how does aldi dog food compare

Aldi Pure Being Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Aldi Pure Being Dog Food a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

You can find many good deals at your local Aldi, and dog food is no exception. Aldi sells several dog food brands, but one of the best ones you can find is the Pure Being dog food. Aldi Pure Being dog food provides several different recipes for dogs of all life stages. It even has a grain-free recipe for dogs with wheat allergies.

As great as it is to find healthy, budget-friendly dog food, Aldi Pure Being is a comparatively small brand with a limited number of recipes. So, if you have a dog with very specific dietary needs, you wont find any appropriate specialized diets sold by Aldi Pure Being.

Aldi doesnt provide much information on ingredient sourcing and the manufacturing process. So, weve done the research to help you determine if making the switch to Aldi Pure Being is the right move.

At a Glance: The Best Aldi Pure Being Dog Food Recipes

Aldi Pure Being Dog Food Reviewed

Who Makes Aldi Pure Being and Where Is It Produced?

While Aldi Pure Being is sold exclusively at Aldi, its unclear as to where the food is manufactured. Some food labels indicate that the food is prepared in the US, while others state that the food is from the Netherlands.

Because of the lack of traceability, the exact quality of the ingredients is a bit unclear. However, Aldi Pure Being recipes tend to have a healthy blend of real meat and vegetables.

Which Type of Dog Is Aldi Pure Being Best Suited For?

Aldi Pure Being is best suited for young and healthy dogs without any particular health concerns. While some of the food is marketed as suitable for all life stages, the nutritional value indicates that its best suited for adult dogs. Puppies will probably find more nourishing meals from other brands that supply food specifically formulated for puppies.

Aldi Pure Being has one grain-free recipe that contains salmon, chicken, and legumes. If your dog has a wheat allergy and has no issues digesting those ingredients, this recipe could be a good fit.

Which Type of Dog Might Do Better with a Different Brand?

Dogs that need specialized diets or limited ingredient diets will need to find a different brand. Brands like Purina Pro Plan have an extensive variety of specialty diets, and Merrick has a wide selection of limited-ingredient diets that are either grain-free or with grains.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Aldi Pure Being dog food contains various ingredients that range in quality. Here are some typical ingredients youll find in the recipes.

• Real Meat: One great thing about Aldi Pure Being dog food is that most of the recipes have real meat as the first ingredient. Meat contains essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that dogs need for healthy daily functioning. Low-quality dog food brands typically use meat by-product meals or meat flavorings to mimic the taste of meat. These ingredients are ambiguous, and buyers will never be sure as to what types of nutrients their dogs are getting from them.
• Meat Meal; Meat meal is a popular dog food ingredient in dry dog food. It usually comes in the form of a ground powder and is an excellent way to add more protein to a formula because real meat loses a lot of weight and mass once its dehydrated. When the ingredient list has a specified meat meal, like chicken meal, its a good sign that your dog is getting a good amount of protein from one kind of animal. Its usually safe for dogs with food allergies to eat a specified meat meal, and you dont have to worry about other meats getting mixed inside.
• Rice: Rice is a common carbohydrate used in dog food. Brown rice¹ is typically more nutritious and is a good source of fiber, manganese, selenium, and B vitamins. Because of its high fiber content, some dogs with sensitive stomachs or weaker digestive systems may have a hard time digesting it. In these cases, white rice is a gentler option.
• Legumes: The grain-free recipe contains chickpeas and pea flour. While small amounts of properly cooked legumes are generally safe for dogs to eat, high quantities can cause an upset stomach. Its also important to consider that the FDA is investigating² any connections between legumes, grain-free diets, and dilated cardiomyopathy. So, it doesnt hurt to be wary of dog foods that contain a high amount of legumes.

Affordable Dog Food

One of the more attractive elements of Aldi Pure Being dog food is its affordability. Aldi is known for setting groceries and household goods at budget-friendly prices, and dog food is no exception. While you wont find extremely high-quality foods on the ingredient lists, its still decent dog food that is safe for dogs to eat. So, youre definitely getting a good deal if your dog ends up enjoying the food.

Suitable for All Life Stages

Aldi Pure Being dog food is marketed as suitable for all life stages. However, puppies and older dogs have different dietary needs, so its essential to check with your veterinarian to see if the food provides enough sustenance for them.

Since the food can be fed to a wide variety of dogs, its a considerable option for multi-dog households. As long as you dont have picky pets, you can get by purchasing just the chicken and rice dry dog food.

Only Sold in Stores

One of the downsides of Aldi Pure Being is that its only sold in stores, and when you get to the stores, its not guaranteed that the food will always be there. You also cant purchase it online through Aldis website. Sometimes, you can find a recipe or two sold on Amazon, but the availability is inconsistent and prices may be way more expensive.

Lack of Variety

Aldi Pure Being produces a relatively small line of dog food when compared to other pet food brands. As of now, it has two dry dog food recipes and three wet food recipes. Most recipes contain typical food allergens, like beef, chicken, and dairy. So, finding a good option is challenging if you have a dog with food allergies or a specific health condition.

A Quick Look at Aldi Pure Being Dog Food

• Affordable dog food
• Suitable for all life stages
• Real meat is first ingredient in most recipes

• Only available in stores
• Lack of variety

Recall History

In July 2021, Aldi voluntarily recalled its chicken and brown rice recipe due to potentially elevated aflatoxin levels. The food was recalled in only select states. When the recall was made, there werent any known cases of related illnesses.

Reviews of the 3 Best Aldi Pure Being Dog Food Recipes

1. Aldi Pure Being Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

Aldi Pure Being Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is a great option for dogs without any particular health concerns. It lists chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients and contains fish and turkey. So, this meal is a great source of protein, and it includes a healthy blend of nutritious vegetables. The formula also contains probiotics to help with digestion.

The only ingredient that causes some concern is canola oil. While dogs can safely eat canola oil, its not the most nutritious source of fat.

• Chicken is first ingredient
• Contains blend of nutritious vegetables
• Probiotics help with digestion

2. Aldi Pure Being Salmon & Potatoes Grain-Free Recipe

Aldi Pure Being Salmon & Potatoes Grain-Free Recipe is the only other dry food option made by Aldi Pure Being. Salmon is the first ingredient. Its rich in omega fatty acids, which nourish and maintain healthy skin and coat. This dog food is also free of corn, soy, and wheat, so its easily digestible.

One thing to remember is that the food contains chicken meal. So, if your dog has a chicken allergy, it shouldnt eat this meal.

• Salmon is first ingredient
• Omega fatty acids support healthy skin and coat
• Easily digestible formula

• Not for dogs with chicken allergies

3. Aldi Pure Being Beef & Chicken Wet Dog Food Recipe

Aldi Pure Being Beef & Chicken Wet Dog Food Recipe may be a suitable option if you have an older dog or small dog that has a tough time chewing dry dog kibble. It contains a tasty blend of beef and chicken with beef being the first ingredient. The recipe also doesnt contain any wheat, making it a safe option for dogs with wheat allergies. Its suitable for dogs of all life stages and can be served as a complete meal or meal topper.

While most dogs will be able to eat this meal without experiencing any issues, its important to note that it does contain a wide variety of ingredients. So, the recipe may be a bit too complex for dogs with sensitive stomachs and food allergies. Itll be best for them to find dog food with a more limited number of ingredients.

• Beef is first ingredient
• Safe for dogs with wheat allergies
• Suitable for all life stages

What Other Users Are Saying

Aldi Pure Being dog food is a bit of a hidden gem, but most customers are very satisfied with it. Heres what real people are saying about this brand.

• Food Blog Forum Pure Being grain free dog food is a USA made product packed with goodness and nutrition. The highly nutritious dog food contains a high protein content of salmon and sweet potato that provides the dog with energy. The kibbles are a good small size for the dogs with an amazing taste and flavor.
• Aldi Reviewer I buy this quite frequently. My border collie tends to like the salmon better than the chicken. I shop at Aldi quite a bit and its nice to pick up a bag of dog food when I am there and know that it is pretty decent food.
• Amazon Amazon has reviews of some Aldi Pure Being dog foods. You can read real customer reviews to help you decide if this brand is right for your dog.

Conclusion

Aldi Pure Being dog food is a worthy contender if youre looking for affordable dog food. The recipes may not contain ingredients of the highest quality, but theyre safe and nutritious for dogs to eat. Youre definitely getting what you pay for and a little more. If you frequent Aldi for grocery trips, then switching to Aldi Pure Being dog food is convenient.

Aldi Pure Being does have a limited line of dog food, and most meals have a mix of common food allergens, making the recipes unsuitable for dogs with food allergies and sensitivities.

So, when considering Aldi Pure Being, remember that its for relatively young and healthy dogs without any specific dietary needs. If your dog fits into this description, then this dog food brand is a considerable option for you.

See Also:

Featured Image Credit: Aldi

Heart To Tail

Heart To Tail Information

Heart To Tail is a pet food brand that is exclusive to the fast-expanding grocery store Aldi. Aldi, which is originally from Europe, has surged in popularity in the United States over the last decade and is now a staple of manys weekly grocery shopping.

With more than 2000 unique stores across 37 states, if you havent been able to visit Aldi yet, you will most likely be able to do so soon.

Like many of the products and brands sold by Aldi, Heart To Tail aims to be very competitively priced in comparison to other pet food brands.

This reason above others is why many are considering switching to the brand along with convenience and word of mouth.

There is very limited information available on where Heart To Tail pet food recipes are produced, but we believe that this production does take place in the United States.

We believe that this production is most likely done at a third-party manufacturing facility, perhaps one owned by Sunshine Mills, which also produces food for brands like Triumph, Evolve, and Elm Pet Foods.

Aldi also has another store pet food brand which is calledPure Being, and it is aimed at a slightly higher price point than Heart To Tail.

Given that Heart To Tail is an Aldi exclusive pet food brand, it can not be purchased from other retail pet food stores and is only found within Aldi stores.

In addition, you can not purchase Heart To Tail online from any of the large pet food websites like Chewy and Petflow.

Heart To Tail Product Range

Dog Food

It is difficult to ascertain the full extent of the Heart To Tail product range as there is limited information online, but from what we can gather, they have a moderately sized product range.

This includes a mix of dry dog food, wet/canned dog food, and some dog treats. There are notable more wet/canned recipes available from Heart To Tail than dry recipes.

Heart To Tail does not focus on the distinction between grain-free and grain-inclusive food like many other brands.

In addition, it appears that Heart To Tail does not produce many of the popular specialized dog food recipes such as those for puppies, senior dogs, or large breed dogs which is unfortunate.

Cat Food

Similar to the above, it is difficult to gauge the full size of Heart To Tails cat food range due to the limited information available, but from what we have researched, they sell a range of dry cat food and wet/canned cat food.

The range of wet/canned cat food is noticeably larger than the dry food range, which is common in the cat food industry, given its popularity.

Once again, it does not appear that Heart To Tail produces any specialized cat food recipes such as those for Kittens or Senior Cats.

Heart To Tail Nutrition

Dog Food

Sadly, the nutrition provided by Heart To Tail dog food recipes varies significantly, with some formulas offering nutrition that is below average compared to other dog food brands.

This is particularly true of their dry dog food recipes which offer poor nutrition that is high in plant-based protein and carbohydrates.

You can see an example of the nutrition offered by a Heart To Tail dry dog food recipe below.

However, Heart To Tail wet dog food recipes offer an improved nutritional profile that is more appropriate for dogs. This includes higher proportions of animal-based protein and fat and lower levels of carbohydrates.

If you would like to learn more about canine nutrition, we highly recommend you read our Dog Food Guide.

Cat Food

Similar to above, the nutrition offered by Heart To Tail cat food recipes varies between recipes and is not consistent.

Many of Heart To Tails dry cat food recipes offered nutrition that is unimpressive and a poor reflection of a cats natural diet.

These recipes often include very high portions of plant-based material and carbohydrates, which is not an ideal component of a cats diet.

Cats areobligate carnivoreswhich means they need to consume a diet high in animal or fish-based ingredients with minimal plant matter.

However, Heart To Tails wet/canned cat food recipes are an improvement and have higher proportions of protein and fat, along with much-needed moisture.

To read more about feline nutrition, including more information on what it means to be an obligate carnivore, be sure to check out ourCat Food Guide.

Heart To Tail Ingredients

High-Quality Meat & Fish Ingredients

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Beef
• Salmon
• Whitefish
• Tuna

Heart To Tail uses a moderate range of meat and fish ingredients in its recipes, with the majority of these ingredients featuring in their wet/canned recipes.

The presence of any of the above is a good sign as these are considered high-quality ingredients and reliable sources of animal-based protein and fat.

All of these ingredients are used heavily by pet food manufacturers thanks to their relatively low-cost, impressive nutrition and because of how easy they are relatively easy to source.

Other Notable Ingredients

While many of Heart To Tails wet or canned recipes contain high-quality meat and fish ingredients, other recipes include other sources such as Meat and Bone Meal.

While Meat and Bone Meal can provide some valuable nutrition to dogs, it is widely considered to be a poor-quality ingredient and one that should be avoided.

The primary concern with Meat and Bone Meal is that it lacks transparency and accountability. Pet owners do not have a clear picture of what it is made from, and manufacturers could change its source at will.

You can learn more about the use of Bone Meal in dog food in our article Bone Meal In Dog Food.

While not as frowned upon as Meat and Bone Meal, some of Heart To Tails recipes also contain another ingredient that lacks transparency, Animal Fat.

Animal Fat is a simple ingredient and can provide dogs with animal-based fat, but similar to Meat and Bone Meal, it is not accountable, and the source of the fat could easily change.

Heart To Tails recipes include several grain ingredients, including Corn, Rice, and Soybean. Grain ingredients like these can be extremely controversial additions to pet food recipes, with many being strongly against their use.

However, there are other pet owners and experts, especially those that feed brands like Purina Pro Plan and Royal Canin, that are strong supporters of the use of grains.

Regardless, these grains act as dense sources of carbohydrates, plant-based protein, and fiber.

Lastly, some of Heart To Tails recipes include grain by-products likeWheat Middlings,which can be a very controversial ingredient.

Wheat Middlings are a leftover product from grain processing and are considered by many to be a very poor quality ingredient. Some go as far as to describe them as floor sweepings, although others dispute this.

Heart To Tail Animal Testing

Based on our research, we can not find any information on whether Heart To Tail participates in any form of animal testing for its products.

However, given that we believe Heart To Tail recipes are likely produced by a third-party manufacturer, the brand likely shares the same testing and trial standards.

Many smaller pet food brands, especially store brands, do not perform large-scale testing or trials and avoid disclosing this information to their customers as it could be perceived negatively.

Many in the industry are concerned about this lack of information and transparency and believe that some pet food recipes may not have been sufficiently tested for long-term consumption.

We strongly believe that laboratory or invasive testing of animals is a cruel and outdated practice. We hope that in the future, this practice will be heavily reduced or eliminated completely.

Heart To Tail Recalls

Based on our research (FDA, AVMA, DogFoodAdvisor), we have no information that leads us to believe that Heart To Tail has ever issued a recall of its pet food products which makes it a recall-free pet food brand.

However, given that Heart To Tail is a relatively new brand, this recall-free record is not hugely surprising and is the default.

However, Aldis other brand, Pure Being, issued a voluntary recall in July 2021. This recall was issued by Sunshine Mills Inc, which produces Pure Being on Aldis behalf.

The recall was due to certain products containing potentially elevated levels of Aflatoxin. This toxin can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities. While no illnesses were reported from this issue, the manufacturer issued this recall out of caution.

The specific Pure Being recipe affected by this recall is shown below:

Pure Being Natural Dog Food Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe 5 lbs.

Best if used By 11 Feb 2022

Lot: TD3 11/Feb/2021 4099100129441

Despite this, we hope that the manufacturer of Heart To Tails recipes is can maintain high safety and quality standards in their production processes in the years to come to maintain its recall-free record.

Nevertheless, pet owners should always be vigilant of any future recalls of Heart To Tail recipes or recipes from any other pet food brand to ensure their pets remain healthy and safe.

Best of Heart To Tail

Chicken & Beef Stew With Rice & Carrots Review

As we mentioned earlier, Heart To Tails wet dog food recipes offer far improved nutrition over their dry counterparts, and for that reason, we are going to recommend them as Heart To Tails best recipes.

The above Chicken & Beef Stew is a prime example of this and includes a large portion of animal-based content.

Chicken is the recipes primary ingredient and makes up the bulk of this animal-based content, but it is joined by a smaller portion of Beef.

Outside of this, the recipe includes a moderate portion of several plant-based ingredients, including Rice and Carrots.

Both of these plant-based ingredients are fairly common and can provide a mix of carbohydrates, fiber, and some beneficial vitamins and minerals.

Heart To Tail Featured Articles

At this time, Heart To Tail has not been featured in any of our articles.

Heart To Tail Full Product Range

Dog Food

Complete Nutrition

Filet Mignon Flavor In Meaty Juices

Grilled Chicken Flavor In Savory Juices

Prime Rib Flavor In Gravy

Beef Stew With Rice, Carrots & Peas

Chicken & Beef Stew With Rice & Carrots

Chicken Stew With Rice, Carrots & Peas

Lamb & Rice Stew With Carrots & Peas

Dog Treats

Mini Dental Sticks

Dental Sticks

Chew Bones

Bacon Flavored Curlz

Beef Flavored Sticks

Medium Original Dog Biscuits

Small Variety Dog Biscuits

Cat Food

Complete Nutrition

Indoor Formula

Special Medley Formula

Beef Entree

Gourmet Chicken Entree

Cod, Sole & Shrimp Entree

Salmon Entree

Turkey & Giblets Entree

Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entree

Cat Treats

Chicken Flavor

Salmon Flavor

Seafood Medley