Pure Balance Freeze-Dried Beef Dog Food

Dry food for dogs · All life stages · by Pure Balance

See the full breakdown in Beagly

What to watch for

• Menadione sodium bisulfite complex Moderate risk
  A synthetic form of vitamin K (K3). EFSA concluded it is safe for dogs at the levels used in feed, but it is flagged as a precaution: it is a synthetic form not used in human supplements, and natural vitamin K1 is an alternative.
• Sweet potato Low risk
  A starchy root vegetable that supplies carbohydrate, fiber and beta-carotene. Potatoes and sweet potatoes were common in the grain-free diets reported in the FDA DCM investigation.
• Dried kelp Low risk
  Seaweed that supplies iodine and trace minerals. Too much kelp can push iodine too high, so it should be a minor ingredient.
• Salt Low risk
  Salt supplies sodium and chloride, which dogs need. Pet foods use small amounts; high salt is mainly a concern for dogs with heart or kidney disease.
• Pea fiber Low risk
  Fiber from pea hulls. A legume ingredient, so it counts toward the legume load in grain-free foods.
• Copper sulfate Low risk
  A source of copper, an essential trace mineral. Some breeds accumulate copper in the liver, and vets have raised concern that some dog foods supply more than dogs need.

What it does well

• Named meat first
  First ingredient is beef.

Ingredients

Beef, Beef Lung, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Sweet Potato, Beef Spleen, Egg, Seaweed-Derived Calcium, Pumpkin, Blueberries, Cranberries, Dried Kelp, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Pea Fiber, Rice Hulls, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Iodine, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin K, Niacin (Vitamin B3), D-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, And Vitamin E.

What the label cannot tell you

• Ingredient order is by weight before cooking; fresh meat counts water.
• Mineral levels are not printed on this label.
• We could not find the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for this product. Scan the bag to confirm it is complete and balanced.

Sizes and barcodes

• Pure Balance Freeze-Dried Beef Dog Food, 2 lb UPC 194346293940

Higher-scoring dry food for dogs

• Acana Wholesome Grains Dry Food for Dogs - Sea to Stream 94/100 · Excellent
• Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Adult Medium & Maxi 94/100 · Excellent
• Wellness CORE+ High Protein With-Grain Adult Dry Dog Food - Turkey & Chicken 93/100 · Excellent
• Wellness CORE+ High Protein With-Grain Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food - Turkey 93/100 · Excellent
• Farmina N&D Prime Chicken & Pomegranate Adult Medium & Maxi 92/100 · Excellent

More from Pure Balance

• Pure Balance Pro+ Puppy Chicken and Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food for Puppies 84/100 · Excellent
• Pure Balance Wild & Free Air Dried Dog Food Beef Recipe 84/100 · Excellent
• Pure Balance Chicken Recipe Adult Wet Dog Food, 12.5 oz - 12.5 oz (354g) 81/100 · Excellent
• Pure Balance Grain-Free Turkey Dinner in Broth Wet Dog Food 80/100 · Excellent
• Pure Balance Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, Beef Stew with Carrots 80/100 · Excellent

Informational, not veterinary advice. The score is our opinion of a food, built from the facts on its label with our published method. No brand pays to rank higher. Recipes change: check the bag you have, or scan it in the app.

Score version 2026.11.6 · Page updated 2026-11-03