halo dog food ingredients

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Halo Dog Food Ingredients

According to our research, Halo manufactures 39 dog food recipes using 181 unique ingredients. To evaluate the quality of ingredients used by Halo, we've studied all 181 ingredients. In this article, we'll share our findings on Halo ingredients.

Dog Food Recipes	39
Unique Ingredients	181
Artificial Colors	0
Animal By-Products	0
Anonymous Meats	0
Controversial	3
Harmful	0

First 5 Ingredients

Dog food ingredients in the United States are listed in descending order of pre-cooked weight. The first 5 ingredients typically constitute a significant portion of the recipe.

For Halo, these are the most common ingredients found within the first 5 dog food ingredients.

chicken
sweet potato
dried egg product
dried lentil
pearled barley

As you can see, the most common first ingredient in Halo is chicken. The most common 2nd ingredient is sweet potato, followed by dried egg product, dried lentil, and pearled barley.

Artificial Food Coloring Dyes

Halo does not use any artificial food coloring dyes. According to our records, none of the 39 Halo dog foods contain artificial food dyes.

Artificial food coloring dyes are unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredients. In general, we not not recommend feeding any pet foods that contain artificial dyes.

In 2010, the CSPI raised serious concerns regarding the safety of many artificial dyes. Most of the studies referenced by the CSPI involved prolonged or excessive consumption. Since most dogs consume the same foods throughout their lives, concerns raised by the CSPI are alarming to say the least.

To read more about Artificial Food Dyes, click here.

Animal By-Products

According to our records, Halo does not contain any animal by-products.

Animal by-products are basically the leftover parts of the the carcass after its been processed for meat. AAFCO defines by-products as the non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals.

Although by-products are still fairly nutritious ingredients, consumers have equated them with slaughterhouse waste. Therefore, most premium brands, including Halo have decided to remove by-products and instead use named organ meats (beef liver, chicken gizzards).

For further reading on the controversy over animal by-products, click here.

Anonymous Meat Ingredients

Anonymous meats are inexpensive low-quality ingredients that can come from practically any animal. These type of ingredients are often used to produce very inexpensive dog foods.

In general, we prefer ingredients which specify the animal source used to derive the ingredient. For example, ingredients such as duck fat are much better than animal fat or poultry fat.

In our analysis, we've looked through all 181 Halo ingredients. According to our data, Halo does not contain any anonymous animal-based ingredients.

Controversial Ingredients

In most cases, ingredients which are given the controversial classification can be substituted with higher-quality alternatives. You should evaluate each controversial ingredient independently to see if there is truly a valid cause for concern.

Keep in mind, certain sacrifices often must be made to produce dog foods at a reasonable price. In general, the more expensive the product, the fewer controversial ingredients you'll find.

In our analysis, we've identified 3 controversial ingredients inside Halo products. These controversial ingredients are listed below. Click on each ingredient for more information.

Soybean protein concentrate is produced by removing the water soluble carbohydrates from soybeans. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.

The following recipes contain soybean protein concentrate:

Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.

The following recipes contain pea protein:

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.

The following recipes contain canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols):

Potentially Harmful Ingredients

Harmful ingredients are those which have been linked to adverse health effects. In general, we do not recommend feeding any product which contains any harmful ingredients.

During our review, none of the Halo ingredients analyzed were classified as harmful by our system. The absence of harmful ingredients is indicative of a relatively premium dog food brand.

Halo Dog Food Ingredient Lists

Halo

Grain Free Puppy

Holistic Game Bird Medley

Halo

Grain Free Puppy Holistic Game Bird Medley

First Five Ingredients

turkeydried egg productdried lentildried chickpeadried pea

Halo

Grain Free Senior Dog

Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

Halo

Grain Free Senior Dog Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

First Five Ingredients

salmonwhitefishdried chickpeadried lentildried pea

Halo

Large Breed Adult

Holistic Chicken Recipe

Halo

Large Breed Adult Holistic Chicken Recipe

First Five Ingredients

chickenoat groatsdried egg productpearled barleypea protein

Halo

Adult Dog

Holistic Lamb & Lamb Liver

Halo

Adult Dog Holistic Lamb & Lamb Liver

First Five Ingredients

lamblamb liverdried egg productoatmealpearled barley

Halo

Grain Free Senior Dog

Holistic Turkey, Turkey Liver & Duck Recipe

Halo

Grain Free Senior Dog Holistic Turkey, Turkey Liver & Duck Recipe

First Five Ingredients

turkeytapiocadried sweet potatodried peapotato protein

Halo

Grain Free Adult Dog

Holistic Surf & Turf Recipe

Halo

Grain Free Adult Dog Holistic Surf & Turf Recipe

First Five Ingredients

whitefishdried egg productdried chickpeadried lentildried pea

Halo

Vegan Adult Dog

Holistic Ocean of Vegan Recipe

Halo

Vegan Adult Dog Holistic Ocean of Vegan Recipe

First Five Ingredients

chickpeapearled barleyoat groatspea proteindried brewers yeast

Halo

Grain Free Small Breed Healthy Weight

Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

Halo

Grain Free Small Breed Healthy Weight Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

First Five Ingredients

salmonwhitefishdried egg productdried lentiltapioca

Halo

Puppy Food

Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

Halo

Puppy Food Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

First Five Ingredients

chickenchicken liverdried egg productoat groatspearled barley

Halo

Small Breed Adult Dog

Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

Halo

Small Breed Adult Dog Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

First Five Ingredients

chickenchicken liverdried egg productdried peaoat groats

Halo

Grain Free Small Breed Dog

Holistic Game Bird Medley

Halo

Grain Free Small Breed Dog Holistic Game Bird Medley

First Five Ingredients

turkeydried egg productdried chickpeadried lentildried pea

Halo

Grain Free Adult Dog Healthy Weight

Holistic Turkey, Turkey Liver & Duck Recipe

Halo

Grain Free Adult Dog Healthy Weight Holistic Turkey, Turkey Liver & Duck Recipe

First Five Ingredients

turkeydried peadried chickpeadried egg productdried lentil

Halo

Adult Dog

Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

Halo

Adult Dog Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe

First Five Ingredients

chickenchicken liverdried egg productoat groatspearled barley

Halo

Adult Dog

Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

Halo

Adult Dog Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe

First Five Ingredients

salmonwhitefishdried egg productoat groatspearled barley

Halo

Vegan Adult Dog

Holistic Garden of Vegan Recipe

Halo

Vegan Adult Dog Holistic Garden of Vegan Recipe

First Five Ingredients

ground peachickpeapearled barleyoat groatspea protein

Halo

Grain Free Puppy

Salmon Recipe

Halo

Grain Free Puppy Salmon Recipe

First Five Ingredients

salmonfish brothturkey livereggtricalcium phosphate

Halo

Grain Free Small Breed Dog

Chicken & Chickpea Recipe

Halo

Grain Free Small Breed Dog Chicken & Chickpea Recipe

First Five Ingredients

chickenchicken brothchicken liverchickpeaagar-agar

Halo

Grain Free Small Breed Dog

Turkey & Chickpea Recipe

Halo

Grain Free Small Breed Dog Turkey & Chickpea Recipe

First Five Ingredients

turkeyturkey brothturkey liverchickpeaflaxseed

Halo

Senior Dog

Holistic Beef Recipe

Halo

Senior Dog Holistic Beef Recipe

First Five Ingredients

beefbeef brothbeef liverdried ground peaoat bran

Halo

Small Breed Dog Healthy Weight

Wild Salmon & Venison Recipe

Halo

Small Breed Dog Healthy Weight Wild Salmon & Venison Recipe

First Five Ingredients

salmonfish brothvenisonchickpeaegg

Halo

Grain Free Puppy

Chicken Recipe

Halo

Grain Free Puppy Chicken Recipe

First Five Ingredients

chickenchicken brothchicken liverdried egg productsalmon oil

Halo

Small Breed Dog

Chicken & Salmon Recipe

Halo

Small Breed Dog Chicken & Salmon Recipe

First Five Ingredients

chickenchicken brothchicken liversalmoncarrot

Halo

Adult Dog

Turkey & Salmon Stew

Halo

Adult Dog Turkey & Salmon Stew

First Five Ingredients

turkeyturkey brothchicken brothchicken liversalmon

Halo

Adult Dog

Beef Stew

Halo

Adult Dog Beef Stew

First Five Ingredients

beefbeef brothbeef livercarrotpumpkin

Halo

Adult Dog

Lamb Stew

Halo

Adult Dog Lamb Stew

First Five Ingredients

lambchicken brothbeef liverpumpkincarrot

Halo

Small Breed Dog

Turkey & Duck Recipe

Halo

Small Breed Dog Turkey & Duck Recipe

First Five Ingredients

turkeyturkey brothturkey liverdried ground peaduck

Halo

Senior Dog

Chicken Recipe

Halo

Senior Dog Chicken Recipe

First Five Ingredients

chickenchicken brothchicken liveroat branpea flour

Halo

Vegan Adult Dog

Holistic Garden of Vegan Recipe

Halo

Vegan Adult Dog Holistic Garden of Vegan Recipe

First Five Ingredients

vegetable brothchickpeapotatopea proteincarrot

Halo

Adult Dog

Chicken Stew

Halo

Adult Dog Chicken Stew

First Five Ingredients

chicken brothchickenchicken liverturkeycarrot

Halo

Immune Support

Natural Immunity Support From Carcumin & Mushrooms

Halo

Immune Support Natural Immunity Support From Carcumin & Mushrooms

First Five Ingredients

coconutsweet potatocurcuminaniseshiitake mushroom

Halo

Joint & Hip Support

Natural Support For Mobility & Function

Halo

Joint & Hip Support Natural Support For Mobility & Function

First Five Ingredients

coconutsweet potatoglucosamine hydrochloridetart cherrycurcumin

Halo

Senior Dog Defense

Natural Vitality and Cognitive Support

Halo

Senior Dog Defense Natural Vitality and Cognitive Support

First Five Ingredients

coconutsweet potatofish oill-argininebee pollen

Halo

Skin & Coat Support

Healthy Skin and Shiny Coat Supplement

Halo

Skin & Coat Support Healthy Skin and Shiny Coat Supplement

First Five Ingredients

coconutsweet potatofish oil kelpbiotin

Halo

Sensitive Stomach

Daily Prebiotic & Digestive Support

Halo

Sensitive Stomach Daily Prebiotic & Digestive Support

First Five Ingredients

coconutsweet potatoorganic inulinaniseturmeric root extract

Halo

Luv-A-Lots

Beef, Bacon & Blueberry Recipe Dog Treats

Halo

Luv-A-Lots Beef, Bacon & Blueberry Recipe Dog Treats

First Five Ingredients

beefyellow pea flourbaconblueberryvegetable glycerin

Halo

Luv-A-Lots

Turkey & Cranberry Recipe Dog Treats

Halo

Luv-A-Lots Turkey & Cranberry Recipe Dog Treats

First Five Ingredients

turkeyyellow pea flourcranberryvegetable glycerinsalt

Halo

Luv-A-Lots

Wild Salmon & Superfruit Recipe Dog Treats

Halo

Luv-A-Lots Wild Salmon & Superfruit Recipe Dog Treats

First Five Ingredients

salmonyellow pea flourdried egg productblueberrycranberry

Halo

Healthsome Garden Of Vegan

Sweet Potato, Carrot & Quinoa Recipe Cookies For Dogs

Halo

Healthsome Garden Of Vegan Sweet Potato, Carrot & Quinoa Recipe Cookies For Dogs

First Five Ingredients

oat floursweet potatocarrotchickpeaquinoa

Halo

Healthsome Garden Of Vegan

Peanut n' Pumpkin Recipe Dog Biscuits

Halo

Healthsome Garden Of Vegan Peanut n' Pumpkin Recipe Dog Biscuits

First Five Ingredients

ground peaground peanutchickpeapotato flourpumpkin

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min.)	27%
Crude Fat (min.)	15%
Crude Fiber (max.)	5%
Moisture (max.)	9%
Vitamin E(min.)	225 IU/kg
Taurine(min.)*	0.15%
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (min.)*	0.8%
Omega-6 Fatty Acids(min.)*	3.0%
Bacillus coagulans(min.)*	500,000,000 CFU/lb
*not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles
3,715 kcal/kg; 422 kcal/cup

Ingredients:Oats, Peas, Chickpeas, Potato Protein, Brewers Dried Yeast, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Whole Flaxseed, Pea Protein, Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Cranberries, Carrots, Apples, Pumpkin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Yeast Culture, Barley, Minerals (Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Iodate), Taurine, Salt, Inulin, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ergocalciferol (Source of Vitamin D2), Vitamin A Acetate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid), Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Rosemary Extract.

Halo Grain Free Dog Food Review (Dry)

By Mike Sagman

Updated: March 22, 2024

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All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.

Which Halo Holistic Grain Free Dry Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?

Halo Holistic Grain Free Dog Food receives the Advisors second-highest tier rating of 4 stars.

The Halo Holistic Grain Free product line includes the 5 dry dog foods listed below.

Each recipe includes its related AAFCO nutrient profile when available on the products official webpage: Growth, Maintenance, All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Halo Holistic Grain Free Adult Chicken and Sweet Potato 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.

Halo Holistic Grain Free Adult Chicken and Sweet Potato

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Deboned chicken, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, potatoes, brewers dried yeast, lentils, pork, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), carrots, apples, whole flaxseed, natural flavor, potassium chloride, salt, yeast culture, peas, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), taurine, inulin, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, choline chloride, mixed tocopherols (preservative), rosemary extract, dried whey

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Guaranteed Analysis	27%	15%	NA
Dry Matter Basis	30%	17%	46%
Calorie Weighted Basis	26%	35%	40%

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 is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.

The third ingredient includes chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, beans and lentils, chickpeas are a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables.

However, chickpeas contain about 22% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The fourth ingredient is potato. 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 fifth ingredient is brewers yeast, which can be a controversial item. Although its a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim weve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.

Whats more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The sixth ingredient lists lentils. Lentils are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) theyre rich in natural fiber.

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

The seventh ingredient is pork. Pork is defined as the clean flesh derived from slaughtered pork.

However, even though its considered a quality ingredient, raw pork 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 dog food.

The eighth ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

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

The next ingredient is apple, a nutrient-rich fruit thats also high in fiber.

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 Halo product.

With 6 notable exceptions

First, we find 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, this recipe includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.

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

In addition, we note the use of 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.

Next, inulin is a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, its also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs digestive tract.

This recipe also 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.

And lastly, this food includes 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

Based on its ingredients alone, Halo Grain Free looks like an above-average dry kibble.

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 30% 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 56%.

Which means this Halo product line contains

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

However, when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the chickpeas, brewers dried yeast, lentils, flaxseed and peas, and the lack of any meat concentrates, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing just a moderate amount of meat.

Our Rating of Halo Holistic Grain Free Dog Food

Halo Holistic Grain Free is a dry dog food using a moderate amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

Please note certain recipes are sometimes given a higher or lower rating based upon our estimate of their total meat content and (when appropriate) their fat-to-protein ratios.

Halo Holistic Grain Free Dog Food Recall History

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

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

Get Free Recall Alerts

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More Halo Brand Reviews

The following Halo 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

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