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Fromm Puppy Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Written by: Nicole Cosgrove

Last Updated on August 15, 2024 by Dogster Team

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Fromm puppy food a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. 

Fromm Family Pet Food started as a silver fox farming company in the early 20th Century before branching out to make dog food in 1949. In the 1970s, the company started manufacturing a line of foods for working dogs. Since the 1980s, they have continued to expand with the addition of new foods and dog nutrition products. It wasn’t until the 1990s that the company changed its name from Federal Foods to Fromm Family Foods, as it is known today.

The company has a variety of different food lines, including puppy foods for large-breed dogs and grain-free recipes. Its food generally has good protein and carb ratios, contains natural ingredients, and is modestly priced, making it a good choice of food for young dogs.

Read on for more details of some of the different lines of Fromm puppy foods that are available.

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At a Glance: The Best Fromm Puppy Food Recipes

Rating Image Product Details
Our Favorite
Winner
Fromm Gold Nutritionals Puppy Dry Dog Food Fromm Gold Nutritionals Puppy Dry Dog Food
  • 27% protein is good for developing puppies
  • Good calorie levels for puppies
  • Primary ingredients are chicken, chicken meal, and chicken broth
  • Second place
    Fromm Family Gold Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food Fromm Family Gold Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food
  • Formulate for large breeds with less fat and fewer calories
  • Reasonable price for good-quality food
  • Primary ingredients are chicken, chicken meal, and chicken broth
  • Third place
    Fromm Family Foods Heartland Gold Puppy Fromm Family Foods Heartland Gold Puppy
  • 27% protein and 418 calories per cup is good for puppies
  • Grain-free recipe is good for dogs with diagnosed grain allergies
  • Primary ingredients are beef, pork meat meal, and peas
  • Fromm Classics Puppy Dry Dog Food Fromm Classics Puppy Dry Dog Food
  • Made with high-quality ingredients
  • Meat-based dry puppy food
  • Fromm Family Foods Heartland Gold Large Breed Puppy Fromm Family Foods Heartland Gold Large Breed Puppy
  • Grain-Free
  • Made only with high-quality ingredients
  • Fromm Puppy Food Reviewed

    Fromm Family Foods has a long history of manufacturing good-quality dry food. As well as general puppy food, they also produce a grain-free recipe and have foods specifically formulated for large-breed dogs.

    Fromm Classics Puppy Dry Dog

    Who Makes Fromm Puppy Food and Where Is It Produced?

    Fromm puppy food is manufactured by Fromm Family Foods. The company is headquartered in Wisconsin, and their dry food is manufactured in plants in Mequon and Columbus. Fromm Family Foods also has a wet food canning facility in Eden.

    Which Type of Dog Is Fromm Puppy Food Best Suited For?

    Fromm puppy food is obviously targeted at young puppies, typically those aged up to 12 months. Puppies have different nutritional and dietary requirements compared to adult dogs and seniors. They need more calories and higher protein levels to build and maintain muscle mass during their early months. They have a general puppy food that is suitable for all dog types, and those formulated especially for large breed dogs.

    Which Type of Dog Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

    Because the company specializes in food for large-breed dogs and also sells puppy food that is suitable for all dog breeds and types, it should be suitable for all young dogs. If you have a very small or toy-sized puppy, however, you may wish to choose a puppy food specifically for this type of dog.

    Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Puppy Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food is made with deboned chicken, chicken meal, and oatmeal as its primary ingredients and has a 29% protein and 17% fat ratio. It is also reasonably priced and is a good food for small-breed puppies.

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    Primary Ingredients

    Looking at Fromm Gold Nutritionals Dry Puppy Food, its primary ingredients are:

    • Chicken – Chicken is a high-quality ingredient that is considered a quality protein source for dogs of all ages, sizes, and types. However, whole chicken, as used in this recipe, is approximately three-quarters water. Once processed, this water is lost, which means the overall volume of chicken is likely to be less than indicated once the food is processed.
    • Chicken Meal – Chicken meal is a concentrated form of chicken. It has around three times the protein of whole chicken and retains this protein after processing and preparation, making it a very beneficial ingredient. Even if the whole chicken cooks down and loses its volume, because chicken meal is the second-listed ingredient, this food is likely to get a lot of its protein from animal sources, which is good.
    • Chicken Broth – Chicken broth is not particularly high in protein or vitamins and minerals. It is used in wet or canned foods to add moisture, and it is used in dry foods like Fromm Gold Nutritionals Dry Puppy Food to add meaty flavor and make the food more palatable to dogs. It does also help add a little moisture to what would otherwise be a very hard and brittle kibble.
    beagle puppy eating from a feeding bowl
    Image By: Monika Wisniewska, Shutterstock

    Different Lines, Different Proteins

    You will notice a number of different Fromm Family Foods products for puppies.

    • The Classics range is made using chicken ingredients as the primary protein source.
    • The Gold range uses a variety of protein sources, including lamb or turkey.
    • The Prairie Gold, or Heartland Gold, range is a selection of grain-free recipes that are suitable for dogs with diagnosed allergies or sensitivities.

    Dog Size

    You will also find foods within these ranges that are targeted at large-breed dogs. Generally speaking, a large breed dog is one that weighs—or will weigh—50 pounds or more when at a healthy, mature adult weight. Some dogs, like St. Bernards and Newfoundland dogs, fall easily into this category. Some, like Australian Shepherds, are expected to weigh slightly less or more. If the breed of your dog falls just under the 50-pound category, you can consider feeding a large-breed food.

    Grain-Free and Grain-Inclusive Foods

    Dogs are omnivores. This not only means that they can eat a variety of food types but that they should do so to get the full range of vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients that they require. Grains are good for dogs and owners should only avoid giving grain-inclusive foods to dogs if they have been specifically diagnosed as being allergic to this type of ingredient. If your dog food is showing signs of allergic reaction or sensitivities, it is more likely that they are allergic to a protein source or meat in the food, rather than the grain.

    Grains are good sources of protein, fatty acids, and fiber, and a grain-free diet usually uses legumes, which do not have the same nutritional makeup, so feeding a grain-free diet unnecessarily could cause malnutrition.

    Young brown puppy dog eating from a green bowl in a white kitchen
    Image Credit: Janis Petranis, Shutterstock

    A Quick Look at Fromm Puppy Food

    Pros
    • Variety of primary protein sources in different foods
    • Some recipes specifically for large-breed dogs
    • Grain-free recipes available for dogs that need them
    Cons
    • No small breed recipes

    Recall History

    Fromm Dog Food has never had a forced recall but did voluntarily recall a selection of its wet dog foods in 2016 because the foods had high levels of vitamin D.

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    Reviews of the 3 Best Fromm Puppy Food Recipes

    1. Fromm Family Gold Puppy Dry Dog Food

    Fromm Gold Nutritionals Puppy Dry Dog Food

    Fromm Gold Nutritionals Puppy Dry Dog Food is a dry kibble with the main ingredients of chicken, chicken meal, and chicken broth. It has 27% protein, 18% fat, and 10% moisture. The ingredients are filled with natural fruit and vegetables, and the food is fortified with vitamins and minerals to ensure that it is nutritionally balanced for your growing puppy. Probiotics also aid in digestive health by promoting good bacteria and fighting bad bacteria. At 420 calories per cup, the food is considered suitable for young puppies.

    The only controversial ingredient is sodium selenite. Although essential to dogs, a natural source such as selenium yeast is preferred, although sodium selenite is classified as safe for use in dog foods. Some owners may prefer to avoid this ingredient.

    Pros
    • 27% protein is good for developing puppies
    • Primary ingredients are chicken, chicken meal, and chicken broth
    • Good calorie levels for puppies
    Cons
    • Contains sodium selenite

    2. Fromm Family Gold Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food

    Fromm Gold Nutritionals Large Breed Puppy

    If your puppy has an expected adult weight of 50 pounds or more, feeding a large-breed puppy food can be beneficial. They generally contain fewer calories than general breed foods. They also have lower calcium and phosphorous levels while still maintaining a healthy ratio of these two beneficial minerals. The food is formulated to help prevent bone and joint diseases, which are more common in large-breed dogs because of their size and stature.

    Fromm Gold Nutritionals Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food has the primary ingredients of chicken, chicken meal, and chicken broth, just like the standard puppy food, but has slightly less protein (26%), less fat (14%), and fewer calories (384 kcal/cup), to encourage healthy growth in large dogs. It costs around the same as the standard puppy food but does still contain sodium selenite.

    Pros
    • Formulate for large breeds with less fat and fewer calories
    • Primary ingredients are chicken, chicken meal, and chicken broth
    • Reasonable price for good-quality food
    Cons
    • Contains sodium selenite

    3. Fromm Family Heartland Gold Puppy Dry Dog Food

    Fromm Family Foods 12 Lb Prairie Gold Puppy

    As part of the Prairie Gold range, Fromm Family Foods Prairie Gold Puppy Dry Dog Food is a grain-free recipe. It has the primary ingredients of beef, pork meat meal, and peas. It contains 27% protein, 18% fat, and 6% fiber. A cup of food contains 419 calories, making it suitable for puppies and for nursing dogs. This is a puppy food for dogs of all sizes and breeds.

    It is a grain-free diet, so it’s not recommended for most dogs, but it does also contain probiotics, which encourage good gut bacteria and help promote good digestive health. Like the other Fromm recipes, it contains sodium selenite but is reasonably priced.

    Pros
    • 27% protein and 418 calories per cup is good for puppies
    • Primary ingredients are beef, pork meat meal, and peas
    • Grain-free recipe is good for dogs with diagnosed grain allergies
    Cons
    • Contains sodium selenite

    What Other Users Are Saying

    While compiling our review, we researched websites, forums, and reviews to see what other owners made of the food and to determine whether it is a good choice for all dogs.

    • DogFoodAdvisor – “This looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.”
    • TotallyGoldens – “You will find quality ingredients, a high nutritional value, and raving reviews from customers when you choose Fromm Dog Food.”
    • Amazon – We also had a look at Amazon to see what genuine buyers say about the food. Read the Amazon reviews here.

    Conclusion

    Fromm Family Foods has a range of puppy foods available, including grain-free and large-breed recipes. They use high-quality primary ingredients and have very few controversial ingredients other than sodium selenite. Their food has proven popular with owners and dogs, and they have not undergone any forced recalls, although did voluntarily recall some of their own wet foods. The food is good quality and looks as though it gets a lot of its protein from high-quality meat sources while also being reasonably priced for a premium food.

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