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In The Kibble
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BRAND

NutriSource

Owned by KLN Family BrandsPerham, MN

RECIPES REVIEWED
91
AVG PROTEIN, DM, KIBBLE
29.2%
AVG STARCH, KIBBLE
37%
FDA RECALLS
1
LINES
PureVita 19 Choice 7 Element Series 5
THE LINES

NutriSource Lines, Reviewed

3 lines

NutriSource sorts its recipes into three lines. Choice has 7 kibbles, all with grain, built mostly on chicken and turkey, averaging 24.1% protein and 40.7% estimated starch as fed. PureVita is the largest line, with 16 kibbles and 3 wet foods, each leading with one named animal protein such as duck, salmon, venison or beef. Its kibbles average 24.8% protein and 38.4% starch, and 10 of the 16 are grain-free.

Element Series is the higher-protein line: 5 kibbles averaging 35.2% protein and 27.4% starch, above the 26.9% catalog kibble protein average. Each recipe mixes several animal proteins, and 2 are grain-free. PureVita is the only line with wet food, at 10% protein. Shoppers who want grain in every bag can start with Choice, and those who want one main protein at a time can start with PureVita.

PureVita

16 kibble · 3 wet food
Protein
24.8%
Fat
14.7%
Starch
38.4%
Kcal / cup
416

Average kibble, as fed

NutriSource PureVita is a line of 16 kibbles and 3 wet foods, each built on one named animal protein listed first. It mixes grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes, with proteins ranging from duck and salmon to venison and beef.

A good fit for: Owners rotating between duck, fish, turkey, pork, venison and beef; Owners who want grain-inclusive kibble with oatmeal and brown rice

Read the PureVita review

Choice

7 kibble
Protein
24.1%
Fat
13.1%
Starch
40.7%
Kcal / cup
398

Average kibble, as fed

NutriSource Choice is a 7-recipe kibble line where every recipe contains grain and leads with chicken, beef, turkey or whitefish meal. Most recipes sit at 22 to 24% protein, and Performance Chicken is the high-protein, high-fat exception.

A good fit for: Owners who want grain in every recipe they rotate through; Dogs doing well on moderate protein, 22 to 24% in most recipes

Read the Choice review

Element Series

5 kibble
Protein
35.2%
Fat
16.6%
Starch
27.4%
Kcal / cup
498

Average kibble, as fed

NutriSource Element Series is a five recipe kibble line where every recipe mixes several animal proteins, from quail and rabbit to haddock, kangaroo and lamb. Protein runs 34% to 38% as fed, above the 26.9% catalog kibble average.

A good fit for: Owners wanting kibble above the 26.9% catalog protein average; Owners who want several animal proteins in each recipe

Read the Element Series review
WHICH LINE FITS

Choosing Between The NutriSource Lines

  • Grain in every kibble recipe: Choice
  • A grain-free kibble built on one named protein: PureVita
  • Higher protein kibble mixing several animal proteins: Element Series
  • Kibble with lower estimated starch: Element Series
  • Wet food alongside kibble from one line: PureVita
  • A higher-calorie kibble option for active adults: Choice

All recipes

91 foods matched · newest first
DEEP DIVE

Inside The NutriSource Range

Across 91 recipes we review

Protein is close to the average kibble we review (29.2% on a dry matter basis).

97% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).

48% 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 29% 24% to 42%
15%site avg 30%50%
Fat, dry matter 17% 9% to 23%
5%site avg 18%30%
Starch, as fed 37% 24% to 44%
10%site avg 37%60%
Kcal per cup 429 340 to 531
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

Fish 52% 34%
Turkey 49% 20%
Chicken 43% 56%
Egg 16% 31%
Lamb 15% 14%
Beef 14% 20%
Duck 14% 8%

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 2% 9%
Corn 0% 15%
Wheat 2% 13%
Soy 0% 10%

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

LIFE STAGE
  • All Life Stages42
  • Adult15
  • Puppy9
  • Senior3
BREED SIZE
  • All Breeds88
  • Large Breed10
  • Small Breed7
  • Medium Breed3
SPECIAL DIETS
  • Grain-free (no wheat, corn, rice, barley or oats)44
  • Weight Management2
NutriSource Element Series Grain Free Upland Stream Recipe Dry Dog Food MOST PROTEIN NutriSource Element Series Grain Free Upland Stream Recipe Dry Dog Food 42.2% dry matter NutriSource Element Series Grain Free Wild Range Recipe Dry Dog Food LEAST STARCH NutriSource Element Series Grain Free Wild Range Recipe Dry Dog Food 25% as fed NutriSource Grain-Free Weight Management Dry Dog Food FEWEST CALORIES NutriSource Grain-Free Weight Management Dry Dog Food 340 kcal per cup
THE COMPANY

About NutriSource

Owner
KLN Family Brands
Ownership
Family-owned
Headquarters
Perham, MN

Who Makes It

NutriSource is a dog and cat food brand made by Tuffy's Pet Foods, part of the Nelson family's KLN Family Brands in Perham, Minnesota. Its lines include NutriSource, PureVita, Choice and Element Series, with dry food, wet food, treats and toppers. The company says its recipes are built around its Good 4 Life gut-health system. 1, 2, 3

Where It Is Made

The company says its food is made in its own plants in Minnesota: the original Tuffy's Pet Foods plant in Perham, expanded in 2016, and a Delano facility opened in 2020 for treats and canned food. 1

History

Darrell "Tuffy" Nelson and his son Kenny started Tuffy's Pet Foods in Perham in 1964, and the family sold it in the 1970s. Kenny Nelson bought the company back in 2001, and his son Charlie Nelson, now CEO, joined in 2002 and added the PureVita, Choice and Element Series lines. 1

Worth Knowing

In October 2021 Tuffy's Pet Foods voluntarily recalled about 1,600 cases of NutriSource PureVita Salmon Entree wet dog food in 12.5 oz cartons because of possibly elevated vitamin D levels. No illnesses were reported at the time of the recall. 4, 5

  1. discovernutrisource.com/pages/who-we-are
  2. klnfamilybrands.com/companies
  3. petage.com/nutrisource-pet-food-grows-with-freeze-dried-raw-diet-launch
  4. fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tuffys-pet-foods-inc-issues-voluntary-recall-limited-quantity-pure-vita-salmon-entree-dog-food
  5. nasc.cc/news/tuffys-pet-foods-recalls-1600-cases-of-nutrisource-pure-vita-salmon-entree-dog-food-due-to-elevated-levels-of-vitamin-d

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

RECALL HISTORY // NUTRISOURCE

1 FDA Recall On Record

OCT 11, 2021
ELEVATED LEVELS OF VITAMIN D

Pure Vita Salmon Entrée Dog Food

See the recall log

NEWS & PRESS

What NutriSource Has Announced

NOV 15, 2023
NEWS Petsense by Tractor Supply Adds NutriSource Products to Pet Food Lineup

Petsense by Tractor Supply began selling NutriSource dry dog foods, including grain-inclusive adult and puppy recipes, in its stores and on Petsense.com. Business Wire

All NutriSource news →

HEAD TO HEAD

NutriSource Compared With Other Brands

NutriSource vs Blue Buffalo NutriSource vs Fromm
LINE VS LINE

NutriSource Lines Compared

NutriSource PureVita vs NutriSource Choice NutriSource PureVita vs NutriSource Element Series NutriSource Choice vs NutriSource Element Series

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