FirstMate Limited Ingredient Diet is a set of eight grain-free kibbles built on a short formula: one animal meal plus Burbank and Norkotah potato. Fish appears in three recipes, chicken and beef in two each, and lamb in one. Chicken fat is among the first five ingredients in all eight, and none contains peas or lentils.
Protein runs from 18% to 28% and estimated starch from 30% to 50%, as fed. Against the catalog average for kibble, the line averages 24.1% protein versus 26.9%, 41.1% estimated starch versus 37.4%, and 506 kcal per cup versus 395. The Pacific Ocean Fish Large Breed recipe is the high-protein, low-starch outlier, and the Weight Control recipe sits at the opposite end.
The trade-off is a potato-heavy base. Most recipes sit between 39.5% and 43% estimated starch, so the line leans lower in protein and higher in starch than typical kibble. It is also calorie dense, which matters for portion sizes. Two pairs of recipes share identical figures, so the real choice comes down to fewer options than eight.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Ocean Fish Large Breed Formula Grain-Free | 28% | 18% | 30% | 540 | Ocean Fish Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato |
| Free Run Chicken Formula | 25% | 14% | 41% | 527 | Chicken Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato |
| Limited Ingredient New Zealand Beef Grain-Free | 25% | 13% | 42% | 513 | Beef Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato |
| Chicken Meal With Blueberries Formula Grain-Free | 25% | 14% | 41% | 527 | Chicken Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato |
| New Zealand Beef Meal Formula Small Bites Grain-Free | 25% | 13% | 42% | 513 | Beef Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato |
| Australian Lamb Meal Formula Grain-Free | 24% | 13% | 39.5% | 480 | Lamb Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato |
| Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Original Formula Grain-Free | 23% | 10% | 43% | 475 | Ocean Fish Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato |
| Pacific Ocean Fish Weight Control Formula Grain-Free | 18% | 8% | 50% | 470 | Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato, Ocean Fish Meal |
| Line average | 24.1% | 12.9% | 41.1% | 506 |
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.
28% protein · 18% fat · 30% starch · 540 kcal/cup
Sold for large breeds, this fish meal recipe has the line's most protein (28%), fat (18%) and calories (540 kcal per cup). Its 30% estimated starch is the lowest in the line and below the 37.4% kibble catalog average, suiting owners who want more protein and less starch.
Full review of Pacific Ocean Fish Large Breed Formula Grain-Free25% protein · 14% fat · 41% starch · 527 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
This is the only recipe in the line labeled for All Life Stages, with chicken meal first and whole blueberries in the first five ingredients. It suits households that want one chicken kibble at 25% protein and 527 kcal per cup labeled for all life stages.
Full review of Free Run Chicken Formula25% protein · 13% fat · 42% starch · 513 kcal/cup
Beef meal leads this recipe, followed by two potatoes and dried yeast, with 25% protein and 513 kcal per cup. Unlike its Small Bites twin, it is labeled for all breeds, and it suits owners of dogs of any size who want beef as the named meal.
Full review of Limited Ingredient New Zealand Beef Grain-Free25% protein · 14% fat · 41% starch · 527 kcal/cup
This chicken meal recipe shares its 25% protein, 14% fat and 527 kcal per cup with the Free Run Chicken Formula, but its label lists no life stage. It suits owners who want chicken meal with whole blueberries near the top of the list.
Full review of Chicken Meal With Blueberries Formula Grain-Free25% protein · 13% fat · 42% starch · 513 kcal/cup
This is the Small Bites version of the beef meal recipe, with the same 25% protein, 13% fat and 42% estimated starch as its line mate. It suits owners who want the beef formula sold in a smaller piece size.
Full review of New Zealand Beef Meal Formula Small Bites Grain-Free24% protein · 13% fat · 39.5% starch · 480 kcal/cup
The only lamb recipe in the line, with lamb meal first, 24% protein, 7.5% fiber and 480 kcal per cup. At 39.5% estimated starch it has the second lowest starch in the line, and it suits owners who want lamb as the named meal.
Full review of Australian Lamb Meal Formula Grain-Free23% protein · 10% fat · 43% starch · 475 kcal/cup
The original ocean fish meal recipe sits mid-line at 23% protein and 43% estimated starch, with 8% fiber and tomato pomace in the first five ingredients. At 10% fat and 475 kcal per cup, it suits owners who want fish without the Large Breed recipe's 18% fat.
Full review of Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Original Formula Grain-Free18% protein · 8% fat · 50% starch · 470 kcal/cup
Made for weight control, this is the only recipe where potato comes before the fish meal, and it has the line's lowest protein (18%), fat (8%) and calories (470 kcal per cup). Its 50% estimated starch is the highest in the line, which matters to owners tracking starch.
Full review of Pacific Ocean Fish Weight Control Formula Grain-FreeYes. All eight recipes are grain free, and none contains peas or lentils. Every recipe does contain potato.
The Pacific Ocean Fish Large Breed Formula Grain-Free has the most protein in the line at 28% as fed. The Pacific Ocean Fish Weight Control Formula Grain-Free has the least at 18%.
No recipe is fully chicken free on the label. Chicken fat appears in the first five ingredients of all eight, including the New Zealand Beef, Australian Lamb Meal and Pacific Ocean Fish recipes.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (26.8% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 41% of the food as fed.
88% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
100% 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.
Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that FirstMate has never had one. See the recall log
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