Meijer Dog Biscuits Beef Basted Flavor — Grade F (0/100)

← Back to Admin

Scanned by Randall Saunders · April 10, 2026

Meijer Dog Biscuits Beef Basted Flavor

0/100

Grade F — Avoid at All Costs

📦 Product Overview

BrandMeijer

TypeDog Treats/Snacks

Life Stageadult

Size7 lb (3.17 kg)

AAFCO Compliant❌ No

This product is labeled as a 'Dog Treat' with feeding instructions that say 'Feed as a treat.' It does not carry an AAFCO complete and balanced nutritional adequacy statement. This is NOT a sole diet — it is a supplemental treat only.

☠ Rendering / 4D Animal Warning

This product contains 'Meat and Bone Meal' (unspecified species) and 'Animal Plasma' (unspecified species). Under FDA and AAFCO regulations, unspecified 'meat' ingredients can legally originate from 4D animals — dead, dying, diseased, or disabled animals rejected from the human food supply. FDA testing has confirmed pentobarbital (the drug used to euthanize animals) in rendered pet food ingredients. 'Meat and Bone Meal' is among the lowest-tier rendered ingredients in existence. The manufacturer chose not to name the species, which means they either don't know or don't want consumers to know what's in it.

🧪 Ingredient Breakdown

❌

Wheat Flour

Refined wheat — stripped of nutrients, allergenic, cheap filler. First ingredient in a 'beef basted' treat is refined flour. That tells the whole story.

−3 pts

🟡

Ground Whole Wheat

Common allergen in dogs. At least it's whole, but it's the second ingredient — this is a wheat biscuit, not a beef treat.

−1 pts

❌

Wheat Middlings

Milling waste — the sweepings from the flour mill floor. Animal feed-grade filler ingredient. Third ingredient is more wheat garbage.

−3 pts

❌

Meat and Bone Meal

Unspecified rendered waste. 'Meat and Bone Meal' can legally contain 4D animals (dead, dying, diseased, disabled), euthanized shelter animals, roadkill, and zoo animals. FDA has confirmed pentobarbital (euthanasia drug) in products using these ingredients. This is the first and only 'protein' source — it's the 4th ingredient behind three forms of wheat.

−3 pts

✅

Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)

Named fat source with natural preservative. One of the only acceptable ingredients on this label.

✅

Salt

Standard mineral. Appears high in ingredient order for a treat, which suggests palatability enhancement.

✅

Calcium Carbonate

Calcium supplement.

✅

Potassium Chloride

Potassium supplement.

✅

Brewers Dried Yeast

B-vitamin source and palatability enhancer. Acceptable.

🟡

Wheat Germ Meal

Yet another wheat derivative. Fourth form of wheat in this product. Some nutritional value but adds to the allergen load.

−1 pts

✅

Dicalcium Phosphate

Calcium and phosphorus supplement.

☠️

Potassium Sorbate

Genotoxic preservative — documented DNA strand breaks at higher doses. Classified as a cancer agent. Used here as a mold inhibitor in a cheap treat.

−5 pts

❌

Corn Starch

Zero-nutrition refined starch binder. High glycemic filler.

−3 pts

🟡

Rice Starch

Processed carb binder. Adds to the starch load.

−1 pts

❌

Maltodextrin

Higher glycemic index than table sugar. Used as a cheap filler and binding agent. Has no place in any dog product.

−3 pts

❌

Caramel

Sugar in a dog treat. Contributes to obesity and dental disease — ironic given the packaging claims 'crunchy texture helps clean teeth.'

−3 pts

❌

Animal Plasma

Unspecified 'animal' plasma — species unknown. Could be from any rendered animal source. Used as a cheap protein binder and palatability enhancer.

−3 pts

⚠

Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose

Synthetic thickener/binder. Some studies link it to intestinal inflammation and microbiome disruption.

−2 pts

⚠

Beef Flavor

Not actual beef. This is likely a digest or hydrolyzed flavoring. The word 'flavor' under AAFCO rules means only a detectable amount is required. This is why it's 'Beef Basted Flavor' and not 'Beef.'

−2 pts

⚠

Sodium Metabisulfite

Chemical preservative. Can cause allergic reactions, GI distress. Destroys thiamine (Vitamin B1). Restricted in some countries.

−2 pts

✅

Vitamin A Supplement

Standard vitamin supplement.

✅

Vitamin D Supplement

Standard vitamin supplement.

✅

Vitamin E Supplement

Standard vitamin supplement.

✅

Niacin

Vitamin B3 supplement.

✅

D-Calcium Pantothenate

Vitamin B5 supplement.

✅

Pyridoxine Hydrochloride

Vitamin B6 supplement.

✅

Riboflavin Supplement

Vitamin B2 supplement.

✅

Folic Acid

Standard B vitamin.

✅

Biotin

Standard vitamin.

✅

Vitamin B12 Supplement

Standard vitamin.

✅

Zinc Sulfate

Zinc mineral supplement.

✅

Copper Sulfate

Copper mineral supplement.

✅

Manganese Sulfate

Manganese mineral supplement.

✅

Calcium Iodate

Iodine supplement.

⚠

Sodium Selenite

Inorganic selenium form — toxic in excess. Organic selenium yeast is the safer alternative. Cheaper manufacturers use selenite because it costs less.

−2 pts

☠️

Red #40

Artificial dye linked to cancer, hyperactivity, and behavioral issues. Banned or restricted in multiple countries. There is absolutely ZERO reason to dye a dog treat red. Dogs are functionally colorblind to red. This is pure marketing to humans at the expense of animal safety.

−5 pts

⚖ What's Good / What's Bad

Good

✅ Chicken fat preserved with mixed tocopherols — named fat with natural preservative

✅ Contains a full vitamin and mineral supplement pack

✅ Brewers dried yeast provides B vitamins

Bad

❌ First three ingredients are all wheat — this is a wheat cracker, not a beef treat

❌ Meat and Bone Meal (unspecified) — 4D animal risk, pentobarbital contamination risk

❌ Animal Plasma — unspecified species

❌ Red #40 artificial dye — cancer-linked, zero nutritional purpose

❌ Potassium Sorbate — genotoxic preservative

❌ Maltodextrin — higher glycemic than sugar

❌ Caramel — sugar in a dog treat that claims to help clean teeth

❌ Four separate forms of wheat in one product — massive allergen load

❌ 'Beef Basted Flavor' contains no actual beef as an ingredient — the only beef reference is 'Beef Flavor' near the bottom of the list

❌ Sodium Metabisulfite destroys thiamine (Vitamin B1)

🧬 Potential Cancer-Linked Ingredients

☠️

Potassium Sorbate −5 pts — Genotoxic at higher doses; documented DNA strand breaks in peer-reviewed studies.

☠️

Red #40 −5 pts — Artificial dye linked to cancer in animal studies. Banned or restricted in multiple European countries. Contains benzidine, a known carcinogen.

📊 Score Breakdown

Start score100 pts

Ingredient penalties−43 pts

❌ No named whole-meat protein in top 3 ingredients (top 3 are Wheat Flour, Ground Whole Wheat, Wheat Middlings)−20 pts

❌ Primary protein source is unspecified Meat and Bone Meal−15 pts

❌ Contains 'Meat and Bone Meal' (unspecified) — confirmed pentobarbital contamination risk ingredient−10 pts

❌ Three or more filler starches/refined carbs present (Wheat Flour, Corn Starch, Rice Starch, Maltodextrin, Wheat Middlings)−10 pts

❌ Artificial color present (Red #40) — zero nutritional purpose, cancer-linked dye−8 pts

Final score0/100

💬 The Verdict

This is one of the worst dog treats on the market. It is a wheat cracker dyed red with a cancer-linked artificial dye, flavored with unspecified 'beef flavor,' and the only animal protein is unspecified rendered Meat and Bone Meal — an ingredient with confirmed pentobarbital contamination risk. The product name says 'Beef Basted' but contains zero actual beef. The front of the box claims it 'helps clean teeth' while the ingredient list includes caramel and maltodextrin (sugar). This is a store-brand treat manufactured to the absolute lowest possible cost with no regard for animal health.

🧨 Final Verdict

Meijer Dog Biscuits Beef Basted Flavor is a store-brand disaster. The first three ingredients are wheat, wheat, and more wheat. The fourth ingredient — the only animal protein — is unspecified Meat and Bone Meal, one of the most problematic ingredients in the pet food industry. There is literally no beef in this 'beef basted' product; the only beef reference is 'Beef Flavor' buried near the bottom of the ingredient list. Then they dyed it red with Red #40, a cancer-linked artificial dye, so it looks meaty to human eyes. Dogs can't even see red. They added Potassium Sorbate (genotoxic), Maltodextrin (worse than sugar), and Caramel (sugar) — all while the front of the box claims the crunchy texture 'helps clean teeth.' The audacity of that claim next to this ingredient list is remarkable. This treat hit the scoring floor at 0 points. There are far better treat options available at every price point. Look for treats with a named whole meat as the first ingredient, no artificial dyes, and no unspecified rendered ingredients.