Blue Basics is built around one animal protein per recipe paired with potato, sold as a limited ingredient diet. Of the 13 kibbles, 7 use turkey, 3 use lamb, 2 use salmon and 1 uses duck. Every kibble contains peas, and all 15 recipes list potato. The line adds one duck wet food and one salmon gravy topper.
The kibbles sit in a tight band, with protein from 18% to 26% and estimated starch from 38% to 49%, as fed. Against 1,834 kibbles in our catalog, the line averages 20.6% protein versus 26.9%, 44.6% estimated starch versus 37.4%, and 361 kcal per cup versus 395.
The trade-off is a short protein list in exchange for less protein and more starch than the typical kibble. Several kibbles carry Grain-Free in their names, yet our ingredient read flags grain in all 13, so the full list on the bag is worth checking. The wet food at 7% protein and the topper at 6% also sit below their format averages of 8.3% and 18.4%.
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
26% protein · 15% fat · 38% starch · 394 kcal/cup · Puppy
The only puppy recipe, with the most protein (26%) and least estimated starch (38%) in the line, plus 15% fat. Deboned turkey and turkey meal lead the list ahead of oatmeal, peas and brown rice, suiting owners of growing pups.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Puppy Turkey and Potato Recipe22% protein · 15% fat · 42% starch · 384 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for small breeds, this lamb kibble puts lamb meal second and reaches 22% protein, 15% fat and 384 kcal per cup. It suits owners of small dogs who prefer lamb to the turkey small breed recipe.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Adult Dog Grain-Free Lamb and Potato Recipe22% protein · 15% fat · 42% starch · 404 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for small breeds, this turkey kibble has the most calories in the line at 404 kcal per cup, with 22% protein and 15% fat. Turkey meal sits third, ahead of brown rice, suiting owners of little dogs who eat small portions.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Adult Turkey and Potato Recipe20% protein · 14% fat · 44% starch · 356 kcal/cup · Adult
The standard adult lamb kibble, with deboned lamb, potatoes, pea starch and peas ahead of lamb meal, and 14% fat, the most among the 20% protein kibbles. At 356 kcal per cup, it suits owners looking for a red meat alternative to turkey.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Lamb and Potato Recipe20% protein · 12% fat · 46% starch · 349 kcal/cup · Adult
One of two near-identical salmon kibbles, this listing runs 349 kcal per cup and 3476 kcal per kg, with salmon meal labeled as a glucosamine source. Deboned salmon, peas, potatoes and pea starch lead the list, suiting owners who want fish rather than poultry.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Salmon and Potato Recipe20% protein · 12% fat · 46% starch · 364 kcal/cup · Adult
The standard adult turkey kibble lists deboned turkey, oatmeal, brown rice and peas before turkey meal, at 364 kcal per cup, the highest of the 20% protein turkey kibbles. It suits everyday adult feeding for owners content with oats and rice.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Turkey and Potato Recipe20% protein · 12% fat · 46% starch · 347 kcal/cup · Adult
The second salmon kibble shares its twin's lead ingredients but comes in at 347 kcal per cup and 3456 kcal per kg, the lower of the two. It suits owners after a fish-based adult kibble with 20% protein and 46% estimated starch.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Dog Grain-Free Salmon and Potato Recipe20% protein · 13% fat · 45% starch · 354 kcal/cup · Adult
The only duck kibble, with deboned duck followed by potatoes, pea starch, peas and pea protein, so pea ingredients fill much of the top five. At 20% protein, 13% fat and 354 kcal per cup, it suits owners rotating away from turkey and lamb.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Duck and Potato Recipe20% protein · 12% fat · 46% starch · 352 kcal/cup · Adult
The turkey kibble with no oatmeal or brown rice in its first five ingredients, listing potatoes, turkey meal, pea starch and peas after deboned turkey. At 352 kcal per cup and 46% estimated starch, it suits owners who want turkey on a potato base.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Dog Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Recipe20% protein · 12% fat · 46% starch · 352 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for large breed adults, it shares the oatmeal and brown rice lead of the standard turkey kibble but comes in at 352 kcal per cup instead of 364. Protein sits at 20% and fat at 12%, for owners of bigger dogs who prefer turkey.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Large Breed Adult Turkey and Potato Recipe20% protein · 13% fat · 45% starch · 358 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for large breeds, this lamb kibble matches the duck kibble's 20% protein, 13% fat and 45% estimated starch, at 358 kcal per cup. Deboned lamb, potatoes, pea starch and peas lead the list, for owners of big dogs who want lamb.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Large Breed Adult Grain-Free Lamb and Potato20% protein · 9% fat · 45% starch · 329 kcal/cup · Adult
Made for weight management, this turkey kibble has the least fat (9%) and fewest calories in the line at 329 kcal per cup, with 10% fiber. It suits owners watching calorie intake who want turkey with oatmeal and brown rice.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Healthy Weight Turkey and Potato Recipe18% protein · 10% fat · 49% starch · 348 kcal/cup · Senior
The only senior recipe, with the least protein (18%) and most estimated starch (49%) in the line, plus 10% fat and 7% fiber. Turkey, oatmeal, brown rice, potatoes and peas lead the list, for owners of older dogs who want turkey.
Full review of Limited Ingredient Diet Senior Turkey and Potato Recipe| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain Free Adult Duck Potato Recipe | 7% | 6% | 78% | 1,460 | Duck, Duck Broth, Potatoes |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
7% protein · 6% fat · 517 kcal/serving · Adult
The only wet food in Basics, built on duck with duck broth, potatoes and pea protein, at 7% protein and 6% fat as fed. It suits owners who want a duck wet meal or a moist mix-in alongside the duck kibble.
Full review of Grain Free Adult Duck Potato Recipe| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin And Stomach Care Salmon Gravy | 6% | 1% | 89% | 597 | Salmon, Vegetable Broth, Water |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
6% protein · 1% fat · 42 kcal/pouch
The only topper in the line and the only recipe without peas or lentils, listing salmon, vegetable broth, water, potatoes and pumpkin first. Sold for skin and stomach care, it adds 42 kcal per pouch at 6% protein and 1% fat.
Full review of Skin And Stomach Care Salmon GravyThe Grain Free Adult Duck Potato Recipe wet food and the Skin And Stomach Care Salmon Gravy topper contain no grain. Several kibbles carry Grain-Free in their names, but our ingredient read flags grain in all 13 kibbles, so the full list on the bag is worth checking.
The Limited Ingredient Diet Puppy Turkey and Potato Recipe leads at 26% protein as fed, and it also has the least estimated starch at 38%. The Senior Turkey and Potato Recipe has the least protein at 18%.
All 13 kibbles and the Grain Free Adult Duck Potato Recipe wet food contain peas. The Skin And Stomach Care Salmon Gravy topper is the only recipe without peas or lentils.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (22.9% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 45% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
60% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Puppy Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
28.9% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Adult Dog Grain-Free Lamb and Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
42% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Healthy Weight Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
329 kcal per cup
Dog food
Cub Size - Wild Chews
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses. Then share your score with your friends, however embarrassing it turns out to be.
115 foods in the deck. Grapes are in there. So is cheese.
Ten foods, one at a time. Call each one Safe, In Moderation or Never, then flip the card to see if you had it right. The ones you miss are listed at the end.
Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
Copied. Paste it anywhere your friends will see it.
Want the reason behind every answer? The 80-page e-book, $7.99
Now, is your dog's food any good?
Look it up: estimated starch, calories per cup and every ingredient, for 3,207 foods.
