Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?
| Dry Dog Food | Instinct | Taste of the Wild |
| Per Pound | $8.93 | $2.30 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0044 | $0.0014 |
| Dry Cat Food | Instinct | Taste of the Wild |
| Per Pound | $11.49 | $2.97 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0057 | $0.0018 |
| Wet Dog Food | Instinct | Taste of the Wild |
| Per Pound | $6.31 | $3.47 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0107 | $0.0085 |
| Wet Cat Food | Instinct | Taste of the Wild |
| Per Pound | $8.87 | $5.72 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0179 | $0.0132 |
The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each brands food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.
If youd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Instinct or Taste of the Wild, input your pets weight into our cost analyzer widget.
Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands. However, the actual price that youll pay for Instinct or Taste of the Wild will depend on your shopping habits.
Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Instinct and Taste of the Wild. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.
Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!
Purina One Pet Food Ingredients vs. Taste of the Wild Pet Food Ingredients
Purina One and Taste of the Wild both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:
Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Purina One.
Liver is a controversial ingredient because the source animal is not specified. Anonymous animal ingredients are typically very low quality and may contain almost any animal, including dogs and cats!
Canola meal is a high protein by-product of canola oil production. This ingredient is marked controversial because it may be derived from genetically modified rapeseed, which is associated with multiple adverse health affects.
Brewers rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewers rice is a lower quality grain. Brewers rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.
Wheat gluten is the main protein of wheat. Although wheat gluten is mostly protein, wheat gluten is considered controversial because it significantly boosts the protein content of the product. This is undesirable because plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.
Animal digest is the result of undecomposed animal tissue after hydrolysis, a chemical reaction. It is typically used as flavoring to improve taste. Animal digest is considered by many as an undesirable low-quality ingredient. Whats more, the source animal is not specified and therefore animal digest can contain almost any animal, including dogs and cats!
Caramel color is a concentrated form of caramel, a natural food colorant. Caramel color has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel color is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.
Soybean flour contains more than 50% protein. Therefore, soybean can significantly boost the protein content of the product. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.
Soybean hulls are a by-product of soybean oil and meal processing. They are typically regarded as low quality and inexpensive fillers which lack any significant nutritional value.
Corn germ meal is a high protein by-product of the oil extraction process from corn (maize). Its considered controversial because plant based protein does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by pets to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn germ meal protein for meat based protein is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.
Corn gluten meal is a by-product from the production of various corn products (corn starch, corn syrup, etc). Its very high in protein (nearly 60% protein) and therefore can significant boost the protein content of the product. Because plant based proteins such as corn gluten meal are inferior to meat based proteins (lack many essential amino acids), they are not suitable substitutes.
By-products are defined by AAFCO as the “non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals.” Thus, meat by-products contain nearly all parts of the animal which are typically not consumed by humans. These parts include the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, stomach, blood, intestine, bone, etc.
This ingredient is marked controversial because the meat source is not identified. Anonymous ingredients such as meat by-products are typically very low quality additions. The most unpleasing property of this ingredient is that the animal source can contain any mammal, even dogs & cats.
Whole grain corn is the entire corn kernel (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Corn is a cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in pet food.
Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, well discuss a few of the opposing arguments.
In regards to digestibility, the claims of “highly digestible” are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by pets to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.
Finally, well discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in pet food should certainly warrant further questioning.
Whole grain wheat contains the entire grain of wheat (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Wheat is the second most-produced cereal grain in the world (corn is the first). Although wheat is a controversial ingredient, it is not necessarily undesirable because it provides dietary fiber and many other nutrients. However, wheat contains a notable amount of plant based protein, which is inferior to meat based protein and therefore an undesirable substitution.
Wheat is also one of the most common ingredients to cause food allergies or intolerance. However, grains such as wheat are typically low offenders in comparison to certain protein sources (such as beef).
Ground yellow corn is a cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in pet food.
Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, well discuss a few of the opposing arguments.
In regards to digestibility, the claims of “highly digestible” are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by pets to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.
Finally, well discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in pet food should certainly warrant further questioning.
Powdered cellulose is produced from minuscule pieces of wood pulp and plant fibers. Other than its fiber content, powdered cellulose lacks any nutritional contribution.
By-products are defined by AAFCO as the “non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals.” Thus, poultry by-products contain nearly all parts of poultry which are typically not consumed by humans. These parts include the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, stomach, blood, intestine, bone, etc.
Like other meat by-products, poultry by-products are considered controversial, mainly because they are inexpensive ingredients which consumers have equated with slaughterhouse waste. However, manufactures and many experts claim that animal by-products are unjustly criticized. Proponents state that by-products, such as poultry by-products, supply many important nutrients required by pets. Finally, we must also note that this ingredient is considered an anonymous meat ingredient because the specific type of poultry is not specified. By-products which are “named”, such as chicken by-products are typically higher in quality when compared to the more general poultry by-products.
Chicken by-product meal is produced by cooking chicken by-products using a process called rendering. By-products are defined by AAFCO as the “non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals.” Thus, chicken by-products contain nearly all parts of chickens which are typically not consumed by humans. These parts include the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, stomach, blood, intestine, bone, etc.
Like other meat by-products, chicken by-products are considered controversial, mainly because they are inexpensive ingredients which consumers have equated with slaughterhouse waste. However, manufactures and many experts claim that animal by-products are unjustly criticized. Proponents state that “named” by-products, such as chicken by-products, supply many important nutrients required by pets.
Soy protein isolate is a highly refined/purified form of soy bean protein. Roughly 90% of soy protein isolate is protein. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.
Soybean protein concentrate is produced by removing the water soluble carbohydrates from soybeans. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.
Animal fat is a by-product of tissue rendering. The source animal is not specific and therefore we cannot be certain that the source does not include diseased animals or even euthanized dogs and cats.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Taste of the Wild.
Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. Its considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Purina One.
Red 3 is an artificial dye which the FDA has confirmed can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Corn oil is extracted from the germ of corn kernels. It contains an omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio of 49:1. Corn oils unfavorable omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio makes it an undesirable ingredient. Consumption of such ingredients can lead to an array of health problems in both animals and humans.
The ingredient “added color” is ambiguous and may include various artificial dyes. Most artificial dyes have been linked to various chronic diseases.
Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, “The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.”
Top 10: Best Dry Dog Foods
Crafted Kibble offers the perfect combination of quality and convenience. This premium kibble brand offers custom-tailored meal plans based on your dog’s breed, weight, and activity levels. Each bag is custom-sized for daily feedings to ensure you’re not over-feeding or under-feeding your dog (over 50% of dogs in the US are overweight!).
During our nutrient analysis, we found Crafted Kibble to have an excellent breakdown. There’s a wide variety of dog food recipes to choose from, with grain-free and grain formulas available for each of their protein types.
Another reason Crafted Kibble in on our list of best food brands? Delivery is free, it’s automatically shipped to your house each month, AND you can get started with an awesome 50% off discount.
Orijen is another that tops our list of best dog foods due to the high-quality ingredients and amazing company values. Orijen is so far ahead in the premium dog food industry that one of their main competition is their sister company ACANA (in addition to From and Zignature). If you’re looking for the best dog food, Orijen is it. Period. They promise to make use of only the freshest, highest quality ingredients that are biologically the best fit for our animals’ wellbeing.
After analyzing the ingredients in their Regional Red formula, the Estimated Nutrient Content percentages were phenomenal. Moreover, simply reading through the ingredients list proves the quality – there are no questionable ingredients found in this. What I personally enjoyed the most is that Orijen does not use “natural flavors” in their dog foods, yet my dog Sasha absolutely goes crazy for Orijen.
Next on our list is – you guessed it – Orijen’s sister company called ACANA. There’s really not too many differences here. ACANA is manufactured in the United States and is a tiny bit cheaper, while Orijen is manufactured in Canada and is slightly more expensive. ACANA has, arguably, some of the highest quality ingredients in the entire dog food industry. These high standards are held throughout the company, from ingredients selection and variety to company values and community involvement. ACANA lands among the top of our list as one of the best dog foods you can buy.
Perhaps most unique about ACANA foods is the fact that they promise that all of their ingredients come from locally sourced goods, and are made into their dog foods the very same day that they are purchased. ACANA has, arguably, some of the best dog food ingredients in the entire industry, striving to get their products from field to factory in less than 48 hours.
Fromm is a family-owned and operated dog food manufacturer that holds incredibly high standards for ingredient quality and company values. Fromm is one of our favorites and most recommended dog foods for those looking for quality ingredients and holistic nutrition without spending a ton of money deserving to be listed among the best food brands. Fromm Gold, our favorite formula from the brand, comes in at roughly $1.52/lb, while our #1 dog food Orijen costs about $3.84/lb for the Regional Red formula.
All of their pet foods are made with only US-raised meats and grains, and never have any artificial preservatives added to them. Grain-free options are also available, and the company makes use of a wide variety of high-quality meats and even plant-based products to ensure that every palate can be appropriately catered to.
If premium is what you’re after, Ziwi has it; however, premium obviously comes at a cost. Ziwi is our most expensive dog food to make it on our best dog food list, and the high cost is because they use an artisanal approach to air-drying their dog food. This delicate process essentially preserves the meats and eliminates any nasty bacteria while protecting the nutrients in their ingredients way better than traditional dog food can. This is why Ziwi is among the best dog food companies.
While my dog absolutely loved this food, I simply can’t afford to feed this to a 50lb shepherd mix daily. However, I do continue to purchase the smaller bags on Amazon and use them as treats. If you have a small dog, using Ziwi as an everyday food may be an option because they are one of the best producers of premium dog foods.
Zignature has a rather unique aspect to their brand: none of their dog food formulas contain chicken! This is incredibly tough to find even among premium quality dog foods since chicken is often one of the cheaper meats to include in dog food for added protein. While there are plenty of dogs out there with chicken allergies that will benefit from Zignature, their formulas are also perfectly suitable for any breed and size, even if they do not have chicken allergies. My dog Sasha actually rotates (every few bags or so – remember, variety is the spice of life!) between ACANA and Zignature’s Zessential recipe.
But the fun doesn’t end there. Zignature recipes contain incredibly unique meats as their main ingredient, with recipes including Kangaroo Formula, Guinea Fowl Formula, and Catfish Formula. Some of these also contain the lowest environmental impacts of any animal protein in the world. Zignature tops our best dog food list as one of the most recommended dry dog food brands.
Wellness is a brand that covers the whole spectrum: balanced and complete formulas, protein-focused and grain-free recipes, limited ingredient recipes, and even slow-baked recipes. When talking about premium focused dog foods, the brand also sells a variety of single-ingredient dog treats, such as dried beef, which our dog absolutely loves. As for basic dog food, our favorite line is the Wellness CORE selection which has a high amount of protein and no grains (if your dog’s stomach can’t handle high protein, opt for their Complete Health line).
Another reason we feel good about buying Wellness dog food is because of their community involvement and donations, which include recycling programs for dog food bags and their very own WellPet Foundation, which donates hundreds of thousands of pounds of dog food.
The Crave company believes that “every pet shares a connection to their wild side,” and sticking to this belief strives to make dog foods that are as close to the natural demands and cravings all dogs have. In order to do this, Crave always makes sure that meat is always the main ingredient in every bag, and provides animals with plenty of protein to keep them going at their best.
Crave seems to have an incredibly high standard for ingredients, netting itself the much-coveted top 10 dog food brands award for 2020. This is due in large part because of the high volume of meat that goes into each bag, and the absence of unnecessary fillers or grains that have been known to cause problems for some dogs.
Nulo dog food often utilizes high profile celebrities and athletes with their dogs to promote their product; however, behind the Michael Phelps marketing strategy, Nulo dog food recipes are simple and effective: very high in protein and containing excellent ingredients. The company also promises that their food will be the freshest recipes you will find on store shelves or arrive at your door because they are manufactured and shipped in small batches to ensure they spend less time sitting on a shelf.
This independently-owned company also has some of the brightest minds in the industry on their team, which now holds a patented probiotic that they include in all of their foods. The probiotic, BC30, “supports your pet’s immune system, provides improved nutrient absorption, reduces gas and improves stool quality, and prevents the growth of yeast organisms that may cause skin problems and ear infections.”
Halo dog food aims to create holistic dog food recipes that are easy to digest. Believe it or not, one of their slogans is actually “The Proof is in the Poop”! And let me tell you this, it definitely works. We transitioned one of our dogs to this from ACANA (which can be tough for digestion due to the really high protein) and she went from one bowel movement per day to THREE (all were healthy, too).
The ingredients also use a lot of whole meats instead of meat meals and they have a rather wide selection of formulas. Another area we absolutely love to highlight is their community and charity involvement. The Halo Pet Foundation donates a minimum of ½% of sales—five times the national corporate giving average—to the Halo Pet Foundation and to provide food for shelter pets.
FAQ
Is taste of the wild lawsuit?
v. Schell & Kampeter Inc. d/b/a Diamond Pet Foods et al., filed in February 2019, alleges positive tests for arsenic, lead, pesticides and other toxic materials in Taste of the Wild dog food.
Does instinct dog food come from China?
Who makes true instinct dog food?