is purina moist and meaty a good dog food

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Purina Moist and Meaty Dog Food Review (Semi-Moist)

The Purina Moist and Meaty product line includes the 6 semi-moist dog foods listed below.

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

Recipe and Label Analysis

Purina Moist and Meaty Burger with Cheddar Cheese Flavor was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food includes beef by-products, slaughterhouse waste. This is whats left of slaughtered cattle after all the prime cuts have been removed.

With the exception of hair, horns, teeth and hooves, this stuff can include heads, ovaries or developing fetuses.¹

And raw meat contains up to 73% water. So, 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 quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.

The second ingredient is soy flour, a high-protein by-product of soybean processing.

Although soy flour contains about 51% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The next ingredient lists soy grits, soybeans which have been toasted and broken into small pieces. Although high in protein, compared to meat, soy grits are an inferior source of amino acids.

The fourth ingredient is high fructose corn syrup (or HFCS). HFCS is a corn-based sugar mixture commonly used to make soft drinks, cookies and candy. Sugar is an empty nutrient just as unhealthy for dogs as it is for humans.

The fifth item is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.

The sixth ingredient is wheat flour, a highly-refined product of wheat milling. Like corn, wheat is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

For this reason, we do not consider wheat a preferred component in any dog food.

The seventh ingredient is corn syrup. Corn syrup is a glucose-rich, high-calorie item of questionable nutritional value to a dog.

Next, this recipe includes beef. Although its a quality item, raw beef 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.

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 product.

With 7 notable exceptions

First, soybean oil is red flagged here only due to its rumored (yet unlikely) link to canine food allergies.

However, since soybean oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids and contains no omega-3s, its considered less nutritious than flaxseed oil or a named animal fat.

In addition, were always disappointed to find artificial coloring in any pet food. Thats because coloring is used to make the product more appealing to humans not your dog. After all, do you really think your dog cares what color his food is?

Next, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the food after processing to help with digestion.

In addition, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.

We also note that this food includes menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Since vitamin K isnt required by AAFCO in either of its dog food nutrient profiles, we question the use of this substance in any canine formulation.

This product also uses 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 contains ethoxyquin, a controversial preservative linked to the accumulation of hemoglobin pigment in the liver and elevated hepatic enzymes in the blood.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Purina Moist and Meaty looks like a below-average product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 10% and estimated carbohydrates of about 55%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 27% and a mean fat level of 11%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 54% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 39%.

Which means this Purina product line contains

Near-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dog food.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of all the soy products, this looks like the profile of a semi-moist dog food containing a moderate amount of meat.

Purina Moist & Meaty Review

Ralston Purina began as an animal feed company in the 1890s. In 1898, Purina Chow was introduced as the first commercially produced pet food. Over the next 50 years, the company entered the international market and opened manufacturing facilities in various countries. The company continued to introduce other products and expand its business interests. There were several ownership changes throughout the years.

Nestl acquired Ralston Purina in 2001 for $10.3 billion to become Nestl Purina PetCare Company, one of the largest pet food manufacturers in the world.

Nestl is a multinational company that owns a wide range of brands ranging from pet food to cosmetics and health devices. Nestle is known for its candy portfolio but also owns Perrier, Carnation, Lean Cuisine, Haagen-Dazs, Alpo, Fancy Feast and Purina.

In its annual report, Nestle Purina Pet Care reported annual sales for 2022 as US$19.38 billion.

IS PURINA MOIST & MEATY A GOOD DOG FOOD?

With a score of 1.4/10, Purina Moist & Meaty is considered a very high risk dog food according to our evaluation criteria. All recipes score 0/10 for ingredient safety.

This is a line of soft dog food with 6 recipes. Soft or wet dog foods are traditionally lower in carbohydrates and are moderate to high in protein. However, Moist & Meaty has exceptionally high average carbohydrates of 55% as calculated on a dry matter basis, with average protein of 27%, much lower than expected.

Purina Moist & Meaty has quality and safety issues that havent been raised previously in these reviews. What is especially concerning is the use of high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup. Sugar is found in pet food to increase the palatability or as a preservative or humectant. It is a low quality ingredient that can cause unwanted gut changes, obesity and insulin spikes. High amounts can lead to leaky gut and inflammation.

This high carbohydrate level is to be expected when these foods have high fructose corn syrup AND corn syrup as the 4th and 7th ingredients. When totaled by weight, the soy, wheat and corn syrups surpass the amount of animal protein named as the first ingredient. Dogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrates. Excessive carbohydrates are an indicator of low quality foods as they are used to keep costs down. Large amounts of starch and sugar can increase insulin levels, cause obesity and negatively impact gut balance.

There arent any whole food sources like fruits and vegetables to provide naturally occurring nutrients so vitamins and minerals are added in synthetic form, something seen in all recipes in the Purina brand. This usually reflects poor quality or overly processed ingredients. Vitamin and mineral excesses, especially vitamin D and copper, can also result from added vitamin premixes, so its preferable that most or all vitamins and minerals come from real foods.

Its also worth noting that the line contains sodium selenite as a source of selenium. Dogs need selenium, and its usually added in very small amounts. However some research suggests that sodium selenite may be associated with potential toxicity, so selenium yeast is the preferred form of this mineral.

Soybean oil is an inflammatory seed oil that is highly processed and may contain trans fats. Studies show that ultra processed foods are linked to a higher rate of all-cause mortality in humans. Another quality concern is the use of plant protein in one recipe, the least expensive substitute for quality animal protein.

All recipes in the Moist & Meaty line scores 0/10 for ingredient safety. Soft foods are moderately processed but still involve several stages of heating that destroy nutrients. Processed foods are also linked to higher mortality rates in many species.

All recipes have ingredients known to have high pesticide or herbicide residues, and some that are known to be genetically modified (GMO). These are important safety concerns, especially when they appear in the top 5 on the ingredient list, meaning theyre included in higher amounts. Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers post a significant health risk to plants, animals and soils. GMO foods have limited safety studies and they lack nutrients compared to non GMO foods.

All recipes contain menadione, a synthetic form of vitamin K that is not required in dog food. It may be linked to immune system dysfunction, oxidative damage to cells, liver toxicity, and allergic reactions. Each recipe also includes ethoxyquin an artificial preservative that has been shown to have toxic effects and links to cancer.

All recipes have as many as 4 added colors and dyes that may be linked to health issues. They are often used to hide the grey color of rendered ingredients, and to make them look more appealing to consumers. These recipes use natural flavor which is often made of animal digest or MSG, both low quality ingredients with limited safety studies.

All recipes have ingredient splitting. Thats the practice of splitting ingredients into subcategories (like soy flour and soy grits, or high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup) to make them appear lower on the list. This can also move more desirable protein ingredients higher.

Its worth noting that when dog food labels say with Real Chicken or with Cheddar Cheese AAFCO requires those with ingredients to be only 3% of the products weight.

Another AAFCO rule is that a product does not need to have a huge amount of an ingredient which only provides flavor. A flavor designation in a product name (or elsewhere on a label) may be used as long as a listed ingredient provides the flavor This flavor rule would apply to Moist & Meaty recipes labeled Steak Flavor and Bacon & Egg Flavor. In other words, its only flavor and doesnt necessarily mean theres steak or bacon & egg in the food.

Purina doesnt state the omega-6:omega-3 ratio in their recipes. While this is true of most companies, its a concern because AAFCO allows a very inflammatory ratio of 30:1.

Purina Moist & Meaty Dog Food Review (2024)

Purina Moist & Meaty Dog Food Review

For pet parents to take the call if the reputed dog food they are feeding their pets is safe and nutritious or not, is a tough one indeed. There have been cases when some of the biggest brands have come under the radar due to their recalls or cases of pets falling sick. Nestles Purina PetCare being one of those brands. Purina has been around for over a century now, which is more than most dog food companies can claim. Also, the sheer market size and resource of the company enables them to conduct strict quality checks and ensure responsible sourcing of ingredients, which is vital to the well-being of your pets.

Purina Company Overview

Purina Moist & Meaty Dog food is a wet dog food brand and is one of Purinas eight product lines. The lines differ by the target market and dog food offering but are otherwise manufactured at the same facilities that are dotted across the US. Purina states that their product recipes are formulated along with professional nutritionists and vets who know what the best and healthiest food options are, for your pets.

About sourcing, Purina states that it sources its ingredients from suppliers who go through their rigorous requirements and the companys high safety standards. The company conducts quality checks per day. Additionally,Purina Moist & Meaty Dog has never had any recalls .

Ingredients Found in Purina Moist & Meaty Dog Food

Heres a breakdown of the ingredients that go into Purina Moist & Meaty Burger with Cheddar Cheese:

Beef by-products (meat that is left after the primary cuts are taken away)
Soy flour (contains about 51% protein, by-product from processing soybean)
Soy grits (toasted and broken soy beans, rich is low biological protein)
High fructose corn syrup (corn-based sugar mixture, considered unhealthy for dogs)
Water (no food value, added moisture)
Wheat flour (highly-refined form of wheat milling, provides only moderate nutrition)
Corn syrup (glucose-rich, high calorie, not of much nutritional value)
Beef (high source of protein)

Although the brand has been in operation for over 100 years now, dominates an impressive market shares, and sources its ingredients from trusted suppliers, the issue lies in the ingredients its using in the recipes that dont make for the healthiest food choice for our canine friends. Surely, it must make for a tasty treat though, as claimed by the brand but if its okay to be served on a daily basis to pets is a call that pet parents should take independently.