Protein runs higher than the average kibble we review (44.2% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is lower than average, at 20% of the food as fed.
96% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
84% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,089 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
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.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
Orijen is a premium dog and cat food brand made by Champion Petfoods, which also makes Acana. The brand is known for high-protein recipes, and the company says its foods are built around WholePrey ingredients such as meat, organs and bone. 1, 2
Champion Petfoods makes its dry and freeze-dried foods in its own kitchens, including the DogStar Kitchen in Auburn, Kentucky, and NorthStar kitchens in Alberta, Canada. The company says its canned foods are produced by an outside collaborator under the oversight of its in-house team. 3, 1
Champion Petfoods has made pet food in Alberta, Canada, since 1985, and it introduced Orijen in 2005. In 2016 the company opened its first US plant in Auburn, Kentucky. Mars Petcare completed its purchase of Champion Petfoods on February 28, 2023, and Champion now runs as an independent business unit within Mars Pet Nutrition. 1, 3, 4, 5
No Orijen recall has been recorded in the US or Canada. The only recall on record was for cat food sold in Australia in 2008, linked to irradiation required by Australian law. In June 2019 the FDA named Orijen among 16 brands mentioned in reports of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, but none of those brands were recalled. A class action claiming Orijen and Acana contained heavy metals and BPA ended when the Seventh Circuit upheld summary judgment for Champion in 2021. 6, 7, 8
Researched from the sources above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that Orijen has never had one. See the recall log
The article covers Orijen's FreshPrey line of frozen, high-protein, sous vide cooked recipes sold in 16-ounce packs, placing it within the wider trend toward high-protein food. FoodNavigator
Orijen launched FreshPrey, a line of gently cooked fresh foods made with a sous vide process, in three recipes. It went on sale first at Petco, with Chewy and specialty retailers following in April. PR Newswire (Champion Petfoods)
The parent company Mars republished the FreshPrey launch announcement, marking Orijen's entry into fresh pet food. Mars
Orijen released a free Trails app listing pet-friendly trails in more than 100 US parks and announced a partnership with the National Park Foundation. PR Newswire (Champion Petfoods)
Orijen ran a co-marketing campaign with Disney for the film's release, including a TV spot and a sweepstakes. The campaign focused mainly on cats. PR Newswire (Champion Petfoods)
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses. Then share your score with your friends, however embarrassing it turns out to be.
115 foods in the deck. Grapes are in there. So is cheese.
Ten foods, one at a time. Call each one Safe, In Moderation or Never, then flip the card to see if you had it right. The ones you miss are listed at the end.
Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
Copied. Paste it anywhere your friends will see it.
Want the reason behind every answer? The 80-page e-book, $7.99
Now, is your dog's food any good?
Look it up: estimated starch, calories per cup and every ingredient, for 3,091 foods.
