Eukanuba

Eukanuba scores in the upper tier on Chowmark. Created in 1969 by Paul F. Iams — founder of The Iams Company — as a premium extension of his existing pet food line, Eukanuba takes its name from a 1940s jazz slang term meaning "the tops," coined by Hoagy Carmichael. The brand is owned by Mars Petcare in North America, Latin America, and parts of Asia-Pacific; Spectrum Brands has owned the European Eukanuba business since 2014, when Procter & Gamble divested both Iams and Eukanuba.

Eukanuba has recorded one lifetime recall — a 2013 voluntary recall of specific dry dog food formulas due to potential Salmonella contamination. No recalls have been recorded in the past five years.

Eukanuba meets WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines. The brand employs board-certified veterinary nutritionists, conducts AAFCO feeding trials, and has published peer-reviewed research on its formulas — particularly in the areas of dental health (the DentaDefense tartar-control system) and breed-specific nutrition. That evidence base is a genuine differentiator in the mass-premium segment.

The Iams connection matters: Eukanuba and Iams are sister brands under Mars Petcare in North America. Both meet WSAVA guidelines. Eukanuba is positioned as the more premium, performance-oriented option; Iams as the accessible everyday choice. If you are evaluating one, the other is worth comparing.

The bottom line: Eukanuba is one of the stronger evidence-based brands in the mass-premium segment. It meets WSAVA guidelines, has a clean recent safety record, and has genuine research behind its formulations. The European ownership split is worth knowing if you are purchasing in Europe — the product formulations may differ.