Some displayed label, nutrition, calorie, price, package, or availability fields come from retailer pages. They are usable for beta, but can change and are not treated as manufacturer/package verification.
Merrick · Dry dog food · Captured May 2, 2026
Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains
Public-beta scorecard with official Merrick product page and nutrition PDF support for adult-maintenance AAFCO wording, ingredients, GA, and calories. Watch-outs are chicken sensitivity exposure, partial Brand Trust, historical Merrick treat recalls disclosed as brand-level context, warning-letter full-export gap, and refreshable retailer price.
AdultKibblePartially verified
Strengths
- Nutrition Fit 8.0 / 10AAFCO adequacy clears the rubric and dry-matter protein and fat land in the bands we expect.
- Low sensitivity risk 9.0 / 10Few of the most-named adverse-reaction trigger ingredients high on the label.
- Sensitivity Risk 9.0 / 10Sensitivity Risk is reconstructed from common allergen exposure patterns in the ingredient list.
Watch-outs
- Common triggers on the labelSkip if your dog avoids chicken, turkey, fish. We surface this regardless of sub-score.
- Value 4.0 / 10Cost per 1,000 kcal is above the category median. Cheaper options exist with comparable nutrition.
- Partially verified source confidenceSome label or pricing fields rely on retailer-mediated capture rather than the manufacturer source. See evidence notes below.
Data status
Partially verified
Some primary-source fields are verified; unresolved fields remain visible.
- Captured
- May 2, 2026
Why partial?
Source caveats on this scorecard.
These notes explain what the current sources can and cannot support. Missing or unresolved evidence is not scored as a product defect.
Brand-level recall or enforcement history is shown as context after source matching and manual disposition. It is not treated as a defect in this product unless the source match is product- or SKU-relevant.
The current warning-letter table may have been checked, but full export or archive coverage is still incomplete. Unknown status stays unknown, not false.
Launch readiness
Ready for public beta.
Public copy QA passed for beta. This is still partial-source data, so unresolved Brand Trust and warning-letter gates remain visible.
Promote to public beta with partial Brand Trust, historical Merrick treat-recall context, warning-letter full-export gap, price freshness gap, and unresolved manufacturer/Brand Trust signals visible; do not mark verified.
- Lane
- Public beta
- Packet
- ready for public beta
- Product source
- partially verified
ManufacturercapturedRetailercapturedIngredientscapturedGAcapturedAAFCOcapturedBrand TrustpartialRecallmanual reviewWarningpartialScorecaptured
Brand Trust scoring
Brand Trust source capture is in progress.
Captured Brand Trust signals are shown for auditability, but they do not affect the product score until the record is verified.
- Record status
- partially verified
- Score path
- Seed score still in use
- Unknown signals
- 9
- Conflicts
- 0
- Brand sources
- 4
What we know
Captured from source records.
- Official Merrick product page supports recipe identity, Healthy Grains line, 4/12/25/33 lb sizes, guaranteed analysis, calories, and a nutrition-details PDF target.
- Official Merrick nutrition PDF for F290723 captures the ordered ingredient list, 27% protein, 15% fat, 3.5% fiber, 11% moisture, 3660 kcal/kg, 434 kcal/cup, and AAFCO maintenance wording for adult dogs.
- Official Merrick product page, official nutrition PDF, and Chewy agree on 27% protein, 15% fat, 3.5% fiber, 11% moisture, 3660 kcal/kg, and 434 kcal/cup.
- Chewy source supports a 12 lb package, $50.98 buy-once price captured on May 1, 2026, in-stock status, retailer label fields, GA, and calories.
- Merrick FAQ supports Nestle Purina ownership, team-based animal-nutrition-expert formulation language, general AAFCO complete-and-balanced positioning, and USA facility language.
- FDA recall archive matching found historical Merrick-relevant treat recalls but no brand-relevant recall inside the five-year window.
- Current FDA warning-letter table check covered 1,000 rows with zero Merrick/Castor & Pollux matches, but active-warning-letter status remains unresolved until full export/archive coverage is available.
Still unresolved
Not product defects.
- Do not mark the product or brand verified; Brand Trust remains partial and seed-scored.
- Named individual nutritionist, owned primary manufacturing, feeding-trial evidence, peer-reviewed research, complete nutrient analysis, sourcing depth, and Class I recall history remain unresolved.
- Retail price is refreshable and must not affect non-value scoring.
- Warning-letter full-export/archive coverage remains incomplete.
- Historical Merrick treat recalls are brand-level regulatory context, not evidence that this dry dog food SKU is affected.
Buyer read
What should you take away?
Usable shortlist option, with tradeoffs.
For Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains, the main watch-outs are: the estimated cost per calorie is high compared with similar foods. This is an evidence read, not a medical recommendation.
8.0
Nutrition FitAAFCO fit, calories, and dry matter protein/fat ranges.
7.0
Brand TrustWSAVA-style signals, recall mapping, and source confidence.
7.0
Ingredient ClarityNamed sources and label specificity.
9.0
Sensitivity RiskPopulation-level common allergen exposure.
4.0
ValueEstimated price per 1,000 kcal within category.
Score math
How PetScored got there.
Expand to see the rule-by-rule trail. Useful for checking the rubric; not required to make a buying decision.
dog-food-v1.0-label-events
Score math
How PetScored got there.
Expand to see the rule-by-rule trail. Useful for checking the rubric; not required to make a buying decision.
Nutrition Fit8.030% of total score
7 scoring rule(s)0 context item(s)
Nutrition Fit is reconstructed from deterministic dog-food v1 rules using the currently available fixture fields.
AAFCO statement matches declared life stageA verified AAFCO adequacy statement earns points only when it matches the declared life stage.
Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs.+3.0AFeeding trials substantiate adequacyFeeding-trial language receives additional credit because it is stronger evidence than formulated-to-meet language.
Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs.0.0AProtein dry matter basis in rangeProtein is compared on dry matter basis against the adult maintenance range of 18-35%.
30.3%+2.0AFat dry matter basis in rangeFat is compared on dry matter basis against the adult maintenance range of 5.5-20%.
16.9%+2.0ACalcium and phosphorus listedThis can earn credit once the nutrition panel stores calcium and phosphorus fields from a verified source.
not captured in v0 fixture0.0BCalorie statement presentA calorie statement is needed for value, feeding-cost, and cross-format comparison work.
434 kcal/cup+1.0ALarge-breed puppy statementThis rule is not applicable unless the product is marketed for large-breed puppies.
not applicable0.0ABrand Trust7.025% of total score
1 scoring rule(s)14 context item(s)seed in use
Brand Trust is still using the seed subscore while source signals are captured, reviewed, or blocked by conflict.
Brand Trust signal record pending verificationBrand Trust requires source-backed evidence for nutrition staff, manufacturing, recalls, research, and transparency. The seed score remains visible until those signals are verified.
partially_verified; 4 source(s) capturedcontextSeedNamed qualified nutritionistA publicly named qualified nutritionist earns Brand Trust credit when the source record verifies it. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextAOwns primary manufacturing facilitiesOwnership or direct operation of primary manufacturing earns credit when verified from brand or facility sources. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextACurrent feeding-trial evidenceCurrent AAFCO feeding-trial evidence earns Brand Trust credit when it is tied to the product or line. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextAPublishes peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed product or nutrition research earns credit when verified. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextAComplete nutrient analysis availableComplete nutrient analysis availability earns credit when source-backed. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextANo FDA recall in past five yearsRecall credit requires verified matching against FDA recall/enforcement records.
verified_truecontextANo FDA Class I recall everClass I recall history must be source-matched before credit is awarded. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextACountry-of-origin sourcing publishedPublished sourcing information earns partial Brand Trust credit when verified. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextBSame ownership for 10+ yearsOwnership stability earns limited heuristic credit when verified.
verified_truecontextCActive FDA warning letterActive FDA warning letters reduce Brand Trust when verified and relevant. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextACannot identify qualified nutritionistIf research cannot identify a qualified nutritionist anywhere, Brand Trust is reduced. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextAUnknown Brand Trust signalsUnknown Brand Trust signals are shown as research debt. They do not change the score until source verification is complete.
9 unresolved signal(s)contextSeedBrand Trust seed subscorePrototype score imported from the seed fixture. This keeps the public page auditable while verified rule events replace seed values.
7.0 / 10+7.0SeedSource confidence visibleConfidence is shown beside the score so prototype, single-source, verified, stale, and conflict records are not treated the same.
Partially verifiedcontextSeedIngredient Clarity7.015% of total score
8 scoring rule(s)0 context item(s)
Ingredient Clarity is reconstructed from named-source and label-specificity rules.
Animal protein sources named in top 10Named species such as chicken meal or salmon count as clearer than generic terms such as meat meal or poultry by-product meal.
deboned chicken | chicken meal | turkey meal | chicken fat | salmon meal+3.0BFat sources named in top 10Named fats, such as chicken fat or salmon oil, are clearer than generic animal fat.
chicken fat+2.0BGrain sources are specificSpecific grains such as rice, barley, oatmeal, or sorghum earn clarity credit. Generic grain terms do not.
brown rice | barley | oat meal+1.0BPreservatives explicitly namedExplicit preservative language earns clarity credit because the label tells readers what is preserving the fat or formula.
mixed tocopherols for freshness+1.0ACountry of manufacture statedThis can earn credit once the product source record stores a verified made-in or country-of-manufacture statement.
not captured in v0 fixture0.0CManufacturer identifiableThis can earn credit once the source record identifies the manufacturer from a verified product page or label.
not captured in v0 fixture0.0CCo-packer or facility disclosedThis can earn credit once the product or brand source record publicly discloses the facility or co-packer.
not captured in v0 fixture0.0CIngredient splitting high on labelRelated starch or pulse ingredients high on the label are flagged for transparency. This is not treated as proof of harm.
not detected0.0CSensitivity Risk9.015% of total score
9 scoring rule(s)0 context item(s)
Sensitivity Risk is reconstructed from common allergen exposure patterns in the ingredient list.
Sensitivity baselineSensitivity Risk starts at 10 and adjusts for common exposure patterns. It is not a prediction for an individual dog.
10 / 10 before ingredient exposure adjustments+10.0ABeef or beef-derived ingredient in top 5Beef exposure in the top five ingredients lowers the score because beef is commonly reported in canine food-reaction studies.
deboned chicken | chicken meal | brown rice | barley | oat meal0.0ADairy ingredient anywhereDairy exposure is counted anywhere on the label because even lower-position ingredients may matter for sensitive dogs.
deboned chicken | chicken meal | brown rice | barley | oat meal | turkey meal | chicken fat | salmon meal | quinoa | natural flavor | flaxseed | dried yeast | miscanthus grass | sunflower oil | potassium chloride | salt | dehydrated alfalfa meal | choline chloride | apples | carrots | iron amino acid complex | zinc amino acid complex | zinc sulfate | sodium selenite | manganese amino acid complex | copper amino acid complex | copper sulfate | potassium iodide | cobalt proteinate | cobalt carbonate | taurine | mixed tocopherols for freshness | salmon oil | yucca schidigera extract | vitamin e supplement | vitamin b-12 supplement | vitamin a supplement | calcium pantothenate | thiamine mononitrate | folic acid | riboflavin supplement | menadione sodium bisulfite complex | niacin | pyridoxine hydrochloride | biotin | vitamin d-3 supplement | dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product | dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product | dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product | dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product.0.0AChicken or chicken-derived ingredient in top 5Chicken exposure in the top five ingredients lowers the score as a population-level sensitivity flag.
deboned chicken | chicken meal | brown rice | barley | oat meal-1.0AWheat or wheat gluten in top 5Wheat exposure in the top five ingredients is flagged without implying the food is unsafe.
deboned chicken | chicken meal | brown rice | barley | oat meal0.0ALamb in top 5Lamb receives a smaller exposure adjustment under the current dog-food rubric.
deboned chicken | chicken meal | brown rice | barley | oat meal0.0AMultiple common sensitivity ingredients in top 5Multiple common exposure families high in the ingredient list receive an additional small adjustment.
1 of beef, dairy, chicken, wheat detected0.0BHydrolyzed protein primary dietHydrolyzed-protein diets can receive credit when hydrolyzed protein is a primary ingredient.
not detected0.0ASingle novel protein sourceA single novel animal protein can receive credit, but marketing claims alone do not count.
not detected0.0BValue4.015% of total score
3 scoring rule(s)2 context item(s)
Value is reconstructed from package size, price, kcal density, category median, and quality caps.
Package weight parsedPackage weight is parsed from the product fixture so price can be normalized before scoring.
5.44 kgcontextCCost per 1,000 kcal calculatedValue uses calories rather than package price alone, because calorie density changes how long a bag lasts.
USD 2.56contextCCategory relative price bandThe base Value score comes from cost per 1,000 kcal relative to the product category median.
142% of Boutique premium dry median+4.0CNutrition Fit value capA low Nutrition Fit score caps Value so a cheap food is not over-rewarded when core nutrition evidence is weak.
Nutrition Fit 8.00.0CBrand Trust value capA low Brand Trust score caps Value so price does not overpower weak manufacturer/source signals.
Brand Trust 7.00.0CIngredients
Parsed label
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oat meal, turkey meal, chicken fat, salmon meal, quinoa, natural flavor, flaxseed, dried yeast, miscanthus grass, sunflower oil, potassium chloride, salt, dehydrated alfalfa meal, choline chloride, apples, carrots, iron amino acid complex, zinc amino acid complex, zinc sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese amino acid complex, copper amino acid complex, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, cobalt proteinate, cobalt carbonate, taurine, mixed tocopherols for freshness, salmon oil, yucca schidigera extract, Vitamin E supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, riboflavin supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, Vitamin D-3 supplement, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product.
Sensitivity flags
May matter for individual dogs
chickenturkeyfishnatural flavoryeastvitamin K
Source record
Confidence is visible by design.
Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice is public-beta ready with manufacturer product-page evidence, official nutrition-PDF label evidence, retailer package/price evidence, partial Brand Trust, regulatory records, and deterministic score rebuild captured. It is not marked verified.
- Captured
- May 2, 2026
- Confidence
- Partially verified
- Sources
- Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice official product pagemanufacturer · captured 2026-05-01Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice official nutrition details PDFmanufacturer · captured 2026-05-01Chewy Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice product pageretailer · captured 2026-05-01Merrick FAQmanufacturer · captured 2026-05-01Nestle Purina Merrick acquisition announcementother · captured 2026-05-01FDA Firm-Issued Recalls Data Setsregulatory · captured 2026-05-01FDA Warning Letters current tableregulatory · captured 2026-05-01
- Evidence notes
- Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice official product pageOfficial page supports the recipe identity, 4/12/25/33 lb sizes, 27% protein, 15% fat, 3.5% fiber, 11% moisture, 3660 kcal/kg, 434 kcal/cup, and links to the official nutrition-details PDF.Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice official nutrition details PDFOfficial F290723 PDF captures ordered ingredients, 27% protein, 15% fat, 3.5% fiber, 11% moisture, and AAFCO wording for maintenance of adult dogs. It also lists 3660 kcal/kg and 434 kcal/cup.Chewy Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice product pageChewy page supports the 12 lb package, $50.98 buy-once price, in-stock status, retailer ingredient text, 27/15/3.5/11 GA, and 3660 kcal/kg / 434 kcal/cup calorie values. Treat price as refreshable.Merrick FAQFAQ supports Nestle Purina family ownership, team-based animal-nutrition-expert formulation, general AAFCO complete-and-balanced positioning, USA facility language, and product-page sourcing/ingredient direction. It does not name an individual qualified nutritionist or close feeding-trial, peer-reviewed research, complete nutrient-analysis, recall, or warning-letter gates.Nestle Purina Merrick acquisition announcementNestle announced on July 21, 2015 that Nestle Purina had signed an agreement to acquire Merrick Pet Care. This supports parent-company context and ten-year ownership review as of May 1, 2026.FDA Firm-Issued Recalls Data SetsOfficial FDA firm-issued recall archive, current as of 2026-04-13, matched 6,582 rows against Merrick/Castor & Pollux terms. Manual disposition found historical Merrick treat recalls and zero Merrick-relevant recalls inside the five-year window.FDA Warning Letters current tableOfficial FDA warning-letter table, content current as of 2026-05-01, checked 1,000 rows with zero Merrick/Castor & Pollux matches. Full export/archive coverage remains unavailable.
- Adequacy
- Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs.
Appears in
PetScored best-for lists this food is on
- Best dog food for sensitive dogsRanked by lowest population-level sensitivity risk. We do not diagnose individual dogs; the goal is to reduce the number of common trigger ingredients on the label.
- Best high-protein dog foodRanked by guaranteed-analysis protein percentage. High protein is not free — it usually comes with higher cost per calorie and more sensitivity overlap. We show the tradeoff.
- Most transparent dog food brandsRanked on the combined Ingredient Clarity and Brand Trust sub-scores. These brands publish more about what is in the bag, where it came from, and how it is made.
Compare to similar
Same category, within 1.2 composite
Where to buy
Buying Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains
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FAQ
About Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains
What is the PetScored rating for Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains?
Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains scores 7.2 out of 10 on the PetScored deterministic rubric. Strongest sub-score: Sensitivity Risk. Weakest sub-score: Value. See the full sub-score breakdown and rule-event trail on the scorecard.
Is Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains good for dogs with food sensitivities?
Skip this food if your dog avoids chicken, turkey, fish, natural flavor. These are common adverse-reaction trigger ingredients in published case series. If your dog tolerates these proteins, the sub-score reflects the population-level risk; individual dogs vary.
Is Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains AAFCO complete and balanced?
Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains carries this AAFCO adequacy statement: "Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult do…" This is an adult-maintenance statement — not adequate for puppies, growth, or pregnancy.
What life stage is Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains for?
Per the bag, Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains is intended for Adult (format: Kibble). Always cross-check the AAFCO statement on your actual bag, since recipes and life-stage designations can change between production runs.
How much does Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains cost per calorie?
Captured retailer price: $50.98 for a 12 lb bag bag, at 3660 kcal/kg. PetScored Value sub-score benchmarks cost per 1,000 kcal against the category median rather than the sticker price — see the Value detail on the scorecard.