Orijen · Dry dog food

Original

Item: Orijen Original
Rating: 5.7
Author: PetScored

A remarkably animal-forward formula with very high protein and broad all-life-stages coverage. The main tradeoff is a long list of common triggers and one of the highest prices in dry kibble.

Last reviewed May 2026All life stagesKibblePartially verified

By the PetScored Editorial Team. Every sub-score below links to the sources and rules behind it - see the full trail under the score.

Kibble (dry): well-established. The most-studied format. Deepest evidence base, lowest cost per calorie. The evidence on this format ›

Strengths

Low sensitivity risk 9.0 / 10Few of the most-named adverse-reaction trigger ingredients high on the label.
Crude protein 38%High-protein bag on the guaranteed analysis panel.
AAFCO all-life-stages adequacyCovers growth and maintenance - useful for multi-life-stage households.

Watch-outs

Common triggers on the labelSkip if your dog avoids chicken, turkey, egg. 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.
Ingredient Clarity 4.0 / 10Some sources are less specific than the rubric prefers - generic terms in the ingredient list, or fields we cannot verify.

Buyer read

Dog food rubric

What should you take away?

Needs a closer source and label read.

For Original, the main watch-outs are: this source record has not captured a verified AAFCO adequacy statement yet; the estimated cost per calorie is high compared with similar foods; some label-transparency fields, like country or facility details, are not captured in this record yet; brand-level evidence needs more source support. This is an evidence read, not a medical recommendation.

6.0

Nutrition FitAAFCO fit, calories, and dry matter protein/fat ranges.

30%of rating

5.5

Brand TrustWSAVA-style signals, recall mapping, and source confidence.

25%of rating

4.0

Ingredient ClarityNamed sources and label specificity.

15%of rating

9.0

Sensitivity RiskPopulation-level common allergen exposure.

15%of rating

4.0

ValueEstimated price per 1,000 kcal within category.

15%of rating

The composite rating is the weighted average of these five sub-scores - each row’s share of the total is the percentage at right.

vs. Dry dog food

How this scorecard reads against its category.

Solid bar is this product. Hollow tick mark is the average across 108 peers in the same category. Same rubric for both, no weighting tricks.

Nutrition Fit6.0-1.6 vs avg

Brand Trust5.5-1.4 vs avg

Ingredient Clarity4.0-1.9 vs avg

Sensitivity Risk9.0near avg

Value4.0-1.9 vs avg

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.

Show the trail▾

Nutrition Fit6.0

30% 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.

ORIJEN Original Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, including growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult).

+3.0A

Feeding trials substantiate adequacyFeeding-trial language receives additional credit because it is stronger evidence than formulated-to-meet language.

ORIJEN Original Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, including growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult).

0.0A

Protein dry matter basis in rangeProtein is compared on dry matter basis against the growth/all life stages range of 22.5-35%.

43.2%0.0A

Fat dry matter basis in rangeFat is compared on dry matter basis against the growth/all life stages range of 8.5-22%.

20.5%+2.0A

Calcium and phosphorus listedThis can earn credit once the nutrition panel stores calcium and phosphorus fields from a verified source.

not captured in v0 fixture0.0B

Calorie statement presentA calorie statement is needed for value, feeding-cost, and cross-format comparison work.

449 kcal/cup+1.0A

Large-breed puppy statementThis rule is not applicable unless the product is marketed for large-breed puppies.

not applicable0.0A

Brand Trust5.5

25% 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; 5 source(s) capturedcontextSeed

Named 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.

unknowncontextA

Owns primary manufacturing facilitiesOwnership or direct operation of primary manufacturing earns credit when verified from brand or facility sources.

verified_truecontextA

Current 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.

unknowncontextA

Publishes 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.

unknowncontextA

Complete nutrient analysis availableComplete nutrient analysis availability earns credit when source-backed.

verified_truecontextA

No FDA recall in past five yearsRecall credit requires verified matching against FDA recall/enforcement records.

verified_truecontextA

No 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.

unknowncontextA

Country-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.

unknowncontextB

Same ownership for 10+ yearsOwnership stability earns limited heuristic credit when verified.

verified_falsecontextC

Active 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.

unknowncontextA

Cannot 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.

unknowncontextA

Unknown Brand Trust signalsUnknown Brand Trust signals are shown as research debt. They do not change the score until source verification is complete.

7 unresolved signal(s)contextSeed

Brand Trust seed subscorePrototype score imported from the seed fixture. This keeps the public page auditable while verified rule events replace seed values.

5.5 / 10+5.5Seed

Source confidence visibleConfidence is shown beside the score so prototype, single-source, verified, stale, and conflict records are not treated the same.

Partially verifiedcontextSeed

Ingredient Clarity4.0

15% 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.

chicken | turkey | salmon | whole herring | chicken liver | whole hake | turkey liver | eggs | whole mackerel | chicken neck

+3.0B

Fat sources named in top 10Named fats, such as chicken fat or salmon oil, are clearer than generic animal fat.

none detected0.0B

Grain sources are specificSpecific grains such as rice, barley, oatmeal, or sorghum earn clarity credit. Generic grain terms do not.

no grain source detected+1.0B

Preservatives explicitly namedExplicit preservative language earns clarity credit because the label tells readers what is preserving the fat or formula.

not explicitly detected0.0A

Country 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 fixture0.0C

Manufacturer identifiableThis can earn credit once the source record identifies the manufacturer from a verified product page or label.

not captured in v0 fixture0.0C

Co-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 fixture0.0C

Ingredient 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 detected0.0C

Sensitivity Risk9.0

15% 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+10.0A

Beef 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.

chicken | turkey | salmon | whole herring | chicken liver0.0A

Dairy ingredient anywhereDairy exposure is counted anywhere on the label because even lower-position ingredients may matter for sensitive dogs.

chicken | turkey | salmon | whole herring | chicken liver | whole hake | turkey liver | eggs | whole mackerel | chicken neck | chicken heart | whole red lentils | whole pinto beans | whole green lentils | chicken fat | pollock oil | whole chickpeas | whole peas | lentil fiber | natural flavor | vitamins (vitamin e supplement | niacin supplement | riboflavin supplement | d-calcium pantothenate | vitamin a supplement | thiamine mononitrate | vitamin b12 supplement | pyridoxine hydrochloride | folic acid | vitamin d3 supplement) | minerals (zinc proteinate | copper proteinate)

0.0A

Chicken or chicken-derived ingredient in top 5Chicken exposure in the top five ingredients lowers the score as a population-level sensitivity flag.

chicken | turkey | salmon | whole herring | chicken liver-1.0A

Wheat or wheat gluten in top 5Wheat exposure in the top five ingredients is flagged without implying the food is unsafe.

chicken | turkey | salmon | whole herring | chicken liver0.0A

Lamb in top 5Lamb receives a smaller exposure adjustment under the current dog-food rubric.

chicken | turkey | salmon | whole herring | chicken liver0.0A

Multiple 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 detected0.0B

Hydrolyzed protein primary dietHydrolyzed-protein diets can receive credit when hydrolyzed protein is a primary ingredient.

not detected0.0A

Single novel protein sourceA single novel animal protein can receive credit, but marketing claims alone do not count.

not detected0.0B

Value4.0

15% 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.

10.66 kgcontextC

Cost per 1,000 kcal calculatedValue uses calories rather than package price alone, because calorie density changes how long a bag lasts.

USD 2.38contextC

Category relative price bandThe base Value score comes from cost per 1,000 kcal relative to the product category median.

132% of Boutique premium dry median+4.0C

Nutrition 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 6.00.0C

Brand Trust value capA low Brand Trust score caps Value so price does not overpower weak manufacturer/source signals.

Brand Trust 5.50.0C

Ingredients

Parsed label

Chicken, Turkey, Salmon, Whole Herring, Chicken Liver, Whole Hake, Turkey Liver, Eggs, Whole Mackerel, Chicken Neck, Chicken Heart, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Whole Green Lentils, Chicken Fat, Pollock Oil, Whole Chickpeas, Whole Peas, Lentil Fiber, Natural Flavor, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate)

Sensitivity flags

May matter for individual dogs

chickenturkeyeggfishlegumes

These flags reflect population-level prevalence of commonly reported canine food allergens in the published literature (Mueller and Olivry 2016), not a prediction that this dog will react. Read how we score this in the dog food rubric and the medical disclaimer.

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.

Retailer-sourced fields

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.

Warning-letter export gap

The current warning-letter table may have been checked, but full export or archive coverage is still incomplete. Unknown status stays unknown, not false.

Data status

Checks passed; published on partial-source data.

This scorecard passed our publication checks. The data is still partial-source, so unresolved Brand Trust and warning-letter gaps stay visible.

Each open gap below closes by capturing a source, not by assumption.

Data: Partially verified
Last reviewed: May 2026
Stage: Public beta
Checklist: ready for public beta
Source record: partially verified

ManufacturercapturedRetailercapturedIngredientscapturedGAcapturedAAFCOcapturedBrand TrustpartialRecallcapturedWarningpartialScorecaptured

Brand Trust evidence

Brand Trust source capture is in progress.

The brand signals captured so far are shown for auditability, but they do not change the product score until the record is verified.

Signal record: partially verified
Score basis: Seed value, pending verification
Unresolved signals: 7
Conflicts: 0
Brand sources: 5

What we know

Captured from source records.

Manufacturer source supports ingredients, guaranteed analysis, calories, AAFCO statement, available sizes, and made-in-USA claim.
Retailer source supports 23.5 lb package price, package size, ingredients, calories, and guaranteed analysis.
Wet/dry comparison uses dry matter basis from the captured moisture value.
FDA recall archive matching is complete and manually dispositioned for the brand.

Still unresolved

Not product defects.

Brand Trust signal record is partially verified, not complete.
FDA warning-letter full-export coverage remains blocked by FDA export limitations.
Retail price can change and should be refreshed before public launch.
Manufacturer country-of-origin and facility details are not fully captured.

Source record

Confidence is visible by design.

Manufacturer label fields, one retailer price/package record, score inputs, and FDA recall archive disposition are captured. This packet is public-beta ready with Brand Trust, warning-letter export, price freshness, and facility/sourcing gaps disclosed.

Captured: May 15, 2026
Confidence: Partially verified
Sources: ORIJEN Original Dry Dog Food official product pagemanufacturer · captured 2026-04-29Manufacturer sourceControls displayed fieldsChewy ORIJEN Original 23.5 lb product pageretailer · captured 2026-04-29Retailer sourceControls displayed fields
Evidence notes: ORIJEN Original Dry Dog Food official product pageOfficial US page lists 3940 kcal/kg, 473 kcal per 8 oz cup, 38% protein, 18% fat, 4% fiber, 12% moisture, and an all-life-stages AAFCO statement including growth of large-size dogs.Chewy ORIJEN Original 23.5 lb product pageRetail page showed the 23.5 lb bag and current Chewy price used for the fixture. Retail prices should be treated as refreshable.
Adequacy: ORIJEN Original Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, including growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult).

Appears in

PetScored best-for lists this food is on

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Where to buy

Buying Orijen Original

Affiliate disclosure ›

Independent. PetScored may earn a commission on purchases through tagged links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate revenue does not affect the score on this page. Use whichever retailer you prefer.

FAQ

About Orijen Original

What is the PetScored rating for Orijen Original?

Orijen Original scores 5.7 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 Orijen Original good for dogs with food sensitivities?

Skip this food if your dog avoids chicken, turkey, egg, fish. 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 Orijen Original AAFCO complete and balanced?

Orijen Original carries this AAFCO adequacy statement: "ORIJEN Original Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, including growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an …" The all-life-stages designation covers growth and maintenance.

What life stage is Orijen Original for?

Per the bag, Orijen Original is intended for All life stages (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 Orijen Original cost per calorie?

Captured retailer price: $99.99 for a 23.5 lb bag bag, at 3940 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.

See every Orijen recipe we score, ranked ›

How we read this label, and what we don’t penalize

This score is our opinion, formed by applying a published rubric to label and public source records, not a statement of objective fact and not veterinary advice. Label fields we cannot verify are marked by source confidence rather than assumed. See the methodology and medical disclaimer.