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Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters Review (Dry)

Home Reviews Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters Review (Dry)

Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters Review (Dry)

By Mike Sagman

Updated: March 22, 2024

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Which Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?

Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters earns the Advisors top rating of 5 stars.

The Whole Food Clusters sub-brand includes the 9 baked kibbles listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters Grain Free Chicken Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters Grain Free Chicken

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Chicken, potatoes, peas, chicken liver, lentils, carrots, ground flaxseed, eggs, broccoli, pumpkin, apples, coconut oil, natural chicken flavor, salmon oil, kale, chia seed, minerals [calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, sodium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate], sodium selenite, fenugreek seed, dried kelp, taurine, vitamins [vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, niacin supplement], mixed tocopherols (a natural preservative), turmeric, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, rosemary extract

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Guaranteed Analysis	26%	15%	NA
Dry Matter Basis	30%	17%	46%
Calorie Weighted Basis	26%	35%	40%

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient includes potatoes. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The third ingredient lists peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.

The next ingredient is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

Next, we find lentils. Lentils are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) theyre rich in natural fiber.

However, both the peas listed above and lentils contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The sixth ingredient includes carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The seventh ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

Next, we find eggs in this recipe. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

The next ingredient is broccoli. Broccoli is a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. Its notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.

Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Honest Kitchen product.

With 6 notable exceptions

First, we find coconut oil, a natural oil rich in medium-chain fatty acids.

Medium-chain triglycerides have been shown to improve cognitive function in older dogs.¹

Because of its proven safety² as well as its potential to help in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and chronic skin disorders, MCT can be considered a positive addition to this recipe.

Next, chia seed is an edible seed nutritionally similar to flax or sesame. Provided theyre first ground into a meal, chia seeds are rich in both omega-3 fatty acids as well as dietary fiber.

However, chia seeds contain about 17% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

In addition, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

Another note-worthy addition is taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.

We also find dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.

And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Before we conclude, its worth noting The Honest Kitchen has taken the rather unusual step of applying for (and actually receiving) FDA approval to label its pet foods human grade.

The company only uses human-edible components and produces all its products in a human food manufacturing facility.

So, based on its ingredients alone, Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters looks like a superior dry dog food.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 30%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 46%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.

Which means this product line contains

Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry kibble.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, lentils and flaxseed, this still looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.

Our Rating of Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters Dog Food

Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters includes both grain-free and grain-inclusive dry dog foods using a significant amount of named meats as their dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Honest Kitchen Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Honest Kitchen through April.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

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More Honest Kitchen Brand Reviews

The following Honest Kitchen dog food reviews are also posted on this website:

Compare This Dog Food

How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?

A Final Word

The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

Sojos vs. The Honest Kitchen

In this comparison article for Sojos vs The Honest Kitchen, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Sojos and The Honest Kitchen, we'll use up-to-date nutritional and price information.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.

Throughout this The Honest Kitchen vs Sojos comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Sojos Review Page or The Honest Kitchen Review Page.

Guaranteed Analysis: The Honest Kitchen vs. Sojos

According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.

All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a dry matter basis.

Sojos Dog Food vs. The Honest Kitchen Dog Food

Dry Dog Food	Sojos	The Honest Kitchen
Crude Protein	34.2%	29.3%
Crude Fat	15.5%	15.7%
Crude Fiber	5.7%	6.3%

Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food

Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these ten essential amino acids.

There is a relatively large difference between the protein content of Sojos and The Honest Kitchen. On average, The Honest Kitchen dry dog food recipes contain 4.94% less protein than Sojos recipes.

Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food

Fats are an absolutely vital component of a balanced canine diet. Not only do fats provide energy, but they also serve important roles in the normal development and function of your dog's body. For example, fats help dogs produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among many other significant functions.

There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fat content of the two brands.

Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.

Sojos Cat Food vs. The Honest Kitchen Cat Food

Dry Cat Food	Sojos	The Honest Kitchen
Crude Protein	33.3%	40.4%
Crude Fat	10%	23.1%
Crude Fiber	5%	3.5%

Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food

Cats require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Eleven of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining eleven are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these eleven essential amino acids.

Sojos dry recipes contain 7.08% less protein than The Honest Kitchen dry recipes. This difference in protein content is a notable difference between The Honest Kitchen and Sojos.

Crude Fat Comparison For Cat Food

There are many ways in which dietary fat contributes to the overall health of our feline friends. Here is a short list of benefits provided by fats (not exhaustive):

Fats help with the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Reduce inflammation associated with arthritis
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Prevent or reduce the likelihood of certain heart problems.
Aid in the development of the retina and visual cortex.

The comparison table above shows that The Honest Kitchen dry cat foods provide significantly more fat than Sojos. More specifically, The Honest Kitchen guarantees at least 13.07% more fat.

As you can see, The Honest Kitchen and Sojos guarantee a similar amount of crude fiber.

Sojos Pet Food Ingredients vs. The Honest Kitchen Pet Food Ingredients

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Sojos.

Garlic

Garlic in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.

Canola Oil

Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by The Honest Kitchen.

Dried Garlic

Dried garlic in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.

Product Safety: Recall History of Sojos & The Honest Kitchen?

According to our records, Sojos has never been recalled.

The Honest Kitchen has been recalled once.

Feb. 21, 2013: Salmonella

Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?

Dry Dog Food	Sojos	The Honest Kitchen
Per Pound	$17.19	$9.66
Per Calorie	$0.0103	$0.0053

The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.

If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Sojos or The Honest Kitchen, input your pet's weight into our cost analyzer widget.

Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands. However, the actual price that you'll pay for Sojos or The Honest Kitchen will depend on your shopping habits.

Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Sojos and The Honest Kitchen. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.

Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!

Where To Buy Sojos Pet Foods

You can purchase Sojos pet foods from the following stores:

9 Recipes In-Stock Today

5 Recipes In-Stock Today

8 Recipes In-Stock Today

7 Recipes In-Stock Today

Where To Buy The Honest Kitchen Pet Foods

You can purchase The Honest Kitchen pet food products from these retailers:

84 Recipes In-Stock Today

26 Recipes In-Stock Today

23 Recipes In-Stock Today

22 Recipes In-Stock Today

Type Of Pet Foods Available

Product	Sojos	The Honest Kitchen
Dry Dog Food	None	9 Recipes
Wet Dog Food	None	10 Recipes
Dog Treats	4 Treats	23 Treats
Dry Cat Food	None	3 Recipes
Wet Cat Food	None	10 Recipes
Cat Treats	2 Treats	3 Treats