Beneful Simple Goodness is a dry dog food that receives a 3-star rating from DogFoodAdvisor. This rating places it in the mid-tier category, indicating a decent but not exceptional product. It’s important to note that the product may have been discontinued or that complete label information might be difficult to locate on the company’s website.
This product line includes two dry dog foods. For this review, Beneful Simple Goodness with Real Chicken was chosen to represent the entire line. The estimated dry matter nutrient content shows approximately 26.9% protein, 10.4% fat, and 54.7% carbohydrates.
Ingredient Analysis
The primary ingredient in Beneful Simple Goodness with Real Chicken is chicken. While chicken is a quality protein source, it’s important to remember that raw chicken has a high water content. This means that after cooking, the actual meat content in the finished product will be significantly less.
Following chicken is malted barley extract. This ingredient is derived from a process where cereal grains sprout and are then dried. While commonly used in brewing, it can also be found in pet food.
The third and fourth ingredients are soy flour and soy grits, respectively. These are by-products of soybean processing. While they are high in protein, their biological value is generally lower than that of meat-based proteins. The presence of these ingredients can artificially inflate the total protein percentage reported on the label, potentially masking the actual meat content.
Water is the fifth ingredient, adding moisture to the food. Wheat flour is the sixth ingredient. Wheat is an inexpensive grain that offers modest nutritional value to dogs and is not considered a preferred component in dog food by some.
Beef fat is the seventh ingredient. Rendered beef fat can be a quality source of energy for dogs. Glycerin, used as a sweetener and to retain moisture, follows.
Other ingredients are present further down the list, but their impact on the overall rating is usually minimal unless they are nutritional supplements. However, there are a few notable exceptions in this formula.
Beneful Simple Goodness contains menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K that has been linked to potential health issues like liver toxicity and allergies. Since vitamin K is not a required nutrient by AAFCO for dog food, its inclusion is questionable.
Dried peas are also present, providing carbohydrates and dietary fiber. However, dried peas also contain protein, which, like soy products, can contribute to the overall protein content and needs to be considered when evaluating the meat percentage.
Notably, this dog food does not appear to contain probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that aid digestion. Furthermore, the listed minerals are not chelated, which may make them less absorbable by the dog’s digestive system. Non-chelated minerals are often found in lower-quality dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis and Recommendation
Based on its ingredient list alone, Beneful Simple Goodness appears to be an average dry dog food. However, a comprehensive evaluation requires estimating the product’s meat content and considering its nutrient profile.
The estimated dry matter nutrient content reveals approximately 27% protein, 10% fat, and 55% carbohydrates, with a fat-to-protein ratio of about 39%. These figures suggest near-average protein, below-average fat, and above-average carbohydrates when compared to typical dry dog foods.
Even accounting for the protein contributed by plant-based ingredients like soy flour, soy grits, and dried peas, the overall profile suggests a moderate amount of meat in the kibble.
In conclusion, Beneful Simple Goodness is a plant-based dry dog food that uses a moderate amount of named meat as its primary animal protein source. This justifies its 3-star rating.
However, pet owners concerned about the inclusion of menadione may prefer to seek out alternative products.
It’s important to remember that individual recipe ratings can sometimes vary based on estimations of total meat content and fat-to-protein ratios.
Beneful Dog Food Recall History
As of the last update, there have been no dog food recalls reported for this specific product line since 2009.
A Final Word
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