Nature's Recipe
Inside The Nature's Recipe Range
Protein runs lower than the average food we review (27.4% vs 31.9% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 43% of the food as fed.
95% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (91% across the site).
40% of recipes are grain-free.
How The Range Measures Up
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 1,774 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
What Goes In The Bowl
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
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
- Adult17
- Puppy2
- Senior1
- All Breeds19
- Small Breed2
- Large Breed1
- Grain-free (no wheat, corn, rice, barley or oats)8
About Nature's Recipe
- Owner
- Post Holdings, Inc.
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of a public company
- Founded
- 1981
- Headquarters
- Lakeville, MN
Who Makes It
Nature's Recipe is a dog and cat food brand in the pet food portfolio of Post Consumer Brands, part of Post Holdings, and its website carries the For All Tails Pet Care name. Post places it among its premium pet food brands. The company says its recipes use real animal proteins and vegetables and contain no added corn, wheat, soy or artificial flavors. 1, 2, 3
History
Jeffrey Bennett's company Earth Elements Inc. started the brand in Corona, California, in 1981. H.J. Heinz bought the business in 1996, when its food was made by other pet food companies under packing agreements. The brand later passed to Del Monte Foods, Big Heart Pet Brands and then The J.M. Smucker Co., and Post Holdings bought it from Smucker on April 28, 2023. 4, 5, 6
Worth Knowing
In 1995 the brand voluntarily recalled a large amount of dry food over mycotoxin contamination, and in 2012 it recalled some dog biscuit treats over possible Salmonella. In May 2026 a proposed class action filed in federal court in New Jersey accused Post Consumer Brands of marketing Nature's Recipe as natural even though the food contains synthetic ingredients. These are only allegations, and the case had not been resolved as of that report. 5, 7
- postconsumerbrands.com/pet-food-brands
- naturesrecipe.com
- postconsumerbrands.com/news/natures-recipe-rewards-dog-parents-during-walk-your-dog-week
- baltimoresun.com/1996/03/29/heinz-acquires-assets-of-calif-pet-food-maker-natures-recipe-brand-has-50-million-annual-sales-manufacturing
- petful.com/brands/natures-recipe-recall
- postholdings.com/post-holdings-completes-acquisition-of-rachael-ray-nutrish-natures-recipe-and-other-select-pet-food-brands-2
- classaction.org/news/natures-recipe-natural-dog-foods-contain-synthetic-ingredients-class-action-lawsuit-claims
Researched from the sources above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
No FDA Recalls On Record
We have not matched any FDA recall to Nature's Recipe. We check the FDA feed daily. See the recall log
What Nature's Recipe Has Announced
A proposed class action filed against Post Consumer Brands in federal court in New Jersey (Panossian v. Post Consumer Brands) says Nature's Recipe food is marketed as natural but contains synthetic ingredients. These claims are allegations only. ClassAction.org
Post's 2025 year-in-review lists Nature's Recipe Grain-Free 13 oz. wet dog food cans and Nature's Recipe Freeze-Dried as new pet foods from that year. Post Consumer Brands
Nature's Recipe ran a promotion giving $100 each to 100 dog owners during National Walk Your Dog Week. Post Consumer Brands