't be optimized for all of them.

Required for an A

Feeding Trials

AAFCO lets brands prove their food meets nutritional standards two ways: run a formulation analysis on paper, or put the food through actual feeding trials with real dogs. If a brand hasn't done feeding trials, it can't earn an A. The food might be fine on paper, but it hasn't been proven in practice.

Cost methodology

How we calculate monthly cost

Every brand on the compare tool shows a monthly cost across six dog weights. Here's the math, step by step.

1Calculate daily calories
We start with the standard energy estimate for an adult dog at moderate activity:
MER = 70 × weight (kg)0.75 × 1.3
That gives the daily calories a dog at that weight needs.
2Convert calories into food
Each brand publishes a calorie density on its label, in kcal per kg. We divide the daily calories from step 1 by that number to get the daily food in kilograms.
3Calculate the monthly cost
For price, we use the cheapest retail option we can find. Whichever pack size and retailer gives the lowest cost per pound is what we use. We multiply daily food by that price per kg, then by thirty days.

Cost is reported but doesn't affect the grade. We grade food on quality, not price.

Evidence standards

Where the evidence comes from

Not all sources are equal. Here's how we rank them, from strongest to weakest. If a brand's website says one thing and the product label says another, the label wins.

1
Peer-reviewed published researchThe gold standard. Published, reviewed by other scientists.
2
Third-party certifications and auditsUSDA, SQF, BRC, ISO 22000, and similar.
3
Regulatory filings and databasesAAFCO statements, FDA records.
4
Product labelLegally regulated. Trumps the website if they conflict.
5
Direct brand responseWritten answers from the brand when we ask questions.
6
Brand website (professional portal)Vet-facing or professional resource pages.
7
Brand website (consumer-facing)Public marketing and product pages.
8
Brand marketing and social mediaLowest tier. Used for marketing scores, not evidence of practice.

We don't use consumer reviews, anecdotal reports, anonymous sources, or sponsored influencer content as evidence.

See the grades for yourself

Every grade shows its work. Look up any brand Fairbowl has graded.

Compare brands Back to home

Grades reflect Fairbowl's opinion based on publicly available information, direct brand outreach, and the criteria described above. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your dog's specific nutritional needs. If you represent a brand and believe your information is inaccurate, contact us at bryce@fairbowl.com.