The Acana dog food brand is known for producing “biologically appropriate” diets for dogs and cats – these are diets that mimic the natural evolutionary diets of wild dogs and cats. But what exactly does that mean?
For one thing, all of their products are protein-rich and meat-based. More importantly, they are designed in accordance with a whole prey philosophy of pet nutrition. Wild dogs & cats don’t just pick the best meat off the bones – they eat the entire animal, skin, organs, and raw bone included.
That is why Acana’s pet foods include meat, organs, and cartilage in healthy ratios to mirror the natural diet of wild wolves – it is the simplest way to deliver nutrients to create a complete and balanced diet without the need for dozens of synthetic supplements.
Furthermore, all of their products are made with fresh, regional ingredients and produced in award-winning kitchens.
Learn more about this company via our detailed Acana dog food reviews below.
Our quick take: is ACANA dog food good?
Who makes it: Champion Petfoods (also maker of ORIJEN), owned by Mars Petcare since November 2022. Most ACANA sold in the U.S. is made at Champion’s own kitchen in Auburn, Kentucky.
Recalls: none found for ACANA. In 2019 the FDA named ACANA most often (67 reports) in its grain-free diet and heart disease (DCM) investigation; that was not a recall, but ask your vet before feeding a grain-free recipe long term.
Recipes and labels checked on ACANA’s U.S. website in November 2026. Some older lines (Heritage, Regionals) are no longer listed there.
The Acana brand of pet food is made by Champion Petfoods. Champion grew out of a feed mill founded in Alberta in 1975 and was independent for most of its history, but Mars Petcare, the maker of brands such as Pedigree, Royal Canin and Nutro, completed its purchase of Champion in November 2022.
Champion Petfoods is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta Canada and it is the same company that produces the Orijen brand of pet foods. Both of these brands make use of fresh, regional ingredients.
Made in the USA?
While they are a Canada-based company, ACANA sold in the United States is mainly made in the United States. Champion runs its own kitchens in Alberta, Canada, and in Auburn, Kentucky.
That kitchen opened in 2016 and it is primarily used to produce Champion pet foods designated for sale in the U.S. Like Champion’s other manufacturing facilities, this new plant will only be used to make Acana and Orijen products – no private label pet foods.
Acana Dog Food Reviews
The Acana brand is best known for its dry food, but it also sells wet food (Premium Chunks and pâtés), freeze-dried food and treats. Its recipes are made with regional ingredients in formulas that mimic the natural evolutionary diet of wild dogs – nutrition the way Mother Nature intended.
Each one their recipes is meat-rich and chock-full of protein as well as other nourishing ingredients like fresh fruits and vegetables.
Their dry foods are designed in keeping with a whole prey philosophy of nutrition which includes fresh meat, organs, and cartilage in natural ratios to ensure complete and balanced nutrition without the need for dozens of synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements.
Singles (Limited Ingredients)
Acana’s Limited Ingredients range features only one animal protein source, so you can ensure that your dog doesn’t eat anything he shouldn’t. Lamb is the only meat, though the grain-free Singles recipes also get some protein from chickpeas and lentils. ACANA also sells two grain-inclusive limited ingredient recipes (Lamb & Pumpkin and Duck & Pumpkin).
Your meat-loving furry buddy will love this recipe. Made from 65% lamb ingredients, it’s loaded with enough protein to fuel even the most energetic and active pup.
This grain-free dog food formulation supports all life stages and promotes circulatory, immune, digestive, and gut health. The primary ingredient is deboned lamb, followed by lamb meal, which offers a higher protein content due to reduced water.
Lamb liver adds essential vitamins and minerals. Carbohydrates are sourced from nutrient-dense sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and lentils. Apples, pumpkin, and cranberries provide fiber and antioxidants.
Fish oil and sunflower oil supply omega-3 and omega-6 fats for skin and coat, and lamb tripe adds flavor. It meets AAFCO’s profile for all life stages except the growth of large-breed puppies (70 lb or more as adults).
Other recipes in the Singles range include:
Duck & Pear
Beef & Pumpkin
Duck & Pumpkin
Lamb & Pumpkin
Grain-Free
These are protein-rich and zero grain recipes, which are crafted with 70% premium animal ingredients. These feature diverse ingredients sourced from Appalachian ranches, Kentucky farmlands and meadows.
Availability note (November 2026): Meadowland and Appalachian Ranch, and the other Regionals recipes, are no longer listed on ACANA’s U.S. website, so stock may be limited. ACANA’s current grain-free dry recipes include Free-Run Poultry, Red Meat, Freshwater Fish and Light & Fit; the Butcher’s Favorites recipes below are also grain-free.
This protein-rich kibble is inspired by the abundant ingredients found across the prairies and lakes of North America. It starts with chicken and turkey and features 70% high-quality animal ingredients, balanced with wholesome fruits, vegetables, and essential nutrients for a satisfying, meat-forward meal.
Fresh deboned chicken comes first, followed by deboned turkey, chicken liver and turkey giblets, including liver, heart and gizzard. The recipe then adds concentrated animal protein from chicken meal, catfish meal, pollock meal and whole rainbow trout, creating a diverse blend of poultry and fish proteins. Chicken fat provides a concentrated source of energy, while eggs contribute additional protein and nutrients.
The carbohydrate sources come primarily from whole red and green lentils, pinto beans and chickpeas. These grain-free ingredients provide carbohydrates and dietary fiber, while fruits, vegetables and added probiotics help support digestive health. The formula also includes a freeze-dried coating, giving each piece an extra boost of savory flavor that can appeal to dogs with hearty appetites.
With multiple animal protein sources and a combination of poultry, fish, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and probiotics, this formula delivers a nutrient-dense option for dogs that thrive on protein-rich, grain-free food. Its varied protein profile may also be useful for owners looking to add more variety to their dog’s diet, although dogs with specific food sensitivities should take note of the numerous animal proteins included.
This dog food recipe follows the WholePrey model, incorporating organs, fish, meat, cartilage, and bone to deliver nutrients in their natural form. It excludes tapioca, gluten, potatoes, and grains.
With a high 33% protein content, it features five animal meats, including deboned beef, pork, lamb, bison, and catfish, plus lamb, beef, and pork meals. Organ meats like liver, tripe, kidneys, and cartilage provide dense nutrition, contributing to heart health, coats, and lean muscles.
Instead of grains, complex carbohydrates from green and yellow peas, lentils, pinto beans, and chickpeas are used. These legumes also offer fiber for digestive health.
The recipe includes 10 fruits and vegetables, such as pumpkin, apples, pears, squash, and kale, ensuring a balanced meal. Spices like turmeric, chicory root, sarsaparilla root, rosehips, and juniper berries provide additional health benefits, supporting joint, kidney, bladder, and brain health, along with anti-inflammatory properties.
It’s a close to perfect recipe with high-quality ingredients and good nutrient ratios. The only thing we would change is to make the protein content a bit lower, but it’s not really a bad thing.
We’re giving this dog food our two thumbs or paws up.
Older Acana Regionals recipes (no longer listed in the U.S.):
Grasslands (Grass-Fed Kentucky Lamb, Freshwater Trout & Game Bird)
Meadowland (Free Run Kentucky Poultry, Freshwater Fish & Nest-Laid Eggs)
Wild Atlantic (Wild-Caught New England Fish & Fresh Kentucky Greens)
Butcher’s Favorites
One of Acana’s newest offerings to date, the Butcher’s Favorite line features recipes containing up to 70% animal protein balanced with tender pieces of meat.
This kibble is crafted to provide your dog with premium, biologically appropriate nutrition.
This grain-free formula features wild-caught salmon as the primary ingredient, delivering high-quality protein to support lean muscles and overall health. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, the salmon also helps promote healthy skin and a shiny coat.
Packed with premium nutrition, this fish-focused recipe combines wild-caught salmon with herring meal, pollock meal, whole herring and flounder, along with chickpeas, peas and lentils. It is formulated for adult maintenance, so it is not a puppy food.
The carefully selected ingredients also promote healthy digestion and skin and coat health. With a blend of 70% animal-based ingredients and 30% plant-based nutrients, this balanced formula delivers everything your dog needs to thrive!
Free from grains, gluten, artificial additives, and fillers like corn, wheat, or soy, ACANA ensures that your dog enjoys natural, nutrient-packed food.
Ideal for dogs with food sensitivities or those who thrive on a high-protein, grain-free diet, this delicious recipe provides balanced nutrition with every bite.
Other Butcher’s Favorites recipes include:
Beef & Liver
Poultry & Liver
Wholesome Grains (Grain Inclusive)
Dogs are omnivores and grains provide the carbohydrate boost they need for their daily energy requirements. With the Grain Inclusive range, dogs get at least 50% animal ingredients with richly nourishing grains that are also packed with fiber.
With this recipe, dogs will get 60% animal ingredients (muscle meat, cartilage, and organs) mixed in with wholesome grains to support your pet’s peak health.
There are three main animal meats here — beef, pork, and lamb. It starts with deboned beef, which is quickly followed by deboned pork, beef meal, pork meal, and deboned lamb. The combination of these three kinds of meat bring up the protein content to a high 27%.
As with all of Acana’s offerings, this recipe contains organ meats too, specifically beef, lamb and pork livers, pork and beef kidneys, and beef tripe.
Organs offer an abundance of vitamins (A, B and D), minerals (iron, copper, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium), protein, and fat. And to support joint health, beef cartilage has been added for its chondroitin content.
To supplement a dog’s need for energy, he needs fat. Fortunately, this formula contains a high-quality kind in the form of beef fat. Fat not only supplies energy, it also helps reduce inflammation, provides cushioning in cold weather, and regulates bodily functions.
Ever wondered about dried kelp? Because it’s present in this recipe. You can usually see this ingredient in many premium dog foods. Dried kelp is added by many dog food manufacturers because this seaweed helps our furry friends in a number of ways. It’s made of 25% protein, contains 21 amino acids, and has 60 vitamins and minerals.
All of the nutrients kelp contains can help your dog’s metabolism, digestion, skin, and thyroid glands. If you were to take a daily multivitamin supplement, this would be its seaweed counterpart.
As for the rest of the ingredients, they’re made up of supplemental nutrients, natural preservatives, a few spices, and probiotics. We like the protein content here. It’s not too high and not too low. It sits slightly over the average percentage, and just right.
Other Wholesome Grains recipes include:
American Waters (Whole Saltwater & Freshwater Fish)
The Freeze-Dried Patties range provides the taste and benefits of raw nutrition without the mess. These are made up of 90% quality animal ingredients (ranch-raised beef, free-run poultry, or sustainably-caught fish) which are then infused in a savory bone broth to add a burst of extra flavor.
The recipes follow a whole prey diet formulation using the meat, organs, and bone for a more nourishing meal.
6. Freeze-Dried Patties Duck Recipe
First 5 ingredients:
Duck With Ground Bone, Turkey With Ground Bone, Chicken Liver, Whole Herring
These patties gives your pet all of the nutrition of raw food without the inconvenience. This recipe makes for easy raw feeding for your pup wherever you take him.
The first four ingredients of the food are animal proteins—duck with ground bone, turkey with ground bone, chicken liver, and whole herring. There’s a pumpkin in there and natural fish flavor, then a couple of animal proteins again.
Since the meat content is so high, it’s no wonder why the crude protein level is at 44%. This much protein is enough to power even performance or working dogs, canines who need lots of energy to sustain their daily activities.
This is a grain-free dog food recipe. The fiber, which is necessary to maintain a properly working digestive system, is taken from pumpkin and butternut squash instead.
There are also a couple more produce here, like organic carrots and pear. These allow much of the vitamins and minerals in the food to be naturally-derived rather than synthetically added.
One highlighted ingredient in the food is bone broth. Why bone broth? Bone broth is stock liquid that is made from raw or cooked bones and it is packed with nutrients. The infused turkey bone broth here raises the palatability of the food and boosts the already nutrition-packed food with even more nutrients.
Because the food is freeze-dried, you can feed it two ways. Add water to the patties and serve, or crumble them (the texture allows for easy crumbling) on top of your dog’s regular food as a topper.
The food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, except growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult), so choose a puppy recipe for large-breed puppies.
Other Freeze-Dried Patties recipes:
Ranch-Raised Beef
Free-Run Chicken
Free-Run Turkey
Premium Chunks
Acana Premium Chunks are hearty recipes of meat, poultry, or fish chunks in a savory bone broth base. All recipes in this range contain 85% animal ingredients and 15% vegetables and fruit.
7. Premium Chunks, Pork Recipe in Bone Broth
First 5 ingredients:
Pork, Pork Broth, Beef Bone Broth, Pork Liver, Sweet Potatoes
This meal is an excellent way to entice picky eaters to chow down and provide hydration to dogs. The savory broth adds a more crave-worthy flavor to the food that finicky pups will find hard to resist.
The first four ingredients of this meaty formulation are made up of pork, pork broth, beef bone broth, and pork liver. These are either fresh or raw.
The fresh ingredients are refrigerated to preserve them, while the raw ones are frozen at peak freshness. There is no other method of preservation used on the meats aside from these and the canning process.
Because the recipe is filled with meat, the minimum crude protein level of this recipe is a high 8%. While that may not seem much compared to the percentage of protein in dry food, when you convert the protein to a dry matter basis, this will come out to 44%.
(To convert, simply subtract the moisture content from 100%. In this case, moisture is 82%. What’s left is 18%. Divide protein content by 18% then multiply the result by 100.)
Although cut into chunks, the food here has a soft texture that is easy to chew and digest. This recipe and all others in the range (except for the puppy food) are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, including growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult).
The chunks are a complete and balanced meal, but you can also feed them as toppers on your dog’s regular kibble.
Other Premium Chunks recipes:
Beef Recipe in Bone Broth
Duck Recipe in Bone Broth
Poultry Recipe in Bone Broth
Lamb Recipe in Bone Broth
Puppy Recipe in Bone Broth (Premium Pate)
Other Recipes
While Acana has many recipes that cater to all life stages and all breeds, they also offer formulas that are crafted specifically for one life stage.
8. Puppy & Junior Formula
First 5 ingredients:
Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Meal, Whole Green Peas, Whole Red Lentils
This grain-free formula consists of three main animal proteins from turkey, chicken, and flounder and a blend of legumes, fruit, and veggies. It follows the WholePrey Diet with its meat, organs and cartilage mix.
The recipe begins with chicken, followed by turkey, chicken meal, green peas and red lentils, with chicken fat, turkey meal, flounder and eggs further down the list. There’s a strong presence of protein here — a combination of fresh and meal. In case meat meals concern you, let’s put that to rest.
Meat meals are excellent ingredients as long as they are named. Say for example, chicken meal or turkey meal. If the animal where the meal comes from is clearly defined, then it’s okay.
But if say, it’s listed as a generic “meat meal” then that should give you pause because it’s not clear what animal the meat belonged to.
Also, meals are simply meat that have undergone a process to remove most of the water from them. They still contain all the nutrients they’re supposed to have, just not the moisture.
Because of the strong showing of meat ingredients, the minimum crude protein for this dog food is set at 31% — an above average rating. They’re further helped by the appearance of an organ meat such as chicken giblets and of chicken cartilage.
Chicken giblets contain a lot of vitamin A and B12, a good helping of riboflavin and niacin, and a bit of vitamin B6, zinc, pantothenic acid, copper, and magnesium. Chicken cartilage, meanwhile, contains glucosamine.
Glucosamine lubricates joints and maintains the resilience of connective tissues. It is particularly helpful for puppies of a certain breed that are prone to hip and joint problems.
A number of vegetables make themselves known here. Several are legumes which contain complex carbohydrates. These are peas, lentils, pinto beans, and chickpeas. There are also pumpkins, collard greens, and carrots. And to round off the nutritious list, you can also find several dog-friendly herbs.
We find that this recipe provides everything growing pooches need, including a healthy dose of DHA and EPA, which are vital in the development of a little pup’s central nervous system and retinal functions.
It also comes with probiotics that are crucial to a healthy gut system. Overall, we give this formula a high recommendation.
Older Heritage-line recipes (Paleo and Feast are no longer listed in the U.S.; Light & Fit is still sold) include:
Light & Fit Formula (Free-Run Chicken, Turkey & Wild-Caught Fish)
Paleo (Fresh Wild Boar, Turkey & Rabbit)
Feast (Free-Run Duck, Turkey & Quail)
Dog Treats
Acana’s dog treats follow the same theme as their Singles Limited Ingredients line. In these treats, there is only one animal protein and the list of ingredients are quite short — perfect for choosy puppers or diet-sensitive canines.
These treats are freeze-dried so that your dog can taste the natural goodness of real meat and fruit in as close to their natural state as possible.
The list of the ingredients is short: lamb, lamb liver and whole apples, preserved with mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) and citric acid.
The first in the list is lamb. Together with lamb liver (second in the list), the two bring the protein level of these nuggets to 30%.
But that’s not all these two provide. Lamb meat has the perfect amount of dietary fat for energy and lamb liver contains vitamins A, B, D, E, K, glycogen, copper, and potassium.
Apples are fantastic fruits. They contain plenty of fiber to help in waste elimination and regular bowel movement. Apples also have vitamin A and C.
There are no added herbs or fillers, which makes these a good fit for dogs on a limited ingredient diet.
Lastly, you have mixed tocopherols as preservatives. These are forms of vitamin E that are used to maintain freshness in food and extend shelf life.
For having recognizable ingredients, a short list of products, and excellent nutrient ratios, we’re giving these treats our highest rating.
*The Acana Lamb & Apple treats contain 40% fat, so please remember to give these sparingly to your pets. They shouldn’t reach 10% of your dog’s daily food intake.
Other flavors sold in the past (only Lamb & Apple is listed on ACANA’s U.S. site in November 2026):
Pork & Squash
Duck & Pear
Beef & Pumpkin
Mackerel & Greens
Turkey & Greens
10. Jerky Bites Red Meat
First 5 ingredients:
Beef, Pea Starch, Salt, Citric Acid (Preservative), Vinegar
Give your dog a treat that does more than just taste good—it works as both a delicious reward and a nutritious meal enhancer. These premium jerky bites are crafted with up to 95% beef, delivering a rich, savory flavor that dogs instinctively love. Whether you’re reinforcing good behavior during training or adding excitement to everyday meals as a topper, these tender bites make every moment more rewarding.
Made with a short, thoughtfully selected ingredient list—beef, pea starch, and natural preservatives like mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract—this recipe focuses on simplicity and quality. Each batch is carefully air-dried to help preserve nutrients while locking in the deep, meaty flavor, resulting in a soft, chewy texture that’s easy to break apart and serve.
The grain-free, high-protein formula supports active dogs by providing the energy and nourishment they need to thrive. Free from glycerin, soy, wheat, and artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors, it’s a clean option you can feel good about offering regularly.
Proudly made in the USA with responsibly sourced ingredients from around the world, these jerky bites deliver both quality and versatility—perfect for pet owners who want more from every treat they give.
Other Jerky Bite Treats include:
Duck
Chicken
Ingredient Sourcing
The Acana brand makes it very clear that most of their ingredients are “regionally sourced,” but what exactly does that mean? For ACANA made in Kentucky for the U.S. market, Champion has said it sources ingredients regionally around that kitchen; ACANA made in Canada draws on Canadian suppliers.
Some of the regional ingredients they use in their recipes include cage-free poultry, ranch-raised meats, nest-laid eggs, and wild-caught fish as well as sun-ripened fruits and vegetables. ACANA is not sold as a human-grade food, so we would not read “fresh” or “regional” as a safety or quality guarantee on its own; the guaranteed analysis and AAFCO statement on each bag matter more.
Recall History
We found no ACANA recall on record (checked November 2026). Champion makes ACANA and ORIJEN in its own kitchens in Kentucky and Alberta rather than using outside co-packers. For newer alerts, see our dog food recall database.
One thing to know: in June 2019 the FDA listed ACANA as the brand named most often (67 reports) in cases of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) it was investigating, most of them involving grain-free foods. That was not a recall, and the FDA has not shown that these foods cause DCM, but if you feed a grain-free ACANA recipe long term, talk to your vet, or choose a Wholesome Grains recipe.
How expensive are their Products?
As a high-quality pet food brand that uses fresh, regional ingredients, their recipes are more expensive than the typical dry food. Keep in mind, however, that with their recipes you are paying for quality. It usually costs less than ORIJEN, its sister brand. Prices change often and differ by recipe, bag size and store, so compare the price per pound at Chewy, Amazon and your local pet store before you buy.
List of their Current Products
ACANA’s U.S. lineup (checked on its website in November 2026) includes grain-free and grain-inclusive dry food, Singles limited ingredient recipes, Butcher’s Favorites, a Classics line with barley, life-stage and breed-size recipes, freeze-dried food, wet food (Premium Chunks and pâtés) and treats.
The older Heritage and Regionals lines, which earlier versions of this review covered, are no longer listed.
Dry Products: Besides the lines below, ACANA sells recipes by life stage and size for puppies, adult dogs and seniors (Puppy, Adult Small Breed, Adult Large Breed, Senior), Light & Fit for weight control, and Classics recipes with barley (chicken, beef or salmon).
The older Regionals recipes (Appalachian Ranch, Grasslands, Meadowland, Wild Atlantic) are no longer listed on ACANA’s U.S. website.
Wet, freeze-dried and treats: Premium Chunks in bone broth (poultry, beef, duck, lamb, pork), Premium Pâté and Classics Pâté cans, freeze-dried morsels and patties (beef, chicken, duck, turkey), Jerky Bites (beef, chicken, duck), Chewy Strips (chicken, salmon, beef) and Lamb & Apple freeze-dried treats.
Final Say
Acana dog food is generally considered a high-quality option, particularly for those seeking biologically appropriate nutrition for their dogs. Its emphasis on WholePrey ratios, featuring a variety of fresh meats, organ meats, and cartilage, provides a nutrient-dense profile that mimics a dog’s natural diet. Owners can choose grain-free or grain-inclusive (Wholesome Grains) recipes, and the Singles line suits many dogs with food sensitivities.
The use of complex carbohydrates from legumes and a mix of fruits, vegetables, and beneficial herbs adds to its nutritional value, promoting overall health, digestion, and energy levels. However, the high protein and fat content may not be suitable for all dogs, especially those with specific health conditions or less active lifestyles.
While Acana tends to be more expensive than other brands, its premium ingredients and minimal reliance on synthetic supplements justify the cost for pet owners seeking top-tier nutrition.
Overall, this is a strong choice for dogs of all life stages, but it may not be ideal for every dog depending on individual needs.
Noreen possesses a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree from Informatics International College. While this credential might not elucidate her passion for pets, it does demonstrate her technical expertise and diverse character.
We watch the FDA and every major brand so you don’t have to. The moment a dog food is recalled, you’ll get an email with the brand, the lots affected, and what to do. Nothing else, no spam.
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