Merrick vs Fromm
Merrick against Fromm, measured across 58 and 39 kibble recipes: 30.3% vs 25.7% protein and 32% vs 38% starch, as fed.
How They Differ
- Merrick runs higher in protein: 30.3% against 25.7% as fed, averaged across the kibble we review from each.
- Merrick is lower in starch, about 32% of the food as fed against 38%.
- Merrick is more calorie dense, 420 kcal per cup on average against 382, so its portions run smaller for the same dog.
- Merrick leans grain-free: 66% of its kibble recipes against 36%.
Side by Side
Protein and fat:
| Measure | Merrick | Fromm | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 58 | 39 | 1,747 in total |
| Protein, as fed | 30.3%23.0% to 38.0% | 25.7%21.0% to 30.0% | 27.2% |
| Fat, as fed | 15.5%9.0% to 18.0% | 14.4%7.0% to 18.0% | 14.3% |
| Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. | 32%25% to 42% | 38%30% to 48% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 420352 to 522 | 382315 to 425 | 398 |
| Meat, fish or egg listed first | 100% | 100% | |
| Grain-free recipes | 66% | 36% | |
| Most used proteins | Chicken 71%, Fish 64%, Turkey 45% | Egg 100%, Fish 69%, Chicken 62% | |
| Recipes with corn, wheat, soy | Corn 0%, Wheat 0%, Soy 0% | Corn 0%, Wheat 3%, Soy 0% | |
| By-products | 0% | 0% | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None1 older in the archive | 2Latest 20261 older in the archive | |
| Made by | Nestlé Purina | Family-owned |
Brand figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that brand, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Freeze-dried, frozen, wet food and toppers are left out so the numbers compare like with like, and so are prescription diets, which are fed for a medical condition on a vet's advice. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead, which takes the water out so foods of different moisture compare evenly. Why we use as fed.
The Closest Matching Recipes
Brand averages hide the recipe you would actually buy. These are the pairs that come closest on protein, fat and starch, preferring recipes built on the same main protein, which is where a like-for-like choice gets made.
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Protein 28%
Fat 14%
Starch 38%
Fromm Classic Puppy Dry Dog Food
Protein 28%
Fat 14%
Starch 38%
Compare these two in full
Which Fits Your Dog
- For an active or working dog, or one that needs to hold muscle, Merrick puts more protein in each bowl.
- For a dog that gains weight easily, Fromm is less calorie dense, so a normal-looking portion carries fewer calories.
- If you are cutting back on starch, Merrick starts lower.
- If your vet has suggested a grain-inclusive diet, Fromm has more of those recipes to choose from.
- Merrick has fewer FDA recalls in our record over the last five years (0 against 2). Read the list below before counting it against Fromm: most recalls cover a few lots, not a whole range.
- The brands overlap more than the averages suggest: Merrick runs from 23% to 38% protein as fed and Fromm from 21% to 30%, so the right recipe matters more than the name on the bag.
Recall History
FDA recall notices from the last five years that name the brand or its maker. Older notices sit in each brand's archive below: still on the record, but not counted, since a recall that old says more about how a company used to run than how it runs now.
Merrick
No FDA recalls in our record for Merrick in the last five years.
Archive: 1 older recall
Castor & Pollux, Merrick. Beef dog treat varieties
Fromm
Fromm. Fromm wet canned dog food
Bonnihill Farms. BeefiBowls Beef Recipe gently cooked frozen dog food, 16 oz. chubs
Archive: 1 older recall
Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals. Shredded Entrée canned dog food
About the Brands
Merrick
Merrick is a dog and cat food brand that is part of the Nestlé Purina family of brands. It sells dry food, wet food and treats under lines such as Backcountry, Healthy Grains, Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Diet, Full Source and Lil' Plates. The company says its recipes use real, whole-food ingredients and no artificial preservatives, and that its dry dog recipes contain omega fatty acids plus glucosamine and chondroitin.
Based in Hereford, Texas, since 1988. Every Merrick food we review
Fromm
Fromm pet food is made by Fromm Family Foods, a fifth-generation family-owned company based in Mequon, Wisconsin. The company describes itself as the country's first and oldest premium pet food company, and it sells dry and canned dog food lines including Classic, Four-Star and Gold.
Based in Mequon, WI, since 1949. Every Fromm food we review
More Brand Comparisons
How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brands' own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. Figures refreshed October 25, 2026.
Think You Know What Your Dog Can Eat?
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.
Think You
Know?
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.