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Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Chunky Beef Canned Dog Food

Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Chunky Beef Canned Dog Food
Company info
Company HQ
Amarillo, Texas us-flag
Parent company
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
Product info
Age Range: Adult
Food Form Wet Dog Food
Cost per day: $8.83
Primary proteins
  • Deboned Beef
  • Beef Liver
  • Dried Egg Product

Ingredients

Deboned Beef, Beef Broth, Beef Liver, Dried Egg Product, Naturel Flavor, Minerals (Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite), Potato Starch, Flaxseed Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Cassia Gum, Sodium Phosphate, Salmon Oil, Salt, Magnesium Sulfate, Dried Celery, Guar Gum, Fruit Juice Color, Cumin, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin), Choline Chloride, Xanthan Gum

Breed sizes

size-1 Toy
size-2 Small
size-3 Medium
size-4 Large
size-5 Giant

Overall Score

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65%

Ratings

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 80%
? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 75%
? 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 32%
? 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 25%
? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 64%
? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method 50%
? Based on the variety of sizes available. Size Variety 83%

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: 9%

Fat: 3%

Fiber: 1.4%

Moisture: 82%

Ash: 0%

Carb: 4.6%

Dry Matter Analysis

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Protein: 50%

Fat: 16.67%

Fiber: 7.78%

Ash: 8%

Carb: 25.56%

Calorie Weighted Basis

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Protein: 43.09%

Fat: 34.88%

Carb: 22.02%

Our Review

Pros
  • High moisture content
  • Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
  • Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
  • A good source of omega-3 fatty acids
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
  • Contains artificial food dyes
  • The brand has had multiple recalls over recent years
  • Some dogs may be allergic to fish

Recall History

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

Merrick - Pet treats for dogs (07/02/2010) -+
Date:07/02/2010
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:Pet treats for dogs
Recall Reason:Salmonella
Merrick - Texas Hold'ems Beef Filet Squares for Dogs (08/03/2010) -+
Date:08/03/2010
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:Texas Hold'ems Beef Filet Squares for Dogs
Recall Reason:Potentially contaminated with Salmonella
Merrick - Dog treats - Texas Hold'ems, Beef Filet Squares (08/16/2010) -+
Date:08/16/2010
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:Dog treats - Texas Hold'ems, Beef Filet Squares
Recall Reason:Potentially contaminated with Salmonella
Merrick - JR Texas Taffy Pet Treats (01/28/2011) -+
Date:01/28/2011
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:JR Texas Taffy Pet Treats
Recall Reason:Salmonella
Merrick - Wishbone pet treat (08/08/2011) -+
Date:08/08/2011
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:Wishbone pet treat
Recall Reason:Salmonella
Merrick - Beef dog treat varieties (05/23/2018) -+
Date:05/23/2018
Company Name:Merrick Pet Care
Product Description:Beef dog treat varieties
Recall Reason:Ingredient Level

Ingredient Review

Our review of Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Chunky Beef Canned Dog Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.

The first ingredient is Deboned Beef. Organic blueberries are grown without chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. In pet food, organic blueberries serve as a source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support your companion’s immune system and overall well-being. Organic blueberries also contain fiber and a small amount of easily digestible carbohydrates.

The second ingredient is Beef Broth. Beef broth is the liquid that remains after beef has been cooked. The beef broth in pet food isn’t a major source of nutrients however it does add flavor and aroma to appeal to your companion.

The third ingredient is Beef Liver. Beef liver is organ meat from any cattle breed. The beef liver in pet food is a source of protein, iron, and many other essential nutrients.

The fourth ingredient is Dried Egg Product. Dried egg product can refer to dried or dehydrated egg white, yolk, or shells, or a combination of all three. The dried egg product found in pet food is a good source of healthy, easily digested protein.

The fifth ingredient is Naturel Flavor. Natural Flavor is derived from the breakdown of proteins in plants or animals into essential amino acids. Natural Flavor enhances the aroma of pet food and makes it more appealing

When we analyzed the ingredients in Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Chunky Beef Canned Dog Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.

Price Analysis

Price per oz

Product Price

$3.05

Market Price avg.

$0.41

% From the Avg

+644%

Price per 100 kcal

Product Price

$14.72

Market Price avg.

$1.52

% From the Avg

+870%

Price per day

Product Price

$8.83

Market Price avg.

$0.91

% From the Avg

+871%

Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Chunky Beef Canned Dog Food is priced well above the average market price for wet dog food.

Nutritional Analysis

Your adult dog needs a balance of macro and micronutrients to thrive. A food formulated for adult maintenance or all life stages is made to meet these needs. While there can be a lot of variation in actual calorie density, adult dog foods are generally intended to provide for basic calorie needs of the average active dog. In addition to satisfying their energy needs, these foods provide the protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, and other nutrients your adult dog needs to survive. Again, not all adult foods are the same, so you may have to search around for the right fit for your dog.

With that in mind, we’ve compared Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Chunky Beef Canned Dog Food to the other 1439 wet dog food recipes in our database:

DM Protein

DM Protein

Product info

50%

All Products avg.

43.16%

% From the Avg

+16%

DM Fat

DM Fat

Product info

16.67%

All Products avg.

22.27%

% From the Avg

-25%

DM Fiber

DM Fiber

Product info

7.78%

All Products avg.

7.47%

% From the Avg

+4%

DM Carb

DM Carb

Product info

25.56%

All Products avg.

25.95%

% From the Avg

-2%

Analysis Overview

Overall, this is a meat based food that’s high in protein with low fat and moderate carbohydrate content relative to other wet dog foods.

Disclaimer and Disclosure

At Pet Food Sherpa, our primary goal is to provide pet owners like you with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about pet nutrition. As such, we do not accept gifts or incentives as motivation to include certain products in our reviews.

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