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Pedigree with MarroBites Pieces Steak & Vegetable Flavor Adult Dry Dog Food, 14-lb bag
Pedigree

with MarroBites Pieces Steak & Vegetable Flavor Adult Dry Dog Food, 14-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $1.64/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Pedigree with MarroBites Pieces Steak & Vegetable Flavor is a dry dog food, flavored with steak and vegetables, formulated for adult maintenance.

The formula is likely complete and balanced for adult dogs, as indicated by the declared adult maintenance. This is a basic requirement for commercial dog food.

This product contains five flagged ingredients: bha, yellow 6, yellow 5, red 40, and blue 2. BHA is a synthetic preservative, and the artificial colors offer no nutritional value. The formula is also plant-protein-dominated, with ground whole grain corn as the first ingredient.

Hard to recommend for any dog due to the numerous flagged ingredients and plant-heavy formula.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

The landmark 14-year Purina Lifespan Study on 48 Labrador Retrievers demonstrated that dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived a median of 1.8 years longer and delayed the onset of chronic diseases. Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Labrador Retriever, navigating weight management. At 318 kcal/cup this formula runs on the lean side, with crude fiber at 4% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2023 survey, 59% of dogs in the United States were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare professional, representing an estimated 55 million dogs  (APOP, 2023) .

Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with weight management ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.

Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.

Research informing this analysis

Methodology

The Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

At 0/100, this formula sits in territory where we recommend switching. The lift comes from AAFCO compliance, worth 4 points to the final number: AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer. The ceiling on this score is 39, set because multiple FLAG-tier ingredients are stacked in the formula. The cap isn't the binding constraint here. Protein quality would also need to improve to reach the next band.

What lifted the score

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF
What pulled it down

Score capped at 39 due to 5 FLAG ingredients.

CAP why?

Plant-protein-dominated formula. ground whole grain corn as the #1 ingredient.

PQI

Contains bha. IARC Group 2B probable carcinogen; CA Prop 65 listed; FDA reassessment announced 2025. Natural alternatives (mixed tocopherols) widely available..

CIP
What sets this apart
  • Lowest DMB protein in Pedigree's lineup (23.9%)
  • Lowest protein quality in Pedigree's lineup (1.4/27)
  • Lowest fat quality in Pedigree's lineup (2/16)

Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.

Similar dog foods worth considering

Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
Pedigree

Smokehouse 18ct

25

Scores 25 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Kibbles 'n Bits Original Adult Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog Food, 45-lb bag
Kibbles 'n Bits

Kibbles 'n Bits Original Adult Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog Food, 45-lb bag

0

$0.60/lb vs your seed's $1.64/lb (63% less) at a comparable score.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Controversial ingredients · 5

  • bha
    Synthetic preservative classified by the U.S. National Toxicology Program as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.' Many premium brands have removed it.
  • yellow 6
    Artificial color with no nutritional value.
  • yellow 5
    Artificial color with no nutritional value. Some dogs show allergic-type reactions.
  • red 40
    Artificial color with no nutritional value. Linked to behavioral effects in children; relevance to dogs is unclear but the ingredient serves only marketing purposes.
  • blue 2
    Artificial color. A 1990s industry-funded study reported brain tumors in male rats; subsequent reviews disputed methodology, but the additive provides no nutritional benefit.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 24% ⓘ
Protein
21%
min (as fed)
Fat
10%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4%
max (as fed)
Moisture
12%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

36 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    ground whole grain corn

    Whole corn with the kernel intact. Decent fiber and B vitamins, though it can crowd out meat in cheaper recipes.

    Position 1 grain: primary carbohydrate base. This is a grain-inclusive formula with ground whole grain corn as the dominant carb.

  2. 2
    meat and bone meal

    Unnamed animal protein with bone included. Cheap, vague, and not traceable to a specific species.

  3. 3
    soybean meal

    Concentrated soy protein. Cheap plant protein that pads the label number, common in budget formulas.

    Position 3: plant protein in the top 5. Stacked with animal protein, can inflate the crude protein number without matching the amino-acid quality of named animal sources.

  4. 4
    corn gluten meal

    Concentrated corn protein. Inflates the protein percent on the label without matching meat-quality amino acids.

    Position 4: plant protein in the top 5. Stacked with animal protein, can inflate the crude protein number without matching the amino-acid quality of named animal sources.

  5. 5
    animal fat

    Unnamed fat source. The species matters: 'chicken fat' or 'beef fat' is fine, but 'animal fat' tells you nothing about origin.

    Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.

  6. 5
    bha Flagged

    Synthetic preservative. Listed as a possible human carcinogen by the IARC. Banned from human food in Japan and parts of the EU, still permitted in US pet food. See why →

    Synthetic preservative at position 5. Sniff flags this regardless of where it sits in the deck.

  7. 6
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  8. 7
    dried plain beet pulp

    Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality. See why →

    Position 7: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.

  9. 8
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  10. 9
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  11. 10
    cooked bone marrow
  12. 11
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  13. 12
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  14. 13
    dried peas

    Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

    Position 13. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.

  15. 14
    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

  16. 15
    natural grilled steak flavor
  17. 16
    zinc sulfate

    Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.

  18. 17
    yellow 6 Flagged

    Artificial coloring. No functional purpose. Banned or restricted in several countries. See why →

  19. 18
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  20. 19
    l-tryptophan

    Essential amino acid. Sometimes added in calming or weight-management formulas.

  21. 20
    yellow 5 Flagged

    Artificial coloring. Strictly cosmetic. Banned or restricted in several countries. See why →

  22. 21
    red 40 Flagged

    Artificial coloring. Dogs don't care about color. Banned in several countries over hyperactivity and allergic-reaction concerns. See why →

  23. 22
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

  24. 23
    blue 2 Flagged

    Artificial coloring. No nutritional or functional purpose. Banned or restricted in several countries. See why →

  25. 24
    niacin supplement

    B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.

Showing first 25 of 36. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.