Bringing a new furry friend into your home is an exciting time, and choosing the right food is a crucial part of ensuring their health and happiness. Purina Beneful offers a range of dry dog food options, each with a unique blend of ingredients designed to appeal to your canine companion. This review delves into the specifics of the Purina Beneful dry dog food line, examining its recipes, ingredients, and nutritional value to help you make an informed decision for your dog. Learn more about Purina dog food reviews.
Product Overview and Ratings
Purina Beneful dry dog food comprises seven distinct recipes, with individual ratings varying from 2.5 to 3.5 stars. The overall average rating for the entire range is 3 stars. While many Beneful recipes proudly feature whole cuts of meat as their primary ingredient, they also incorporate ingredients like corn, wheat, and by-products, which are generally considered of lower nutritional quality. Despite offering essential nutrients, the brand could benefit from prioritizing ingredients with a higher nutritional impact.
Beneful Product Lines and Ratings
The table below outlines each recipe within the Beneful range, including its rating and AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental, or Unspecified.
| Product Line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy with Farm-Raised Chicken | 3.5 | A |
| Purina Beneful Healthy Weight with Farm-Raised Chicken | 3 | M |
| Purina Beneful Originals with Farm-Raised Beef | 2.5 | M |
| Purina Beneful IncrediBites for Small Dogs with Farm-Raised Beef | 3 | M |
| Purina Beneful Originals with Natural Salmon | 2.5 | M |
| Beneful Originals with Farm-Raised Chicken | 2.5 | M |
| Purina Beneful IncrediBites For Small Dogs with Farm-Raised Chicken | 3 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis: Purina Beneful Originals with Farm-Raised Beef
To provide a detailed analysis, we examined “Purina Beneful Originals with Farm-Raised Beef.”
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content:
- Protein: 26.6%
- Fat: 14.1%
- Carbohydrates: 47%
Ingredients: Beef, whole grain corn, barley, rice, whole grain wheat, soybean meal, corn protein meal, chicken by-product meal, beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, egg and chicken flavor, oat meal, natural flavor, calcium carbonate, salt, mono and dicalcium phosphate, glycerin, soybean oil, dried carrots, dried peas, dried spinach, annatto color, vegetable juice (color), minerals [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], vitamins [vitamin E supplement, niacin (vitamin B-3), vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate (vitamin B-5), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B-1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B-6), riboflavin supplement (vitamin B-2), vitamin B-12 supplement, folic acid (vitamin B-9), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (vitamin K), biotin (vitamin B-7), vitamin D-3 supplement], potassium chloride, choline chloride, carmine, l-lysine monohydrochloride.
Estimated Fiber (Dry Matter): 4%
Controversial Items: Highlighted in red in the ingredient list.
Ingredients Breakdown
Beef leads the ingredient list, a quality protein source. However, it’s important to note that raw beef has a high water content, which is significantly reduced during the cooking process, meaning its final contribution to the finished product is less than it appears in its raw state.
Corn follows as the second ingredient. While it provides energy, corn is a controversial cereal grain with modest nutritional value for dogs.
Barley, the third ingredient, is a starchy carbohydrate that offers fiber and other nutrients. Similar to corn, its overall nutritional value is considered moderate.
The fourth ingredient, rice, lacks specificity. Without knowing if it’s whole grain, brown, or white rice, it’s challenging to assess its quality accurately.
Wheat, the fifth ingredient, is another cereal grain with similar considerations to corn.
Following these are soybean meal and corn gluten meal. Soybean meal, a by-product of soybean oil extraction, and corn gluten meal, a residue from corn processing, are notable for their protein content (48% and 60% respectively). However, their biological value is generally lower than that of meat proteins. The inclusion of these ingredients can artificially inflate the total protein percentage on the label, potentially masking the actual meat content.
Chicken by-products are next. This ingredient consists of parts of a slaughtered chicken, excluding prime muscle cuts, and can include organs, feet, and beaks. Its quality can vary depending on the sourcing and processing by the manufacturer.
Beef fat is listed as the ninth ingredient. Rendered beef fat can be a quality source of energy for dogs.
Towards the end of the ingredient list, dried peas are present. These are a good source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber. However, their protein content (around 27%) should also be considered when evaluating the overall meat protein contribution.
Notably absent are mentions of probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that support digestion and are typically added to kibble after processing. Additionally, the listed minerals do not appear to be chelated, which could make them less absorbable compared to chelated minerals found in higher-quality foods. Explore options for Purina dog food good for dogs.
Nutrient Analysis
Based purely on its ingredient list, Purina Beneful dry dog food presents as an average dry product. The brand’s formulations show a near-average protein content (average 28.6% across the range), fat level (average 14.4%), and carbohydrate content (average 44.1%). The fat-to-protein ratio is approximately 51%.
Considering the protein-boosting effect of ingredients like corn gluten meal, soybean meal, and dried peas, the nutritional profile suggests a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Purina Dog Food Recall History
As of January 2026, Purina has had recalls associated with its dog food products. For a comprehensive list of all dog food recalls since 2009, please refer to the dedicated recall page.
More Purina Reviews
Additional reviews for other Purina products are available on this website.
Our Verdict on Purina Beneful Dry Dog Food
Purina Beneful offers both grain-inclusive and grain-free dry dog food options. These recipes utilize a moderate amount of named meat and by-product meals as their primary animal protein source. Due to the inclusion of ingredients like corn, wheat, and by-products, along with the protein-boosting plant-based ingredients, Purina Beneful dry dog food receives an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars. While it offers a budget-friendly option with real protein as a top ingredient and no artificial preservatives or flavors, the presence of meat by-products warrants consideration.
About Purina
Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, USA, Purina sources most of its ingredients domestically and manufactures its products in Purina-owned facilities within the United States. Nestlé Purina PetCare introduced the Purina Beneful brand in 2001, aiming to create nutritious meals that mimic human food presentations. Beneful achieved significant commercial success, generating over $300 million in revenue by 2006, and expanded its line with the IncrediBites range in 2010.
A Final Word
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