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Scanned by Randall Saunders · April 12, 2026
Canine Carry Outs Canine Carry Outs Steak Bites Beef Flavor
0/100
Grade F — Avoid at All Costs
📦 Product Overview
BrandCanine Carry Outs
TypeDog Treats/Snacks
Life Stageadult
Size4.5 oz (128g)
AAFCO Compliant❌ No
This is a treat/snack, not a complete and balanced food. It is not intended to meet AAFCO nutritional profiles for any life stage and should not be used as a sole diet.
☠ Rendering / 4D Animal Warning

This product contains 'Animal Fat' with no species identified. Unspecified animal fat can legally come from any rendered source, including 4D animals (dead, dying, diseased, disabled), euthanized shelter animals, roadkill, and restaurant grease. The FDA has confirmed the presence of pentobarbital (euthanasia drug) in rendered pet food ingredients. The rendering process does not destroy all drug residues. There is no way to verify the source of this fat.

🧪 Ingredient Breakdown
❌
Wheat Flour
Refined wheat — allergenic, low-nutrient filler. First ingredient in a 'beef' treat is cheap grain flour.
−3 pts
❌
Soy Flour
Common allergen, highly processed soy filler. Second ingredient — this treat is mostly cheap plant fillers.
−3 pts
✅
Water Sufficient for Processing
Standard moisture component.
🟡
Ground Corn
Whole corn — allergen risk, GMO risk, aflatoxin risk. Yet another cheap filler before any meat appears.
−1 pts
❌
Corn Syrup
Sugar in a dog treat. Contributes to obesity, dental disease, and diabetes. No nutritional purpose.
−3 pts
🟡
Chicken By-Product Meal
Named by-product meal — low-quality rendered chicken parts (heads, feet, intestines, etc.). At least the species is identified.
−1 pts
✅
Beef
Finally, actual beef — but it's the 7th ingredient. This 'Steak Bites Beef Flavor' treat is overwhelmingly wheat, soy, corn, and sugar before any real beef shows up.
❌
Animal Fat (BHA Used as Preservative)
Unspecified 'animal fat' — could come from any rendered source including 4D animals. Source species unknown. Preserved with BHA, a cancer agent.
−3 pts
☠️
BHA (in Animal Fat)
BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) — classified as an anticipated human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program. Restricted in the EU. Used here to preserve the mystery animal fat.
−8 pts
☠️
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol — FDA banned this in cat food due to Heinz body anemia risk. Still legal in dog food but associated with cancer risk and toxicity concerns. Used as a humectant to keep treats chewy.
−8 pts
🟡
Dried Cheese Product
Vague cheese derivative. 'Product' designation means it's not real cheese — it's a processed byproduct.
−1 pts
✅
Calcium Sulfate
Calcium source. Generally safe.
✅
Phosphoric Acid
Acidifier and flavor enhancer. Generally recognized as safe.
✅
Salt
Sodium source. Acceptable in moderation in treats.
✅
Potassium Chloride
Potassium supplement. Safe.
✅
Bone Phosphate
Calcium/phosphorus source. Generally safe.
☠️
Titanium Dioxide (Color)
Titanium dioxide — synthetic white pigment used purely for visual appearance. Causes DNA damage. BANNED from food in the European Union since 2022. Zero nutritional value. This is in dog treats solely to make them look like fake steaks.
−8 pts
☠️
Potassium Sorbate (Used as a Preservative)
Potassium sorbate — genotoxic at higher doses with documented DNA strand breaks. Synthetic preservative.
−8 pts
⚠
Garlic Powder
Garlic is toxic to dogs in sufficient quantities. Small amounts in treats are generally tolerated, but it's a risk ingredient with no benefit.
−2 pts
☠️
Caramel Color
Caramel color contains 4-MEI (4-methylimidazole), a known carcinogen. Used purely to make these treats look brown like 'steak.' Zero nutritional value. Cancer risk for cosmetic purposes.
−8 pts
⚠
Natural Flavor
Source never disclosed. Could be animal digest under a different name. Completely opaque.
−2 pts
☠️
Red 40
Red 40 — artificial petroleum-based dye linked to cancer, hyperactivity, and behavioral issues. Banned or restricted in several countries. Used to make these treats look red like 'meat.' Purely cosmetic.
−8 pts
✅
Lactic Acid
Natural acidifier and preservative. Safe.
☠️
BHA (Used as a Preservative)
BHA appears a SECOND time on this label as a standalone preservative. Anticipated carcinogen, penalized again per rules.
−8 pts
❌
Onion Extract
Onion is TOXIC to dogs. It causes oxidative damage to red blood cells leading to hemolytic anemia. Even in small amounts, it has no place in a dog treat. This is a genuinely dangerous ingredient choice.
−5 pts
⚖ What's Good / What's Bad
Good
✅ Contains named beef (though it's the 7th ingredient)
✅ Chicken by-product meal is at least species-identified
Bad
❌ SEVEN cancer-linked ingredients: BHA (twice), Propylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Sorbate, Caramel Color, Red 40
❌ First two ingredients are cheap grain and soy fillers — not meat
❌ Contains corn syrup — sugar has no place in dog treats
❌ Contains unspecified 'Animal Fat' — potential 4D rendered animal source
❌ Contains Onion Extract — onion is toxic to dogs and causes hemolytic anemia
❌ Contains Titanium Dioxide — banned from food in the EU due to DNA damage
❌ Three artificial/synthetic colorants used purely for cosmetic purposes
❌ BHA appears TWICE on the ingredient list
❌ The word 'Steak' in the name is pure marketing fantasy — this is a wheat-soy-corn-sugar product
🧬 Potential Cancer-Linked Ingredients
☠️
BHA (in Animal Fat) −8 pts — Anticipated carcinogen per NTP. Restricted in EU. Used to preserve unspecified animal fat.
☠️
BHA (standalone preservative) −8 pts — Second occurrence of BHA on label. Same carcinogen, double exposure.
☠️
Propylene Glycol −8 pts — Banned in cat food by FDA. Cancer risk, Heinz body anemia risk. Toxic humectant.
☠️
Titanium Dioxide −8 pts — DNA damage confirmed. Banned from food in EU since 2022. Used as white dye for cosmetic purposes.
☠️
Potassium Sorbate −8 pts — Genotoxic at higher doses. DNA strand breaks documented in research.
☠️
Caramel Color −8 pts — Contains 4-MEI, a known carcinogen. Used to make treats look brown.
☠️
Red 40 −8 pts — Petroleum-based artificial dye linked to cancer. Banned or restricted in multiple countries.
📊 Score Breakdown
Start score100 pts
Ingredient penalties−80 pts
❌ No named whole-meat protein in top 3 ingredients (wheat flour, soy flour, water)−20 pts
❌ Primary protein source is a by-product/filler (wheat flour and soy flour before any meat)−15 pts
❌ Contains unspecified 'Animal Fat' — rendering risk ingredient−10 pts
❌ Three or more filler starches/refined carbs (wheat flour, soy flour, ground corn, corn syrup)−10 pts
❌ Artificial colors present (Red 40, Titanium Dioxide, Caramel Color)−8 pts
Final score0/100
💬 The Verdict

This is one of the worst dog treats on the market. Seven cancer-linked ingredients. Onion extract — which is toxic to dogs. Unspecified animal fat from unknown rendered sources. The first ingredients are wheat flour, soy flour, and corn — this is a grain-sugar-chemical product shaped like fake steaks and dyed with carcinogens to look like meat. The name 'Steak Bites Beef Flavor' is an insult to the intelligence of every dog owner. Beef is the 7th ingredient.

🧨 Final Verdict

Canine Carry Outs Steak Bites is a chemical disaster shaped like a steak. It contains SEVEN ingredients linked to cancer — BHA (listed TWICE), propylene glycol, titanium dioxide (banned from food in the EU), potassium sorbate, caramel color, and Red 40. It also contains onion extract, which is genuinely toxic to dogs and can cause hemolytic anemia. The first two ingredients are wheat flour and soy flour. Beef — the thing this product is named after — doesn't show up until the 7th ingredient. The unspecified 'animal fat' could legally come from euthanized shelter animals. This product earned a score of zero because the math ran out of room to deduct. J.M. Smucker Company manufactures this product. Every single dollar spent on this would be better spent on a piece of actual cooked chicken breast cut into small cubes. That's a real treat. This is a shaped, dyed, sugar-laden chemical product that should not exist.