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Simple Food Project Duck & Trout Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 6-lb box
Simple Food Project

Duck & Trout Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 6-lb box

Evidence Fair
freeze dried growth $18.75/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Simple Food Project Duck & Trout Recipe is a freeze-dried food for growth, featuring duck, beef, and beef liver as its main proteins.

This food has a strong protein profile, with duck as the primary ingredient, which means high biological value for your dog. It also includes beef liver and trout, adding diverse, highly bioavailable protein sources.

Nothing concerning in the deck.

Good fit for puppies and growing dogs. Nothing serious working against it.

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

Who this is for

Strong fit for puppy Labrador Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating weight management. Working in its favor: AAFCO growth profile (suitable for puppies). At 322 kcal/cup this formula runs on the lean side, with crude fiber at 6% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). Labs are the canonical food-motivated breed. Weight management is the dominant practical concern, even more than breed-specific health risks. The 2014 AAHA Weight Management Guidelines define overweight as a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 6-7 on a 9-point scale. A score of 8 or 9 indicates obesity, representing 20-30% and >30% above ideal body weight, respectively  (Brooks et al., 2014) .

Looking at this for puppy 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 2 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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

Solid grade. 64/100 (B) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+21 points): Strong protein profile with duck as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. The supporting beat: ingredient diversity (+5 points). Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein. What's keeping it out of A-tier: fat-quality declaration (6 of 16 possible). Full fat-quality declaration requires a named-species animal fat (e.g., chicken fat, salmon oil) plus a marine oil with declared EPA/DHA milligram content.

What lifted the score

Strong protein profile with duck as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK
What pulled it down

No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.

What sets this apart
  • Bottom 10% for DMB protein in grain-free freeze-dried foods (36.8%)
  • Top quartile for crude fiber in grain-free freeze-dried foods (6.3% DMB)
  • Bottom quartile for fat quality in grain-free freeze-dried foods (6/16)

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
Primal Kibble in the Raw Recipe Non-GMO Freeze-Dried Puppy Food, 24-oz bag
Primal

Primal Kibble in the Raw Recipe Non-GMO Freeze-Dried Puppy Food, 24-oz bag

71

Scores 7 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Nature's Diet Fresh Turkey Simply Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 3-lb bag
Nature's Diet

Nature's Diet Fresh Turkey Simply Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 3-lb bag

69

$11.66/lb vs your seed's $18.75/lb (38% less) at a comparable score.

Worth a look
Different brand, different protein
Primal Kibble in the Raw Recipe Non-GMO Freeze-Dried Puppy Food, 86.4-oz bag, 1 count
Primal

Primal Kibble in the Raw Recipe Non-GMO Freeze-Dried Puppy Food, 86.4-oz bag, 1 count

71

Chicken instead of duck, 7 points higher, different brand.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 37% ⓘ
Protein
35%
min (as fed)
Fat
20%
min (as fed)
Fiber
6%
max (as fed)
Moisture
5%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

16 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    duck

    Real meat. Often used as a novel protein for dogs with sensitivities to chicken or beef.

    Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.

  2. 2
    beef

    Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.

    Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.

  3. 3
    beef liver

    Organ meat. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients available, rich in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A.

    Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  4. 4
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

    Position 4: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.

  5. 5
    lentils

    Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →

    Position 5. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.

  6. 6
    trout

    Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  7. 7
    green beans

    Real vegetable. Fiber and a small amount of vitamins. Often used in weight-management formulas because it bulks up a meal without adding calories.

  8. 8
    apples

    Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.

    Position 8: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  9. 9
    ground krill
  10. 10
    ground pumpkin seeds
  11. 11
    spinach

    Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.

    Position 11: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.

  12. 12
    turmeric

    Spice with anti-inflammatory compounds. Real research in humans, but the dose in kibble is small. Mostly there for label appeal.

  13. 13
    sea salt

    Same as salt. Required at small doses for normal physiology.

  14. 14
    dried kelp

    Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.

  15. 15
    dried yeast

    Natural source of B vitamins and trace minerals. Adds a savory flavor that dogs respond well to.

  16. 16
    mixed tocopherols

    Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →

13 of 16 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.

AAFCO statement

The Simple Food Project Duck & Trout Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for adult maintenance. To meet AAFCO's Growth & Reproduction requirements for a Complete & Balanced puppy diet, add the Simple Food Project's Puppy Balancer with a concentrated blend of vitamins & minerals from whole foods.