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BRAND

Nature's Recipe

Owned by Post Holdings, Inc.Since 1981Lakeville, MN

RECIPES REVIEWED
24
AVG PROTEIN, DM, KIBBLE
27.1%
AVG STARCH, KIBBLE
43%
FDA RECALLS
1
LINES
Original 12 Grain Free 6 Prime Blends 4
THE LINES

Nature's Recipe Lines, Reviewed

3 lines

Nature's Recipe sorts its foods into three lines. Original is the largest, with 10 kibbles and 2 wet stews, and it is the only line with wet food or senior recipes. Grain Free has six kibbles, and Prime Blends has four kibbles and is discontinued.

The lines differ most in protein, estimated starch and grain. Original kibbles are grain inclusive, built on chicken, turkey or lamb with barley, rice and oatmeal, and none list peas or lentils; most sit at 21% or 22% protein as fed. Grain Free kibbles average 25.5% protein and 40% to 43% starch, with sweet potato, pumpkin, peas or lentils, potato and chicken in every recipe. Prime Blends lists 30% protein and 37% starch across all four kibbles, each mixing two or three animal proteins such as beef, venison or salmon; two are grain free and two use barley.

Original

10 kibble · 2 wet food
Protein
21.9%
Fat
11.8%
Starch
45.9%
Kcal / cup
337

Average kibble, as fed

Nature's Recipe Original is a grain-inclusive line of 10 kibbles and 2 wet stews built on chicken, turkey or lamb with barley, rice and oatmeal. None of the kibbles list peas or lentils, and most sit at 21% or 22% protein as fed.

A good fit for: Owners who want grain-inclusive kibble without peas or lentils; Dogs that do well on moderate protein, around 22% in kibble

Read the Original review

Grain Free

6 kibble
Protein
25.5%
Fat
12.8%
Starch
41.4%
Kcal / cup
344

Average kibble, as fed

Nature's Recipe Grain Free is a six-recipe kibble line built on sweet potato and pumpkin, with no grain and chicken in every recipe. Its defining trait is the grain-free build, paired with peas or lentils, potato and estimated starch of 40 to 43 percent.

A good fit for: Owners seeking grain-free kibble who are fine with peas and potato; Dogs that do well on chicken, since all six recipes include it

Read the Grain Free review

Prime Blends

4 kibble
Protein
30%
Fat
13%
Starch
37%
Kcal / cup
345

Average kibble, as fed

Prime Blends is a discontinued Nature's Recipe kibble line of four recipes, each mixing two or three animal proteins like beef, venison, lamb, turkey or salmon. All four list 30% protein and 37% estimated starch, with two grain free and two made with barley.

A good fit for: Owners who want kibble above the 26.9% catalog protein average; Owners who want fewer calories per cup than the 395 kibble average

Read the Prime Blends review
WHICH LINE FITS

Choosing Between The Nature's Recipe Lines

  • Grain-inclusive kibble without peas or lentils: Original
  • Wet stews or senior recipes from one line: Original
  • Grain-free kibble with chicken in every recipe: Grain Free
  • Kibble at 30% protein with mixed animal proteins: Prime Blends
  • Grain-free and barley kibbles with matching label figures: Prime Blends

All recipes

24 foods matched · newest first
Nature's Recipe Original 12 recipes · See all
DEEP DIVE

Inside The Nature's Recipe Range

Across 24 recipes we review

Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (27.1% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).

Starch is higher than average, at 43% of the food as fed.

88% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).

33% of recipes are grain-free.

NUTRITION

How The Range Measures Up

this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review

Protein, dry matter 27% 21% to 33%
15%site avg 30%50%
Fat, dry matter 13% 9% to 17%
5%site avg 18%30%
Starch, as fed 43% 37% to 52%
10%site avg 37%60%
Kcal per cup 337 295 to 371
250site avg 395600

Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out

INGREDIENTS

What Goes In The Bowl

Chicken 79% 56%
Lamb 33% 14%
Turkey 29% 20%
Fish 13% 34%
Beef 8% 20%
Egg 8% 31%
Venison 4% 2%

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.

Ingredients Some Owners Avoid

By-products 0% 13%
Artificial colors 0% 1%
Chemical preservatives 58% 9%
Corn 0% 15%
Wheat 0% 13%
Soy 13% 10%

These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.

LIFE STAGE
  • Adult19
  • Senior2
  • Puppy2
BREED SIZE
  • All Breeds22
  • Small Breed2
  • Large Breed1
SPECIAL DIETS
  • Grain-free (no wheat, corn, rice, barley or oats)8
Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Beef, Barley & Venison Recipe Dry Dog Food MOST PROTEIN Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Beef, Barley & Venison Recipe Dry Dog Food 33.3% dry matter Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Salmon, Barley & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food LEAST STARCH Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Salmon, Barley & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food 37% as fed Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipe Dry Dog Food FEWEST CALORIES Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipe Dry Dog Food 295 kcal per cup
THE COMPANY

About Nature's Recipe

Owner
Post Holdings, Inc.
Ownership
Subsidiary of a public company
Founded
1981
Headquarters
Lakeville, MN

Who Makes It

Nature's Recipe is a dog and cat food brand in the pet food portfolio of Post Consumer Brands, part of Post Holdings, and its website carries the For All Tails Pet Care name. Post places it among its premium pet food brands. The company says its recipes use real animal proteins and vegetables and contain no added corn, wheat, soy or artificial flavors. 1, 2, 3

History

Jeffrey Bennett's company Earth Elements Inc. started the brand in Corona, California, in 1981. H.J. Heinz bought the business in 1996, when its food was made by other pet food companies under packing agreements. The brand later passed to Del Monte Foods, Big Heart Pet Brands and then The J.M. Smucker Co., and Post Holdings bought it from Smucker on April 28, 2023. 4, 5, 6

Worth Knowing

In 1995 the brand voluntarily recalled a large amount of dry food over mycotoxin contamination, and in 2012 it recalled some dog biscuit treats over possible Salmonella. In May 2026 a proposed class action filed in federal court in New Jersey accused Post Consumer Brands of marketing Nature's Recipe as natural even though the food contains synthetic ingredients. These are only allegations, and the case had not been resolved as of that report. 5, 7

  1. postconsumerbrands.com/pet-food-brands
  2. naturesrecipe.com
  3. postconsumerbrands.com/news/natures-recipe-rewards-dog-parents-during-walk-your-dog-week
  4. baltimoresun.com/1996/03/29/heinz-acquires-assets-of-calif-pet-food-maker-natures-recipe-brand-has-50-million-annual-sales-manufacturing
  5. petful.com/brands/natures-recipe-recall
  6. postholdings.com/post-holdings-completes-acquisition-of-rachael-ray-nutrish-natures-recipe-and-other-select-pet-food-brands-2
  7. classaction.org/news/natures-recipe-natural-dog-foods-contain-synthetic-ingredients-class-action-lawsuit-claims

Researched from the sources above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

RECALL HISTORY // NATURE'S RECIPE

1 FDA Recall On Record

OCT 13, 2012
SALMONELLA

Pet Treat

See the recall log

NEWS & PRESS

What Nature's Recipe Has Announced

MAY 4, 2026
NEWS Nature's Recipe 'Natural' Dog Foods Contain Synthetic Ingredients, Class Action Lawsuit Claims

A proposed class action filed against Post Consumer Brands in federal court in New Jersey (Panossian v. Post Consumer Brands) says Nature's Recipe food is marketed as natural but contains synthetic ingredients. These claims are allegations only. ClassAction.org

DEC 11, 2025
NEWS Post Consumer Brands' Top Cereals, Highlights of 2025

Post's 2025 year-in-review lists Nature's Recipe Grain-Free 13 oz. wet dog food cans and Nature's Recipe Freeze-Dried as new pet foods from that year. Post Consumer Brands

SEP 23, 2025
NEWS Nature's Recipe Rewards Dog Parents During Walk Your Dog Week

Nature's Recipe ran a promotion giving $100 each to 100 dog owners during National Walk Your Dog Week. Post Consumer Brands

All Nature's Recipe news →

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