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Scanned by Randall Saunders · April 12, 2026
Field Trial Field Trial Premium Bite Size Chicken Flavor
0/100
Grade F — Avoid at All Costs
📦 Product Overview
BrandField Trial
TypeDog Food - Dry/Kibble
Life Stageadult
Size14 oz (396g)
AAFCO Compliant✅ Yes
Label states 'Field Trial Premium Bite Size Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.' This is formulation-based, not feeding trial-verified.
☠ Rendering / 4D Animal Warning

This food contains 'Meat and Bone Meal' (unspecified) and 'Animal Fat' (unspecified). These are the lowest-tier rendered ingredients in the pet food industry. Under current FDA and AAFCO regulations, unspecified rendered ingredients can legally contain: dead animals that died before slaughter, dying animals, diseased animals condemned by USDA inspectors, disabled animals, euthanized shelter animals, roadkill, zoo animals, and restaurant grease trap waste. The FDA confirmed the presence of pentobarbital (euthanasia drug) in pet foods containing these types of ingredients in both 2002 and 2018 investigations. The rendering process does not destroy drug residues. There is no way for the consumer to verify what species or condition of animal went into this food.

🧪 Ingredient Breakdown
🟡
Whole Grain Corn
Corn is a cheap carbohydrate filler. Common allergen, GMO risk, and carries aflatoxin contamination risk. Listed as the #1 ingredient — this food is corn-based, not meat-based.
−1 pts
❌
Meat and Bone Meal
Unspecified rendered waste. 'Meat and bone meal' can legally contain 4D animals — dead, dying, diseased, disabled — including euthanized shelter animals. FDA has confirmed pentobarbital in foods using this ingredient. This is the #2 ingredient.
−3 pts
🟡
Corn Protein Meal
Corn gluten meal equivalent — cheap plant protein used to inflate crude protein numbers on the guaranteed analysis. This is not quality animal protein.
−1 pts
🟡
Soybean Meal
Another cheap plant protein that inflates protein numbers. Common allergen. GMO risk. Estrogenic compounds present.
−1 pts
❌
Animal Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)
Unspecified 'animal fat' — could come from any rendered animal, including euthanized animals. The preservation with mixed tocopherols is the only positive aspect, but the source is completely unknown.
−3 pts
🟡
Whole Grain Wheat
Common allergen in dogs. Cheap filler grain.
−1 pts
❌
Wheat Middlings
Milling waste — the sweepings from the flour mill floor. This is animal feed-grade refuse, not food.
−3 pts
🟡
Corn Distillers Dried Grains
Ethanol production waste. Cheap filler with some protein but primarily a by-product of the corn ethanol industry being dumped into pet food.
−1 pts
⚠
Natural Chicken Flavor
The word 'Chicken Flavor' on the bag is misleading — there is NO actual chicken in this food. This is a flavor additive, likely a digest or spray. 'Natural flavor' source is never fully disclosed.
−2 pts
❌
Rice
Listed simply as 'Rice' — this is white rice, a refined carbohydrate stripped of nutrients. Not brown rice.
−3 pts
✅
Salt
Electrolyte source. Acceptable in small amounts.
✅
Calcium Carbonate
Calcium supplement. Standard.
✅
Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid)
Standard vitamin premix. Required for AAFCO compliance.
⚠
Minerals (Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite)
Standard mineral premix. However, sodium selenite is the cheap inorganic form of selenium — toxic in excess and less bioavailable than selenium yeast.
−2 pts
☠️
Artificial Color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2, Yellow 6)
FOUR artificial dyes in a dog food. Dogs are colorblind. These serve zero nutritional purpose. Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 2 are all linked to cancer, behavioral issues, and are banned or restricted in multiple countries. A manufacturer that puts four synthetic dyes in dog food does not care about animal health.
−20 pts
⚖ What's Good / What's Bad
Good
✅ Claims no artificial preservatives (uses mixed tocopherols for fat preservation)
✅ Meets AAFCO minimum nutritional profiles for adult maintenance
✅ Linoleic acid at 1.5% exceeds AAFCO minimum of 1.1%
✅ Ca:P ratio of 1.0:0.8 = 1.25:1, which is within the acceptable 1:1 to 2:1 range
Bad
❌ No actual meat anywhere in this food — not a single named whole meat protein
❌ First ingredient is corn — this is a grain-based food masquerading as chicken food
❌ Meat and Bone Meal as the only animal protein — unspecified rendered waste with 4D animal and pentobarbital risk
❌ Unspecified Animal Fat — unknown rendered source
❌ Protein heavily inflated by cheap plant sources (corn protein meal, soybean meal) rather than real animal protein
❌ 21% crude protein is barely above the 18% AAFCO minimum, and most of it comes from corn and soy, not meat
❌ Four artificial dyes — Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2, Yellow 6 — all cancer-linked
❌ Wheat middlings — literal milling waste
❌ The word 'Chicken' on the bag is deceptive — there is no chicken in this food, only 'Natural Chicken Flavor'
❌ The word 'Premium' on the bag is a lie — this is bottom-tier pet food
🧬 Potential Cancer-Linked Ingredients
☠️
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, hyperactivity, and allergic reactions. Banned in some countries.
☠️
Blue 2 −5 pts — Artificial dye linked to brain tumors in animal studies.
☠️
Yellow 6 −5 pts — Artificial dye linked to adrenal tumors, allergic reactions, and hyperactivity.
📊 Score Breakdown
Start score100 pts
Ingredient penalties−41 pts
❌ No named whole-meat protein in top 3 ingredients−20 pts
❌ Primary protein source is a by-product, digest, or unspecified (Meat and Bone Meal)−15 pts
❌ Contains 'Meat and Bone Meal' — lowest-tier rendered ingredient with pentobarbital contamination risk−10 pts
❌ Three or more filler starches/refined carbs present (White Rice, Wheat Middlings, Corn Distillers Dried Grains, Corn Protein Meal)−10 pts
❌ Artificial colors present (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2, Yellow 6) — four dyes, zero nutritional purpose−8 pts
Final score0/100
💬 The Verdict

This is one of the worst commercial dog foods available. There is no actual meat in this product — not one named whole-meat protein anywhere on the ingredient list. The name 'Chicken Flavor' is technically legal because it only requires a detectable amount of flavor, but it is deliberately misleading. The protein comes primarily from corn and soy, not animals. The only animal-origin protein is unspecified 'Meat and Bone Meal' — a rendered ingredient that can legally contain euthanized animals. Four artificial dyes with cancer links are added for no reason whatsoever. The word 'Premium' on the bag is an unregulated marketing term that has zero legal meaning.

🧨 Final Verdict

Randall™ says: This food is a masterclass in deception. The bag says 'Chicken Flavor' with a picture of a happy dog — but there is zero chicken in this bag. Not one gram. The protein comes from corn, soy, and unspecified rendered 'Meat and Bone Meal' — the absolute bottom of the barrel in pet food ingredients, with confirmed FDA pentobarbital contamination risk. Then they added FOUR artificial dyes — Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2, Yellow 6 — all linked to cancer, all completely unnecessary. Dogs cannot see colors. These dyes exist only to trick the human buyer into thinking colorful = quality. This scores a zero. The brand is Sunshine Mills — the same company behind multiple FDA recalls and the company whose food was implicated in aflatoxin-related dog deaths. 'Premium' on this bag is a lie. 'No artificial preservatives' on the front is technically true but conveniently ignores the four carcinogenic artificial dyes on the back. This food costs almost nothing because it IS almost nothing — corn, mystery rendered animal parts, wheat waste, soy, and cancer dyes. Dogs deserve better than this.