How this tool works

PetLabelIQ applies a defined nutritional framework to publicly available ingredient labels. Every score is a model-based interpretation — not a laboratory measurement, veterinary assessment, or statement of fact about any brand's product.

Our framework prioritizes: named whole-meat protein sources, organ meat inclusion, natural sufficiency (whole-food nutrients over synthetic supplementation), low carbohydrate load, and clean preservation. All products — including NOBL Foods products — are scored against these criteria without exception.

Use these scores as a starting point for deeper conversations with your veterinarian or the manufacturer — not as a final verdict.

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Pet food nutrition intelligence
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About PetLabelIQ
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Transparency disclosure

PetLabelIQ was developed by NOBL Foods. NOBL products are evaluated using the exact same criteria, weights, and scoring methodology as every other brand in this database — no exceptions.

The composite score, digestibility proxy, and EAA/protein proxy apply identically to all products including our own. We built this tool because we believe every dog owner deserves to see past the marketing on every bag — including ours.

If you believe any score is inaccurate or inconsistent across brands, we want to know: customerservice@noblfoods.com

How scoring works
Composite Score
The headline number. Weighted: Ingredient Quality (40%) + Digestibility (30%) + EAA/Protein Quality (30%). This is the number that reflects the full nutritional picture.
Ingredient Quality
Scores the actual quality of what's in the formula — and what isn't. Built from six sub-scores: protein foundation (whole meats, organ inclusion, protein density), natural sufficiency (whole-food nutrients replacing synthetics), carbohydrate quality, fat source quality, safety profile, and ingredient count. A formula earns its score from zero — every point is justified.
Digestibility Proxy
Estimates how well your dog can absorb the food. Based on processing format (freeze-dried and raw score above kibble), protein prominence, starch dilution, fiber burden, and mineral delivery form. Anchored to verified digestibility data when published by the manufacturer.
EAA / Protein Quality
Estimates amino acid completeness. Uses actual EAA panel data when published by the manufacturer — currently 34 products in our database have verified data. Otherwise estimates from ingredients. Crude protein % on a label can be deeply misleading: plant protein isolates inflate the number while delivering fewer usable amino acids than named animal sources.
What the Ingredient Quality score actually measures

Most pet food rating tools start with a maximum score and subtract for problems. We built ours differently: every point is earned. A formula starts at zero and accumulates points across six sub-scores. The number you see represents what the formula actually delivers — not what it merely avoids.

The principle behind our scoring

A high-quality ingredient comes from nature. Quality is confirmed not just by what is present, but by what is absent — when whole-food sources adequately supply a nutrient, the corresponding synthetic form should not appear on the label.

Protein Foundation
up to 38 pts
The most heavily weighted sub-score. We evaluate the first ingredient, how many named animal proteins appear in the top three and top five, organ meat inclusion, and protein density on a dry matter basis. Named whole meats earn full credit. Organ meats — liver, kidney, heart, spleen, tripe — earn a separate bonus because they are categorically more nutrient-dense than muscle meat and represent whole-food complexity that synthetic supplements attempt to replicate. Generic ingredients and fractionated plant proteins that inflate label protein percentages are penalized.
Natural Sufficiency
up to 9 pts
The most distinctive part of our scoring. A bonus is awarded when a whole-food source of a specific nutrient is present and the corresponding synthetic form is absent. Red and organ meats supply zinc, iron, and copper abundantly — a formula with a strong organ base that also adds zinc proteinate and ferrous sulfate is telling you something: the base diet wasn't sufficient on its own. Liver supplies vitamins A, D, and B12 in their most bioavailable forms — adding synthetic versions on top is redundant. We reward formulas for the restraint of letting their ingredients do the job.
Carbohydrate Quality
up to 10 pts
Starts at the maximum and is reduced by carbohydrate load on a dry matter basis, refined starches in prominent positions, and added sugars. Whole fruits and vegetables restore up to 3 points. Dogs have no biological requirement for carbohydrates. Most commercial kibble contains 35–55% NFE (estimated carbs) on a dry matter basis — a number that never appears on any bag.
Fat Source Quality
up to 6 pts
Named animal fats and oils earn full credit. Whole meats prominent in the top five deliver fat within the natural food matrix — the highest quality fat delivery possible. Generic "animal fat" with no species specified and low-quality plant oils in prominent positions reduce the score.
Safety & Additives
+4 to −20 pts
A clean formula earns 4 points. Each concern reduces it: artificial colorants (dogs are dichromatic — Red 40, Blue 2, and Yellow 5 exist purely for human shelf appeal), synthetic preservatives (BHA and BHT carry WHO possible carcinogen classifications; ethoxyquin was developed as a rubber hardener), menadione (synthetic Vitamin K3, linked to liver toxicity at elevated doses), and ingredient splitting (the same ingredient listed multiple times under different names to obscure its true rank in the formula).
Ingredient Count
0 to −8 pts
Long ingredient lists are a signal. A formula with 40+ ingredients almost always has a weak whole-food base being patched by an extended synthetic tail. Formulas with 20 or fewer ingredients earn no penalty here — simplicity is a feature.
Score bands
85–100
Strong alignment
Strong alignment with our criteria. Named whole meats and organ meats prominent. Whole-food sources supply minerals and vitamins. Clean preservation profile within our framework.
70–84
Good alignment
Good alignment with our criteria. Strong animal protein sourcing and clean preservation. May include some synthetic supplementation or moderate carbohydrate load within our framework.
50–69
Moderate alignment
Moderate alignment with our criteria. Named protein sources present. May include fractionated plant proteins, moderate starch load, or a standard synthetic mineral stack within our framework.
30–49
Lower alignment
Lower alignment with our criteria across several sub-scores. Budget or therapeutic context may make this appropriate — review trade-offs with your veterinarian.
15–29
Trade-offs identified
Significant trade-offs identified within our framework: generic protein sources, elevated carbohydrate load, synthetic preservatives, or artificial colors present.
0–14
Does not align
Does not align with our criteria across multiple dimensions. Meets AAFCO regulatory minimums. Score reflects label-based framework interpretation only.
PetLabelIQ · developed by NOBL Foods · customerservice@noblfoods.com
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