This page contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. Learn more about how we are supported here.

Vital Essentials Dog Food Review

Company HQ

LocationGreen Bay, Wisconsin us-flag

Parent company

Carnivore Meat Company

Sourcing and Manufacturing

LocationUnited States us-flag

Type of food

Freeze-Dried Dog Food, Wet Frozen Dog Food

Ratings

67%
? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 83%
? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 98%
? 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 49%
? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 76%
? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method 70%
Pros
  • High protein content
  • Foods are nutritionally complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards
  • All protein comes from animal sourced ingredients
  • All recipes are free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Cons
  • The brand has been previously recalled
  • Price is above market average

Brand Overview

Vital Essentials is a family-owned company based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The product line features raw food and treats for dogs and cats. In addition, Vital Essentials offers hemp chews for dogs and a range of supplements for dogs and cats.

How Much Does Vital Essentials Dog Food Cost

We’ve compared Vital Essentials dog food price to the other 197 dog food brands in our database.

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Dog Food Price Comparison

Brand AvgMarket Avg% From the Avg
Price per oz$2.67$2.64+1%
Price per 100 kcal$2.00$1.89+6%
Price per day$1.20$1.13+6%

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Dog Food is priced above the average market price for dog food.

Vital Essentials Wet Frozen Dog Food Price Comparison

Brand AvgMarket Avg% From the Avg
Price per oz$2.43$2.13+14%
Price per 100 kcal$1.97$1.87+5%
Price per day$1.18$1.12+5%

Vital Essentials Wet Frozen Dog Food is priced above the average market price for dog food.

Vital Essentials Nutrient Profile Comparison

We’ve compared Vital Essentials dog food recipes nutrient profile to the other 197 dog food brands in our database.

Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Brand AvgMarket Avg% From the Avg
DM Protein 51.39% 44.23% +16%
DM Fat 26.28% 26.20% +0%
DM Fiber 4.05% 4.67% -13%
DM Carb 18.28% 24.63% -26%

Wet Frozen Dog Food

Brand AvgMarket Avg% From the Avg
DM Protein 51.63% 41.85% +23%
DM Fat 28.27% 23.99% +18%
DM Fiber 5.98% 5.73% +4%
DM Carb 14.13% 27.52% -49%

All of Vital Essentials dog food recipes meets AAFCO's minimum requirements.

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Vital Essentials Dog Food Review 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

Explore All Reviews of Vital Essentials Dog Food Recipes

FAQ

faq-item-image Who owns Vital Essentials dog food?

Vital Essentials is owned by Carnivore Meat Company.

faq-item-image Where is Vital Essentials dog food made?

Vital Essentials is manufactured in the United States us-flag.

faq-item-image Is Vital Essentials AAFCO approved?

Yes, all of Vital Essentials recipes are AAFCO approved.

faq-item-image Has Vital Essentials dog food been recalled?

Vital Essentials has been recalled 4 times in the years 2015, 2016, and 2018.

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.

We do, however, participate in affiliate marketing programs and we partner with select brands to fund our site. We choose the products we review carefully and review them thoroughly before publishing a review or accepting any form of payment.

Proceeds from this program and our partners enable us to continue providing high-quality content to our readers. Read more about how we’re funded here.

Leave a Review