Purina One Chicken & Rice (feline)
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FOOD COMPARISON: PURINA ONE CHICKEN & RICE (FELINE) AND WELLNESS SUPER5MIX
CHICKEN FORMULA
So many of our clients feed Iams, Purina, Purina One, Purina Beneful, Science Diet, and other foods
that are recommended to them, and which have slick advertising campaigns telling everyone how
incredible these foods are. This image gets in your mind, and makes it look like a great food choice…
until you read the label! We encourage you to read the front page of our food handout, which tells
you how to understand your pet’s food label. Once you learn what sounds good in an ingredient list,
and what actually is good, you’re better able to choose the right food for your pet.
Below, we compare Purina One Feline Chicken & Rice and Wellness Super5Mix Chicken Formula, a
higher-quality chicken-based food. Questionable ingredients are in bold type, with explanation below.
PURINA ONE CHICKEN & RICE INGREDIENTS (Top 18 ingredients):
Chicken, Brewer’s Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry By-Product Meal, Wheat Flour, Animal Fat,
Wheat Gluten, Whole Grain Corn, Non-Fat Yogurt, Fish Meal, Brewer’s Dried Yeast, Potassium
Chloride, Phosphoric Acid, Malted Barley Flour, Animal Digest, Tetra Sodium Pyrophosphate,
Calcium Carbonate, Salt
Interpretation: “Brewer’s Rice” is officially defined as “the dried extracted residue of rice resulting
from the manufacture of wort (liquid portion of malted grain) or beer.” Brewer’s Rice is a low-quality
rice fragment that is missing many of the nutrients found in the whole rice kernels. “Corn Gluten
Meal” is the dried residue from corn after the removal of the larger part of the starch and germ, and
the separation of the bran. Not only is this another corn fragment, it is added to pet food to slow
down the transition of rancid animal fats (think toxic waste!), which then holds waste in, stressing the
kidneys and liver. And what is any corn doing as the third ingredient in a chicken and rice food? The
official definition of “Poultry By-Product Meal” is as follows: “Consists of the ground, rendered, clean
parts of the carcass of slaughtered poultry, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines,
exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing
practice.” Note that this is an inconsistent ingredient, because of the multiple organs used and their
constantly changing proportions. They are cheaper and less digestible than chicken or chicken meal.
It is also better to see a specific protein named, such as chicken, rather than the generic “poultry.”
Anything called a “by-product” means it is not deemed fit for human consumption, and may even
contain diseased or chemically tainted tissue. “Wheat Flour” is defined as “wheat flour together
with fine particles of wheat bran, wheat germ and the offal from the ‘tail of the mill’.” Wheat is one of
the top sources of allergies in pets, and has no place in a ‘chicken and rice’ food. “Animal Fat” is
obtained from the tissues of mammals and/or poultry in the commercial process of rendering. This can
come from any type of animal in a rendering plant, including road-kill, chemically tainted, diseased or
euthanized animals. Clearly, animals fit for human consumption are not sent to rendering plants.
“Wheat Gluten” is yet another wheat ingredient, and a fragment at that. Gluten is a protein source,
but of low quality. “Whole Grain Corn” doesn’t have an official definition, but presumably is mainly
ground whole corn kernels, and most likely doesn’t contain the entire cob as “ground whole corn”
does. Corn is a carbohydrate that is extremely difficult for pets to digest and use, and is a leading
cause of allergies. Between all the wheat and corn ingredients, any benefit of a “chicken and rice”
formula seems to be lost! “Non-Fat Yogurt” is theoretically a great addition. We urge owners to add
fresh, live-culture yogurt to their pet’s food for the enzymes and healthy bacteria it adds to the
digestive tract, as well as the calcium. But the best parts, the enzymes and bacteria, are not going to
survive the cooking process used in kibble manufacturing. This is a case of adding something that is
known to be good, but in a form where most of the benefit is lost. “Fish Meal” denotes a generic
source. What kind of fish? Some are healthier than others. It is better to list a specific protein
source such as salmon meal or Menhaden fish meal, rather than the generic “fish meal.” “Potassium
Chloride” is used as a salt substitute and to replenish electrolytes, but it is also used in fertilizer and
in massive doses for lethal injections. “Phosphoric Acid” is an antioxidant used to decrease oxidative
rancidity of fat or oil. Yum! “Animal Digest” comes from the chemical or enzymatic treatment of
“clean and undecomposed” animal tissue (in a rendering plant). It says it cannot contain hair, horns,
teeth, hooves or feathers, except in trace amounts. Just as in “Animal Fat” (above), it can come from
any type of animal, and from the same questionable or even contaminated sources. “Tetra Sodium
Pyrophosphate” is a synthetically produced food additive used as an emulsifier, buffer, nutrient,
dietary supplement, and texturizer in bread and cereal products. “Calcium Carbonate” is a source of
calcium, but that is what raw bones are for! Calcium Carbonate is also an ingredient in many
antacids. “Salt” is not something we need to be adding to our pets’ food!
WELLNESS SUPER5MIX CHICKEN FORMULA (Top 18 ingredients):
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Liver, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Whole Oats, Canola Oil,
Cranberries, Blueberries, Flaxseed, Eggs, Peas, Taurine, Garlic, Alfalfa Leaf, Norwegian Kelp, Whole
Apples, Zucchini, Sweet Potatoes
Interpretation: There are essentially no objectionable ingredients in the top 18 in this food. Lots of
specific chicken proteins to start. Brown Rice is a superior carbohydrate source, much better than
processed white rice (which loses key nutrients during processing). Brown Rice is rich in B vitamins.
Ground Whole Oats are a good carbohydrate source, rich in B vitamins, a high quality protein, and
easy on the stomach. By using Brown Rice and Oatmeal, this food avoids the wheat, corn, white rice
(often just fragments) and soy commonly used, which are difficult to digest and are leading allergens
in pet food. Cranberries are good for the urinary tract, Blueberries are high in antioxidants. Flaxseed
is the whole ground seed, not a “meal” or fragment of the seed. Flaxseed is rich in essential fatty
acids and B vitamins, and Taurine is an important addition to cat food. The other ingredients listed
here are whole foods, minimally processed, rounding out the variety of nutrition in the food. A
Salmon, Turkey and Herring Oil Formula is also available.
CHICKEN FORMULA
So many of our clients feed Iams, Purina, Purina One, Purina Beneful, Science Diet, and other foods
that are recommended to them, and which have slick advertising campaigns telling everyone how
incredible these foods are. This image gets in your mind, and makes it look like a great food choice…
until you read the label! We encourage you to read the front page of our food handout, which tells
you how to understand your pet’s food label. Once you learn what sounds good in an ingredient list,
and what actually is good, you’re better able to choose the right food for your pet.
Below, we compare Purina One Feline Chicken & Rice and Wellness Super5Mix Chicken Formula, a
higher-quality chicken-based food. Questionable ingredients are in bold type, with explanation below.
PURINA ONE CHICKEN & RICE INGREDIENTS (Top 18 ingredients):
Chicken, Brewer’s Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry By-Product Meal, Wheat Flour, Animal Fat,
Wheat Gluten, Whole Grain Corn, Non-Fat Yogurt, Fish Meal, Brewer’s Dried Yeast, Potassium
Chloride, Phosphoric Acid, Malted Barley Flour, Animal Digest, Tetra Sodium Pyrophosphate,
Calcium Carbonate, Salt
Interpretation: “Brewer’s Rice” is officially defined as “the dried extracted residue of rice resulting
from the manufacture of wort (liquid portion of malted grain) or beer.” Brewer’s Rice is a low-quality
rice fragment that is missing many of the nutrients found in the whole rice kernels. “Corn Gluten
Meal” is the dried residue from corn after the removal of the larger part of the starch and germ, and
the separation of the bran. Not only is this another corn fragment, it is added to pet food to slow
down the transition of rancid animal fats (think toxic waste!), which then holds waste in, stressing the
kidneys and liver. And what is any corn doing as the third ingredient in a chicken and rice food? The
official definition of “Poultry By-Product Meal” is as follows: “Consists of the ground, rendered, clean
parts of the carcass of slaughtered poultry, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines,
exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing
practice.” Note that this is an inconsistent ingredient, because of the multiple organs used and their
constantly changing proportions. They are cheaper and less digestible than chicken or chicken meal.
It is also better to see a specific protein named, such as chicken, rather than the generic “poultry.”
Anything called a “by-product” means it is not deemed fit for human consumption, and may even
contain diseased or chemically tainted tissue. “Wheat Flour” is defined as “wheat flour together
with fine particles of wheat bran, wheat germ and the offal from the ‘tail of the mill’.” Wheat is one of
the top sources of allergies in pets, and has no place in a ‘chicken and rice’ food. “Animal Fat” is
obtained from the tissues of mammals and/or poultry in the commercial process of rendering. This can
come from any type of animal in a rendering plant, including road-kill, chemically tainted, diseased or
euthanized animals. Clearly, animals fit for human consumption are not sent to rendering plants.
“Wheat Gluten” is yet another wheat ingredient, and a fragment at that. Gluten is a protein source,
but of low quality. “Whole Grain Corn” doesn’t have an official definition, but presumably is mainly
ground whole corn kernels, and most likely doesn’t contain the entire cob as “ground whole corn”
does. Corn is a carbohydrate that is extremely difficult for pets to digest and use, and is a leading
cause of allergies. Between all the wheat and corn ingredients, any benefit of a “chicken and rice”
formula seems to be lost! “Non-Fat Yogurt” is theoretically a great addition. We urge owners to add
fresh, live-culture yogurt to their pet’s food for the enzymes and healthy bacteria it adds to the
digestive tract, as well as the calcium. But the best parts, the enzymes and bacteria, are not going to
survive the cooking process used in kibble manufacturing. This is a case of adding something that is
known to be good, but in a form where most of the benefit is lost. “Fish Meal” denotes a generic
source. What kind of fish? Some are healthier than others. It is better to list a specific protein
source such as salmon meal or Menhaden fish meal, rather than the generic “fish meal.” “Potassium
Chloride” is used as a salt substitute and to replenish electrolytes, but it is also used in fertilizer and
in massive doses for lethal injections. “Phosphoric Acid” is an antioxidant used to decrease oxidative
rancidity of fat or oil. Yum! “Animal Digest” comes from the chemical or enzymatic treatment of
“clean and undecomposed” animal tissue (in a rendering plant). It says it cannot contain hair, horns,
teeth, hooves or feathers, except in trace amounts. Just as in “Animal Fat” (above), it can come from
any type of animal, and from the same questionable or even contaminated sources. “Tetra Sodium
Pyrophosphate” is a synthetically produced food additive used as an emulsifier, buffer, nutrient,
dietary supplement, and texturizer in bread and cereal products. “Calcium Carbonate” is a source of
calcium, but that is what raw bones are for! Calcium Carbonate is also an ingredient in many
antacids. “Salt” is not something we need to be adding to our pets’ food!
WELLNESS SUPER5MIX CHICKEN FORMULA (Top 18 ingredients):
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Liver, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Whole Oats, Canola Oil,
Cranberries, Blueberries, Flaxseed, Eggs, Peas, Taurine, Garlic, Alfalfa Leaf, Norwegian Kelp, Whole
Apples, Zucchini, Sweet Potatoes
Interpretation: There are essentially no objectionable ingredients in the top 18 in this food. Lots of
specific chicken proteins to start. Brown Rice is a superior carbohydrate source, much better than
processed white rice (which loses key nutrients during processing). Brown Rice is rich in B vitamins.
Ground Whole Oats are a good carbohydrate source, rich in B vitamins, a high quality protein, and
easy on the stomach. By using Brown Rice and Oatmeal, this food avoids the wheat, corn, white rice
(often just fragments) and soy commonly used, which are difficult to digest and are leading allergens
in pet food. Cranberries are good for the urinary tract, Blueberries are high in antioxidants. Flaxseed
is the whole ground seed, not a “meal” or fragment of the seed. Flaxseed is rich in essential fatty
acids and B vitamins, and Taurine is an important addition to cat food. The other ingredients listed
here are whole foods, minimally processed, rounding out the variety of nutrition in the food. A
Salmon, Turkey and Herring Oil Formula is also available.