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Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Pork Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Pork Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food
Company info
Company HQ
Green Bay, Wisconsin us-flag
Parent company
Carnivore Meat Company
Product info
Age Range: Adult
Food Form Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day: $1.32
Primary proteins
  • Pork
  • Pork Liver

Ingredients

Pork, Pork Liver, Pork Spleen, Herring Oil, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex

Overall Score

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52%

Ratings

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 25%
? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 100%
? We scan the FDA’s database and rate each brand by the number of recalls in its history. Brands with fewer recalls receive higher ratings. Recall History 25%
? By comparing the prices of foods in our database, we determine if a food is above or below market average price. Lower-priced foods receive higher ratings. Price 63%
? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 68%
? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method %
? Based on the variety of sizes available. Size Variety 64%

Estimated Nutrient Content

To understand the nutrient content of pet food, we visualize its macronutrient composition in three ways. In the charts below, you’ll see a guaranteed analysis on an as-fed basis, a dry matter analysis, and a breakdown of the food’s macronutrients on a calorie-weighted basis.

Remember that all of these values are estimates based on the guaranteed analysis published by the company, and the food’s actual nutrient values may be slightly different.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Protein: 7%

Fat: 40%

Fiber: 45%

Moisture: 8%

Ash: 0%

Carb: 0%

Dry Matter Analysis

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Protein: 7.61%

Fat: 43.48%

Fiber: 48.91%

Ash: 8%

Carb: 0%

Calorie Weighted Basis

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Protein: 6.72%

Fat: 93.28%

Carb: 0%

Our Review

Pros
  • Low carbohydrate content
  • Freeze-dried food retains the nutritional value of raw meat
  • Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
  • Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
Cons
  • Low protein content
  • Low in moisture
  • Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
  • Freeze dried cat food requires rehydration, which is time-consuming
  • For supplemental feeding only: this food is not nutritionally complete and balanced according to AAFCO guidelines
  • The brand has had multiple recalls over recent years
  • Some cats may be allergic to fish

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all cat food recalls related to Vital Essentials since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.

Vital Essentials - Pet Foods (07/08/2015) -+
Date:07/08/2015
Company Name:Carnivore Meat Company, LLC
Product Description:Pet Foods
Recall Reason:Listeria monocytogenes
Vital Essentials - Frozen Chicken Patties Entree for Dogs (01/15/2016) -+
Date:01/15/2016
Company Name:Carnivore Meat Company, LLC
Product Description:Frozen Chicken Patties Entree for Dogs
Recall Reason:Potential for salmonella
Vital Essentials - Freeze-dried beef nibblets for dogs (02/23/2018) -+
Date:02/23/2018
Company Name:Carnivore Meat Company, LLC
Product Description:Freeze-dried beef nibblets for dogs
Recall Reason:Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
Vital Essentials - Dog/pet food Freeze-Dried Beef Toppers and Frozen Beef Chub (04/15/2018) -+
Date:04/15/2018
Company Name:Carnivore Meat Company, LLC
Product Description:Dog/pet food Freeze-Dried Beef Toppers and Frozen Beef Chub
Recall Reason:Salmonella

Ingredient Review

Our review of Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Pork Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.

The first ingredient is Pork. Pork is a general term for meat from a domestic pig. In pet food, pork can be an important source of protein, along with other essential nutrients.

The second ingredient is Pork Liver. Pork liver is organ meat from swine. The pork liver in pet food is a source of protein, iron, and many other nutrients.

The third ingredient is Pork Spleen.

The fourth ingredient is Herring Oil. Herring oil is derived from the boiled fatty tissue of herring fish. In pet food, herring oil is added as a source of Omega-3 essential fatty acids.

The fifth ingredient is Mixed Tocopherols. Mixed tocopherols are a form of vitamin E. These antioxidants are used as a natural preservative. In pet food, mixed tocopherols help to prevent spoilage and oxidization.

When we analyzed the ingredients in Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Pork Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.

Price Analysis

Price per oz

Product Price

$2.99

Market Price avg.

$3.13

% From the Avg

-4%

Price per 100 kcal

Product Price

$2.20

Market Price avg.

$2.31

% From the Avg

-5%

Price per day

Product Price

$1.32

Market Price avg.

$1.38

% From the Avg

-5%

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Pork Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food is priced below the average market price for freeze-dried cat food.

Nutritional Analysis

Adult cat foods can have a lot of variability in calorie density but generally meet requirements for the average active cat. With formulations addressing a wide variety of needs, including weight loss or gain, indoor or outdoor living, or hairball problems, individual recipes may vary greatly in calorie, fiber, and nutritional content.

With that in mind, we’ve compared Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Pork Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food to the other 98 freeze-dried cat food recipes in our database:

DM Protein

DM Protein

Product info

7.61%

All Products avg.

48.51%

% From the Avg

-84%

DM Fat

DM Fat

Product info

43.48%

All Products avg.

27.38%

% From the Avg

+59%

DM Fiber

DM Fiber

Product info

48.91%

All Products avg.

5.67%

% From the Avg

+763%

DM Carb

DM Carb

Product info

0%

All Products avg.

18.1%

% From the Avg

-100%

Analysis Overview

Overall, this is a meat based food that’s low in protein with high fat and low carbohydrate content relative to other freeze-dried cat foods.

Disclaimer and Disclosure

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