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Rachael Ray Dog Food Review 2025: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Dogster_Rachael Ray Dog Food Review

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Rachael Ray Dog Food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Celebrity chef Rachael Ray has created a line of dog foods that feature some of her best recipes. This is a line of all-natural dog food that is considered to be high-quality and full of ingredients that can benefit your dog while remaining affordable.

The specialty recipes cater to a dog’s individual needs which allows you to choose a dry or wet food that works best for your dog according to their breed and health status. Rachael Ray dog foods have your dog’s best interest in mind, and most of the money from the sales of the Nutrish line goes towards The Rachael Ray Foundation which helps animals in need.

This dog food company has a lot to offer your dog, which we will provide more information on in this article.

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At a Glance: The Best Rachael Ray Dog Food Recipes

Rating Image Product Details
Our Favorite
Winner
Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken & Veggies Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken & Veggies
  • Contains chicken as the first and main ingredient
  • Contains above-average protein
  • Has simple and natural ingredients
  • Second place
    Rachael Ray Nutrish Beef, Pea, & Brown Rice Rachael Ray Nutrish Beef, Pea, & Brown Rice
  • Beef is the first and main ingredient
  • Rich in omega-6 fatty acids
  • Contains taurine
  • Third place
    Rachael Ray Nutrish Savory Lamb Stew Rachael Ray Nutrish Savory Lamb Stew
  • Has a high moisture content
  • Free from artificial preservatives and flavors
  • Does not contain many controversial ingredients
  • Rachael Ray Variety Pack Wet Dog Food Rachael Ray Variety Pack Wet Dog Food
  • Contains added vitamins and minerals
  • Made with tender meat and wholesome veggies
  • Three different flavors
  • Rachael Ray Nutrish PEAK Rachael Ray Nutrish PEAK
  • Contains 30% high-quality protein
  • Real beef as the ingredient
  • Contains real lamb and real venison
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    Rachael Ray Dog Food Reviewed

    Who Makes Rachael Ray Dog Food and Where is it Produced?

    Rachael Ray’s dog food was created by a celebrity chef and was first produced in 2008. Rachael Ray herself is a beloved Food Network regular, TV host, devoted pet lover, and an author who first partnered with Ainsworth Pet Nutrition to produce a range of recipes that are created in the United States by Heart Pet Brands, a division of the J.M. Smucker company that is based in Ohio.

    The Rachael Ray dog food line started back in 2008 and most of the products were first manufactured by the Ainsworth Pet Nutrition and then by J.M. Smucker Company. The wet food recipes from this company are produced in a USDA-inspected facility and all ingredients are high-quality and free from by-products.

    All the foods (both wet and dry) go through a quality inspection before being released for sale. All dry foods are produced in the United States, whereas wet recipes are created in Thailand.

    a dog eating from metal bowl
    Image Credit: Aleksey Boyko, Shutterstock

    Which Types of Dogs Is Rachael Ray Dog Food Best Suited For?

    Rachael Ray dog food is suitable for all dog breeds, from small to large. They have recipes that are suitable for dogs of various life stages, health problems, and breed types. Dogs who cannot eat grains will benefit from the grain-free recipes, whereas dogs who require wet food rather than dry foods will benefit from Rachael Ray’s wet dog food range.

    There is no specific breed that does best on the Rachael Ray dog food, as this food makes kibble that is small enough to be chewed by small dog breeds and larger pellets that are better suited for medium to large dog breeds.

    This company has around 17 dry dog food recipes and 9 wet food recipes, so there is a wide selection to choose from to suit your dog’s needs based on their breed or nutritional requirements. Some recipes are specially formulated for dogs who need a specific diet, either grain-free or limited ingredients recipes. The limited-ingredient food range is designed for dogs with sensitivities and contains 6 whole, natural ingredients.

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    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    When it comes to determining if a certain brand of food will be good for your dog, it is important to take a closer look at the main ingredients that can be found in most of the recipes, which we will discuss below:

    By-products

    Rachael Ray’s dog food does not contain any animal-based by-products, which are leftover parts of an animal’s carcass once they are processed for meat. Some companies deem the by-products to be slaughterhouse waste, which is why Rachael Ray Dog Foods has decided to remove animal-based by-products and instead use organ meats such as beef liver or chicken gizzards, which can be deemed more beneficial for dogs.

    However, they do have a few by-products that are not of animal origin in the recipes.

    Controversial Ingredients

    The recipes do not seem to have many controversial ingredients, however, some questionable ingredients in some of the dog foods range include canola meal, soybean protein, whole corn, poultry fat preserved with tocopherols, and textured soy protein products. These are generally considered to be low-quality ingredients and are classified as either by-products or fillers.

    Rachael Ray dog food seems to have a lot of corn in its ingredients list, both ground and whole under different names. Fillers have no real nutritional value for dogs, but they are used in many dog foods.

    There is a potentially harmful ingredient (menadione sodium bisulfite complex) that can be found in 15 of Rachael Ray’s dog food recipes and it is a synthetic form of vitamin K that is linked to organ damage over a long period, and it has only been approved by the AAFCO Pet Food Committee for use in poultry feed.

    High-Quality Meats and Poultry

    Rachael Ray’s dog food seems to have a lot of high-quality meats as the first line of ingredients in their recipes. The meats include beef, chicken, turkey, venison, bison, lamb, quail, and salmon. These are great protein-rich ingredients that can help keep your dog full and provide them with the energy they need to stay active and healthy throughout the day.

    Most of the meats and poultry are first on the list, which means that both the dry and wet recipes contain animal-based proteins which can be seen on the ingredients list.

    labrador retriever eating from a bowl
    Image Credit: Jaromir Chalabala, Shutterstock

    Healthy Additives

    This brand of dog food has a lot of vegetables and fruits in its recipes which are useful to boost your dog’s immune system and provide them with much-needed minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins to stay healthy.

    Rachael Ray dog foods also contain chickpeas, lentils, and legumes, which are healthy vegetables that increase the amount of fiber and carbohydrates in the food. These vegetables are good for weight management and aid in a dog’s metabolism.

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    A Quick Look at Rachael Ray Dog Food

    Pros
    • Reasonably priced for the dog food’s quality
    • The brand primarily includes natural ingredients in the food
    • The recipe has lower by-products and grains in comparison to other dog food brands
    • They have a line of dog foods suited for different dogs’ needs
    • Have both a wet and dry recipe with several flavors and ingredients
    • Rachael Ray dog food only has one noteworthy recall
    Cons
    • The recipes have a high starch content
    • This brand uses a high amount of corn and wheat as a filler in most of their recipes
    • Some recipes contain an unregulated form of synthetic vitamin K

    Recall History

    Rachael Ray dog foods do not have a lengthy recall history, even though they have been creating dog and cat foods for over a decade. One of the most notable recalls for dog food happened back in 2019 when the FDA recalled several brands of grain-free dog food that included Rachael Rays Nutrish’s dog food line.

    The most well-known recall for this brand was based on wet cat food, and fortunately not on any of their dog food recipes. There have been no other recalls for their dog food, aside from a few individual cases where only one dog was affected and investigated to see if the food had anything to do with the dogs’ symptoms.

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    Reviews of the 3 Best Rachael Ray Dog Food Recipes

    Let’s take a look at some of Rachael Ray’s dog food recipes that are the most popular with devoted customers:

    1. Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken and Veggies Recipe – Our Favorite

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Chicken & Veggies Dog Food

    The Nutrish Chicken and Veggies Recipe contains farm-raised chicken as one of the top ingredients and the recipe is created in the USA with simple and natural ingredients.

    This food has a moderate protein percentage of 26%. Some ingredients that contribute to the protein’s total percentage are dried peas and chicken meal. This food does have fillers in the form of corn, but overall, it seems to have a decent ingredient list. There are a few controversial ingredients in the food, however, it does contain menadione sodium bisulfate complex which is one of the potentially harmful ingredients we mentioned above.

    Pros
    • Contains chicken as the first and main ingredient
    • Contains above-average protein
    • Has simple and natural ingredients
    • Free from artificial colorants
    Cons
    • Contains a potentially harmful ingredient
    • High in fillers

    2. Rachael Ray Nutrish Beef, Pea, and Brown Rice Recipe

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Dry Dog Food

    The Nutrish Beef, Pea, and Brown Rice Recipe from Rachael Ray dog food contains added vitamins, minerals, and taurine that are good for dogs. Beef is the main and first ingredient on the list and has been added to the recipe to support healthy organs and muscle mass. The other main ingredients which are brown rice and peas are added to fuel your dog’s energy levels and aid in healthy digestion.

    This recipe is free from artificial preservatives and flavors, and it is gluten and grain-free. This specific recipe is rich in omega-6 fatty acids which are beneficial to a dog’s skin and coat health. It has a moderate level of protein at 25% even though it contains a lot of animal-based protein as the main ingredient. However, it does contain a potentially harmful ingredient (menadione sodium bisulfite complex).

    Pros
    • Beef is the first and main ingredient
    • Rich in omega-6 fatty acids
    • Contains taurine
    • Grain and gluten-free
    Cons
    • Contains a potentially harmful ingredient
    • Slightly low in protein and fiber

    3. Rachael Ray Nutrish Savory Lamb Stew Recipe

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Wet dog food savory lamb stew

    The first ingredient in this wet dog food recipe is the chicken broth which provides the food with both flavor and moisture. The second ingredient is lamb as a good protein and moisture source. It has no artificial preservatives and flavors and has a balanced amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

    The Rachael Ray Nutrish Savory Lamb Stew Recipe only has three controversial ingredients, and the rest are considered to be high-quality to form a balanced and healthy wet dog food. It has 9% protein per serving, and it is rich in essential vitamins and minerals.

    Pros
    • Has a high moisture content
    • Free from artificial preservatives and flavors
    • Does not contain many controversial ingredients
    Cons
    • Contains a potentially harmful ingredient

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    What Other Users Are Saying

    • HerePup: “The ingredients range from high quality to average, making this pet food recommended”
    • Pet Food Guru: “Overall, the Rachael Ray foods look comparable to many other premium dog foods.”
    • Amazon: As pet owners, we always double-check with Amazon reviews from buyers before we buy something. You can read these by clicking here.

    divider dog paws 2 oct 2024

    Conclusion

    Rachael Ray dog food is easily accessible online and in most stores within the United States, and has become a staple food for dogs in many households. This seems to be a standard dry and wet dog food brand that uses better quality ingredients in comparison to similarly priced dog foods.

    They have only one recall with their dog food range, which is excellent, and animal-based protein is first on the ingredients list. You can choose through the many wet and dry food recipes sold by this company to find the right one for your dog’s needs.

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