BRAND
Merrick
RECIPES REVIEWED
103
AVG PROTEIN, DM
39.6%
AVG STARCH
19%
FDA RECALLS
1
DEEP DIVE
Inside The Merrick Range
Protein runs higher than the average food we review (39.6% vs 34.2% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is lower than average, at 19% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (90% across the site).
74% of recipes are grain-free.
NUTRITION
How The Range Measures Up
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 2,297 foods we review
Protein, dry matter
40%
26% to 100%
15%site avg 34%50%
Fat, dry matter
18%
0% to 41%
5%site avg 18%30%
Starch, as fed
19%
0% to 42%
10%site avg 27%60%
Kcal per cup
392
20 to 488
250site avg 387600
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
INGREDIENTS
What Goes In The Bowl
Chicken
58%
59%
Egg
46%
32%
Fish
37%
38%
Beef
33%
17%
Turkey
33%
21%
Lamb
23%
16%
Pork
10%
11%
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
Ingredients Some Owners Avoid
By-products
0%
14%
Artificial colors
0%
2%
Chemical preservatives
32%
11%
Corn
0%
17%
Wheat
0%
14%
Soy
0%
10%
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
LIFE STAGE
- Adult82
- Puppy10
- All Life Stages5
- Senior3
BREED SIZE
- All Breeds94
- Small Breed18
- Large Breed2
SPECIAL DIETS
- Grain-free (no wheat, corn, rice, barley or oats)76
- Limited Ingredient5
THE COMPANY
About Merrick
- Owner
- Nestlé Purina PetCare
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of a public company
- Founded
- 1988
- Headquarters
- Hereford, Texas
Who Makes It
Merrick is a dog and cat food brand that is part of the Nestlé Purina family of brands. It sells dry food, wet food and treats under lines such as Backcountry, Healthy Grains, Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Diet, Full Source and Lil' Plates. The company says its recipes use real, whole-food ingredients and no artificial preservatives, and that its dry dog recipes contain omega fatty acids plus glucosamine and chondroitin. 1, 2, 3
Where It Is Made
Merrick says its dog food and treats are made in facilities in the USA and Iceland. The company says it still develops and tests recipes in the founder's original kitchen in Hereford, Texas. AllAmerican.org reports that Merrick makes its dog food in its own kitchens in Hereford and at other sites in Texas and Illinois. 2, 1, 4
History
Garth Merrick started the company in 1988 in his family kitchen in Hereford, Texas, cooking food for his own dog. Nestlé Purina PetCare bought Merrick Pet Care in 2015 and said at the time that it planned no changes to Merrick's management or operations. 1, 5, 6
Worth Knowing
Merrick's recalls have all involved dog treats, not dog food. In 2010 the company expanded a recall of its Beef Filet Squares and Texas Hold'ems treats to all lots because of possible Salmonella contamination. In 2018 it voluntarily recalled some Backcountry beef treats because they might contain elevated levels of beef thyroid hormone. 7, 8
- merrickpetcare.com/about
- merrickpetcare.com/faqs/dogs
- petsmart.com/featured-brands/merrick
- allamerican.org/investigation/merrick
- dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-news/nestle-purina-merrick-buyout
- newscenter.purina.com/Merrick
- petfoodindustry.com/news-newsletters/pet-food-news/article/15453971/merrick-pet-care-expands-dog-treat-recall-to-include-all-lots
- dogster.com/dog-nutrition/merrick-dog-food-review
Researched from the sources above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
RECALL HISTORY // MERRICK
1 FDA Recall On Record
MAR 27, 2020
INGREDIENT LEVEL
Beef dog treat varieties
NO LONGER SOLD
14 Discontinued Recipes
We keep reviews of discontinued recipes online, each with suggested replacements, because bags stay on shelves and in pantries for months.
Keep In The Know,
Know What's In The Bowl
Recall alerts by email. We only write when a dog food recall is published.
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