Pedigree Pedigree Small Dog Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor — Grade F (0/100)

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Scanned by Randall Saunders · April 12, 2026

Pedigree Pedigree Small Dog Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor

0/100

Grade F — Avoid at All Costs

📦 Product Overview

BrandPedigree

TypeDog Food - Dry/Kibble

Life Stageadult

Size56 oz (3.5 lb / 1.59 kg)

AAFCO Compliant✅ Yes

Label states 'formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.' This is formulation-based compliance, not feeding trial verified. Covers adult maintenance only.

☠ Rendering / 4D Animal Warning

This food contains TWO unspecified rendered ingredients: 'Meat and Bone Meal' and 'Animal Fat.' Both can legally contain material from 4D animals — dead, dying, diseased, and disabled animals — as well as euthanized shelter animals, roadkill, expired supermarket meat (Styrofoam and all), zoo animals, and restaurant grease trap waste. The FDA confirmed pentobarbital (euthanasia drug) contamination in pet foods containing these types of ingredients. The rendering process kills bacteria but does NOT destroy drug residues. Mars (Pedigree's parent company) is one of the largest pet food manufacturers in the world and has the resources to use named, traceable ingredients. They chose not to.

🧪 Ingredient Breakdown

🟡

Ground Whole Grain Corn

Corn is a cheap filler, common allergen, GMO risk, and carries aflatoxin contamination risk. First ingredient is not a meat — this is a corn-based food.

−1 pts

🟡

Chicken By-Product Meal

Named by-product meal — rendered chicken parts including heads, feet, intestines, undeveloped eggs. Named source is better than unnamed, but still low-quality protein.

−1 pts

🟡

Corn Protein Meal

Corn gluten meal equivalent — a cheap plant protein that artificially inflates crude protein numbers on the guaranteed analysis. Not a substitute for animal protein.

−1 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 pet foods containing this ingredient. This is one of the worst ingredients in commercial pet food.

−3 pts

❌

Animal Fat (Preserved with BHA and Citric Acid)

UNSPECIFIED animal fat — from the rendering tank. Unknown species. Could legally include fat from euthanized animals. Also preserved with BHA, a carcinogen (scored separately).

−3 pts

🟡

Ground Whole Grain Wheat

Common allergen in dogs. Another cheap grain filler.

−1 pts

⚠

Natural Flavor (Source of Roasted Chicken Flavor)

Source never fully disclosed. 'Natural flavor' is a black box — could be animal digest rebranded with better marketing language.

−2 pts

❌

Brewers Rice

Broken rice fragments — milling waste. Zero nutritional value. Pure cheap filler.

−3 pts

✅

Salt

Sodium source. Acceptable in moderation.

✅

Calcium Carbonate

Calcium supplement. Standard.

✅

Monocalcium Phosphate

Phosphorus and calcium supplement.

✅

Potassium Chloride

Potassium supplement. Standard.

✅

Choline Chloride

Essential B vitamin. Standard.

✅

DL-Methionine

Amino acid supplement. Often needed when plant proteins dominate, which is a red flag in itself.

✅

Vitamin E Supplement

Essential vitamin.

✅

Zinc Sulfate

Zinc mineral supplement.

✅

Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate

Joint support additives. Beneficial for small dogs prone to patellar luxation, though amounts here are very small.

🟡

Soybean Meal

Common allergen, GMO risk, estrogenic compounds. Cheap plant protein that further inflates protein numbers.

−1 pts

🟡

Dried Peas

Legume filler. In small amounts and not in top 5, moderate concern.

−1 pts

✅

Dried Carrots

Safe vegetable addition. Minimal amount this far down the list.

☠️

Red 40

ARTIFICIAL DYE. Linked to cancer, hyperactivity, and allergic reactions. Banned or restricted in multiple countries. Zero nutritional purpose — exists only to make kibble look appealing to humans. Dogs are partially colorblind.

−5 pts

☠️

Yellow 5

ARTIFICIAL DYE. Linked to cancer, behavioral issues. Banned in some EU applications. Absolutely no reason to be in dog food.

−5 pts

☠️

Yellow 6

ARTIFICIAL DYE. Cancer links, organ damage in studies. Another pointless colorant.

−5 pts

☠️

Blue 2

ARTIFICIAL DYE. Linked to brain tumors in animal studies. Four artificial dyes in one dog food is staggering negligence.

−5 pts

✅

Niacin

Vitamin B3. Standard.

✅

L-Tryptophan

Essential amino acid.

✅

D-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5)

B vitamin. Standard.

✅

Copper Sulfate

Copper mineral supplement.

✅

Vitamin A Supplement

Essential vitamin.

⚠

Sodium Selenite

Inorganic selenium — toxic in excess. Selenium yeast is the safer, more bioavailable form. Cheap choice.

−2 pts

✅

Potassium Iodide

Iodine supplement. Standard.

✅

Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2)

Standard B vitamin.

✅

Vitamin B12 Supplement

Essential vitamin.

✅

Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1)

Essential vitamin.

✅

Vitamin D3 Supplement

Essential vitamin.

✅

Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)

Essential vitamin.

✅

Folic Acid

B vitamin. Standard.

☠️

BHA (in Animal Fat)

CARCINOGEN. Butylated Hydroxyanisole is classified as an anticipated human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program and restricted in the EU. Used here as a cheap preservative in the already-suspicious unspecified animal fat. Mixed tocopherols exist — this manufacturer chose cancer chemistry instead.

−5 pts

⚖ What's Good / What's Bad

Good

✅ Contains glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for joint support

✅ Meets AAFCO adult maintenance nutritional profiles

✅ Contains a full vitamin and mineral supplement package

✅ No high fructose corn syrup (as stated on front)

✅ Made in USA

Bad

❌ First ingredient is corn — not meat. This is a grain-based food marketed as chicken food.

❌ Contains Meat and Bone Meal — unspecified rendered waste with pentobarbital contamination risk

❌ Contains unspecified Animal Fat — unknown species, could be from euthanized animals

❌ FOUR artificial dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2) — all linked to cancer, all completely unnecessary

❌ BHA carcinogen used as a preservative in the animal fat

❌ Protein is heavily padded by corn protein meal and soybean meal — actual meat protein content is low

❌ Brewers Rice is literal rice waste

❌ Multiple cheap grain and plant fillers dominate the formula

❌ The word 'Flavor' in the product name means this food only needs to contain a detectable amount of chicken — it is NOT primarily a chicken food

🧬 Potential Cancer-Linked Ingredients

☠️

BHA −5 pts — Anticipated carcinogen per National Toxicology Program. Restricted in EU. Used to preserve the unspecified animal fat.

☠️

Red 40 −5 pts — Artificial dye linked to cancer and behavioral issues. Banned or restricted in multiple countries. Zero nutritional purpose.

☠️

Yellow 5 −5 pts — Artificial dye linked to cancer. No reason to exist in pet food.

☠️

Yellow 6 −5 pts — Artificial dye linked to cancer and organ damage in studies.

☠️

Blue 2 −5 pts — Artificial dye linked to brain tumors in animal studies.

📊 Score Breakdown

Start score100 pts

Ingredient penalties−49 pts

❌ No named whole-meat protein in top 3 ingredients (Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Protein Meal — none are whole meat)−20 pts

❌ Primary protein source is a by-product meal−15 pts

❌ Contains 'Meat and Bone Meal' — unspecified rendered ingredient with confirmed contamination risk−10 pts

❌ Three or more filler starches/refined carbs (Corn, Brewers Rice, Wheat = 3+)−10 pts

❌ Artificial colors present (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2 — FOUR dyes)−8 pts

Final score0/100

💬 The Verdict

This is one of the worst-scoring dog foods on the market. A corn-based formula padded with unspecified rendered waste, four cancer-linked artificial dyes, BHA carcinogen, and multiple cheap fillers. Mars, Inc. generates over $45 billion in annual revenue — they can afford better ingredients. They chose maximum profit margins instead.

🧨 Final Verdict

Pedigree Small Dog scores a flat zero — the worst possible grade. This is a corn-and-rendering-waste product dressed up with four cancer-linked artificial dyes and a BHA-laced mystery fat. The first ingredient is corn. The protein is inflated with corn protein meal and soybean meal. 'Meat and Bone Meal' is present — the ingredient the FDA has confirmed can contain pentobarbital from euthanized animals. Mars, Incorporated is worth tens of billions of dollars. They employ veterinary nutritionists. They know exactly what they're putting in this bag. They are selling the cheapest possible ingredients at maximum markup to the most price-sensitive pet owners. The front of this bag says 'Roasted Chicken' — but the first actual chicken-related ingredient is 'Chicken By-Product Meal' at position #2, and it's a rendered by-product, not whole chicken. The word 'Flavor' in the product name is doing heavy legal lifting. There are better budget options available. This food is not worth feeding to any dog at any price.