Pet Food Ratings — How Chowmark Scores Every Formula

Chowmark rates every pet food formula on a 0–100 scale using a 5-factor algorithm built entirely from public data. No brand pays to influence any score.

The 5 Scoring Factors

FactorWeightData Source
Ingredient Quality30%Open Pet Food Facts, AAFCO ingredient definitions
Nutritional Adequacy25%AAFCO nutritional profiles, manufacturer statements
Safety & Recall History20%FDA openFDA enforcement API, CFIA recalls-rappels.canada.ca
Evidence Base15%WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, peer-reviewed research
Label Transparency10%Guaranteed analysis completeness, named protein sources

Score Ranges

ScoreLabelWhat It Means
80–100ExcellentStrong performance across all five factors
65–79GoodAbove-average performance with minor gaps
50–64FairAverage performance; some factors below standard
35–49PoorBelow-average; significant gaps in one or more factors
0–34Very PoorMultiple significant deficiencies

Highest-Scoring Pet Foods

#ProductBrandScore
1 Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Lamb Cat Food 2.2 lb Ziwi Peak 93/100 — Excellent
2 Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Beef Dog Food 5.5 lb Ziwi Peak 92/100 — Excellent
3 The Farmer's Dog Fresh Beef Recipe Dog Food (weekly subscription) The Farmer's Dog 91/100 — Excellent
4 The Farmer's Dog Fresh Turkey Recipe Dog Food (weekly subscription) The Farmer's Dog 90/100 — Excellent
5 Orijen Original Dry Cat Food 10 lb orijen 89/100 — Excellent
6 Ollie Fresh Chicken Recipe Dog Food (weekly subscription) Ollie 89/100 — Excellent
7 Orijen Six Fish Dry Dog Food 25 lb orijen 88/100 — Excellent
8 Nom Nom Heartland Beef Mash Fresh Dog Food (subscription) Nom Nom 88/100 — Excellent
9 Orijen Original Dry Dog Food 25 lb orijen 88/100 — Excellent
10 Sundays for Dogs Air-Dried Beef Recipe Dog Food 7 lb Sundays for Dogs 88/100 — Excellent

Disclaimer: Chowmark scores are algorithmic data assessments. They do not constitute veterinary advice. Consult a licensed veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

Full methodology → · Browse all brands →