Is Instinct pet food safe?

Instinct has an evidence base score of 30/100 on Chowmark. No recalls on record. Has not publicly confirmed meeting WSAVA's recommended criteria.

Has Instinct been recalled?

Instinct has no lifetime recalls on record in Chowmark's database, which tracks FDA and CFIA recall data.

Does Instinct meet WSAVA guidelines?

Instinct has not publicly confirmed meeting WSAVA's recommended criteria (employing board-certified veterinary nutritionists and conducting feeding trials). This is an editorial assessment based on public disclosures, not a WSAVA certification.

Instinct

Parent company: Nature's Variety · Origin: US · Founded: 2002 · Lifetime recalls: 0

Evidence Base Score: 30/100 — Very Poor

WSAVA criteria: not publicly confirmed

Editorial Review

Instinct is a premium raw and raw-coated pet food brand from Nature's Variety. Known for its Original Grain-Free, Raw Boost, and Be Natural lines. Available at pet specialty retailers.

Products (50)

Product	Score	Category
Freeze Dried Food	68/100 — Good	treat_cat
Duos Beautiful Inside & Out	66/100 — Good	dry_dog
Raw Boost Kibble Indoor Health Recipe with Real Rabbit	66/100 — Good	dry_dog
Raw Boost Kibble Indoor Health Recipe with Real Chicken	66/100 — Good	dry_dog
RawBoost+ Kibble Real Beef Recipe	66/100 — Good	dry_dog
Original Kibble Real Chicken Recipe	66/100 — Good	dry_dog
Raw Boost Kibble Healthy Weight Recipe	66/100 — Good	dry_dog
RawBoost+ Kibble for Small Breed Dogs Real Chicken Recipe	66/100 — Good	dry_dog
Raw Boost Kibble Real Chicken Recipe	66/100 — Good	dry_dog
RawBoost+ Whole Grain Kibble for Puppies Chicken Recipe	66/100 — Good	dry_dog
FreshDried Raw Meals for Puppies Chicken Recipe	66/100 — Good	dry_dog
FreshDried Meal Blends Chicken & SuperGreens Blend	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
FreshDried Patés Rabbit Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
Original Kibble Real Salmon Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
Original Kibble Real Rabbit Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
RawBoost+ Kibble for Small Breed Dogs Real Beef Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
Original Kibble for Kittens Chicken Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_cat
FreshDried Meal Blends Chicken & Harvest Blend	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
FreshDried Meal Blends Beef & Wild Berries Blend	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
RawBoost+ Whole Grain Kibble Gut Health Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
RawBoost+ Shakers Grass-Fed Beef Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
FreshDried Meal Blends Beef & Orchard Blend	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
Ultimate Protein Kibble Cage-Free Duck Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
Limited Ingredient Diet Kibble Real Turkey Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
FreshDried Raw Meals Grass-Fed Beef Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
Raw Boost Kibble Real Salmon Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
Original Kibble Real Beef Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
Duos Movin' & Groovin'	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
RawBoost+ Kibble Gut Health Recipe	65/100 — Good	dry_dog
Instinct® Raw Boost Kibble + Freeze-Dried Raw All Life Stages Dry Dog Food - Raw, Grain Free, Beef	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
Instinct® Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Dry Dog Food - Grain Free, Salmon	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
Instinct® Raw Meals Freeze-Dried Puppy Dry Dog Food - Raw, Grain Free, Chicken	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
Instinct® Raw Boost Cat Food - Natural, Grain Free, Freeze Dried Raw, Chicken	64/100 — Fair	dry_cat
Instinct® Raw Boost Cat Food, Natural, Grain Free Recipe, Freeze Dried Raw, Salmon	64/100 — Fair	dry_cat
Instinct® Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Cat Food - Natural, Grain Free, Salmon	64/100 — Fair	dry_cat
Duos Feelin' Good	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
FreshDried Raw Meals Cage-Free Chicken Recipe	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
Instinct® Raw Meals Freeze-Dried Adult Dry Dog Food - Grain Free, Beef	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
FreshDried Raw Meals Wild-Caught Pollock Recipe	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
FreshDried Patés Chicken Recipe	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
Instinct FreshDried Meal Blends Adult Freeze-Dried Dog Food - Beef & Wild Berry	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
Instinct® Raw Boost Kibble + Freeze-Dried Raw Small Breed All Life Stages Dry Dog Food - Chicken	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
Instinct® Raw Meals Freeze-Dried Adult Dog Dry Food - Grain Free, Alaskan Pollock	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
Ultimate Protein Kibble Cage-Free Chicken Recipe	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
FreshDried Raw Meals for Kittens Chicken Recipe	64/100 — Fair	dry_cat
Instinct FreshDried Meal Blends Adult Freeze-Dried Dog Food - Chicken & Harvest Blend	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
RawBoost+ Shakers Cage-Free Chicken Recipe	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
Instinct® Raw Boost Gut Health Kibble + Freeze-Dried Raw Adult Dry Dog Food - Grain Free, Chicken	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
FreshDried Patés Surf & Turf Recipe	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog
Instinct® RawBoost Whole Grain Kibble + Freeze-Dried Raw Puppy Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Brown Rice	64/100 — Fair	dry_dog

View full brand page on Chowmark →