Best Dog Foods Made in the USA: Our 2020 Guide

Many dog owners don’t understand the details of pet food regulation, but they do know that products made in the United States tend to be safer and of better quality than products made elsewhere. Keep reading to learn more about US-made pet food and to receive our top three recommendations.

OUR TOP 3 PICKS FOR DOG FOODS MADE IN THE USA

The Top Recommended Brands of Made in the USA Dog Food

While there are dozens of pet food brands that are made in the USA, few of them seem to use US-sourced ingredients exclusively. It is becoming increasingly common for high-quality pet food brands to source some of their meats from other countries. For example, New Zealand lamb is very common, as is duck raised in France. Other countries do have their own ingredient regulations, however, any product made in the United States is still subject to FDA and AAFCO regulation.

If you want to feed your dog a high-quality brand of dog food that is made in the United States, we personally recommend the following brands:

1. Nom Nom Fresh Pet Food
2. American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
3. Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
4. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
5. Instinct by Nature's Variety Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken
6. Castor & Pollux Organix Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe
7. True Acre Foods Chicken & Vegetable Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
8. VICTOR Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food
9. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

1. Nom Nom Fresh Pet Food Delivery

Nom Nom is a meal delivery service for your beloved pets. The company provides “care-grade” or “restaurant-quality” meals for your pets, which means that each dish they serve is made with quality, fresh, wholesome ingredients that is fit for your dog's caloric needs.

The company is committed to deliver the best nutrition possible for your four-legged companion. They offer made-to-order recipes that is formulated by a board certified veterinary nutritionist in the US, Dr. Justin Shmalberg. All meals have no fillers, by products or any artificial preservatives plus don't forget their door to door delivery service.
All recipes are complete, balanced and meet AAFCO & USFDA standards. These certificates are actually not needed if you want to sell pet food in the US- but it is nice to know that the company is willing to go the extra mile just to ensure that their meals are nutritious and safe.

2. American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

Dog parents who are grain-free enthusiasts will love the venison version of American Journey’s Limited Ingredient dog food. Savory real deboned salmon will greet your pup with every bite, giving your pet a protein-rich diet, with protein making up 22% of the meal. And because it’s fresh salmon, the meat is much lower on fat and cholesterol than other protein sources. The sweet potato, meanwhile, acts as an energy booster for your dog. 

The brand didn’t just stop at protein. American Journey also added nourishing ingredients such as omega fatty acids for healthy coat and skin, calcium for strong bones, zinc for thyroid and immune function, Vitamin E for healthy muscles, and a whole lot more nutrients and minerals for a complete and balanced diet. 

This recipe is made to be as healthy as possible with no grain or by-product ingredients. There are no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors to cause food sensitivities, either. 

3. Merrick Dog Food

The Merrick Petcare company follows the tagline, “Whole health made right.” This company is dedicated not just to making quality pet food, but to making the best pet food ever. Their recipes feature USDA-inspected deboned meat and fresh fruits and vegetables for unbeatable levels of protein and healthy nutrients.

Merrick never uses ingredients from China and all of their products are hand-crafted and produced in Hereford, Texas using locally sourced ingredients. Merrick offers their customers four promises for their pets – the quality they want, the nutrition they need, and the taste they love. They also offer the Merrick Five Star Promise which guarantees local growers, real whole foods, company-owned kitchens, balanced nutrition, and health you can see.

Merrick offers five different product lines for dog food as well as a dedicated line of treats. There are two Backcountry product lines, one featuring ancestral canine diets for all-natural, grain free kibble infused with freeze-dried raw pieces and a second that consists only of freeze-dried raw pieces.

Both product lines include recipes that are completely free from grain and gluten with deboned meat as the #1 ingredient. The Limited Ingredient Diet line of products features pure and simple grain-free recipes for dogs with sensitive stomachs or food allergies.

The Merrick Grain-Free line of products is just that, a line of grain-free recipes made with real whole foods including 70% poultry and fish ingredients plus 30% produce, vitamins and minerals. The final product line, Classic, includes original recipes made with deboned chicken, whole grains, and wholesome fruits and veggies.

4. Taste of the Wild High Prairie

Taste of the Wild has produced a brilliant dog food formula that we are not sure can be beaten at this price point. Using bison and venison as its two animal protein sources, this dog food takes its inspiration from the ancestral diet of prehistoric canines.

It is worth pointing out, however, that some of the protein in this formula is vegetable-based, with pea protein and potato protein featuring on the ingredients list. Vegetable proteins are harder for your dog's stomach to break down, but it shouldn't be too much of a concern if your dog does not have any digestive problems.

Some dogs might also need to avoid eating potatoes and peas. If your dog does have trouble digesting foods, you might be better off trying a limited ingredient dog food instead.

As well as its great protein and fat content, Taste of the Wild has packed this formula full of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. This will help your dog maintain a healthy coat and skin.

The tomatoes, blueberries, and raspberries present in the formula will also help supplement these effects by providing your dog with valuable antioxidants and vitamins. This formula is free from grain, corn, wheat, filler, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

All this means that Taste of the Wild has focused on what's really best for a dog's diet, without cutting costs and reducing its quality.

This really is an all killer, no filler dog food! We feel confident in saying this is the best dog food in its price range. We love it and think your dog will to!

5. Instinct Original Recipe with Real Chicken

An independent pet food company based in St. Louis, Missouri, Nature’s Variety is one of the top brands of natural pet food. This company is passionate about providing pets with the quality, holistic nutrition they need to live long and healthy lives. Nature’s Variety uses only the highest quality ingredients in each of their formulas, all of which are free from corn, wheat, soy, and artificial additives.

Every one of Nature’s Variety’s recipes are loaded with protein and essential nutrients. All of Nature’s Variety’s products are manufactured in the United States, but they do source some of their protein from other countries. For example, they get some of their lamb and venison from Australia and New Zealand as well as some of their rabbit from France.

The company states, however, that they are very strict with sourcing standards to ensure the quality and safety of their products.

When it comes to their products, Nature’s Variety actually offers two brands and an assortment of different product lines. The Prairie brand features holistic pet food products made with simple, natural ingredients and available at an affordable price point.

The Instinct brand includes half a dozen different product lines including original, grain-free, high-protein, freeze-dried, and raw recipes. In addition to their Originals line of high-protein, grain-free kibbles, Nature’s Variety Instinct offers the Ultimate Protein line of kibbles with up to three times as much protein as conventional dry dog food.

The Limited Ingredient Diets product line includes simple recipes made with a handful of essential ingredients. The Instinct Raw Boost lineup features protein-rich, grain-free kibbles infused with raw pieces and the Instinct Raw product line features frozen raw patties, nuggets and bites.

6. Castor and Pollux Dog Food

Castor and Pollux is one of the few pet food companies in the United States that offers USDA-certified pet foods. This company is the self-named leader in organic and natural pet food and they have five different product lines.

The Organix line of products features original and grain-free recipes made with certified organic ingredients and cooked in an organically certified USA kitchen.

Organix dog foods are made with real chicken, salmon, or lamb as the first ingredient and they are hand-crafted in small batches. These products are free from corn, wheat, and soy ingredients as well as artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and antibiotics and growth hormones.

They are also supplemented with organic fruits and vegetables for nutritional balance. There is also a spin-off product line, Organix with Raw Bites, which features Organix kibble infused with freeze-dried raw pieces.

Although claims of being “made in the USA” cannot be construed as a guarantee of quality, pet foods made in the United States tend to be safer than those made in China.

There are, however, some international countries where manufacturing standards are very high – Australia and New Zealand are good examples.

There are also several top-quality brands made in Canada. In the end, what really matters is the quality of the ingredients and the safety of the manufacturing process. As long as the brand is committed to these two things, it is worth your consideration.

7. True Acre Foods Chicken & Vegetable Recipe

Using chicken as its main protein source, True Acre Foods have created a reasonable dog food formula that gives quite a lot of value for money. Whilst it only contains an average amount of protein and fat at 24% and 13% respectively, this is all from animal protein sources.

This (along with the good sources of fiber present) make this a great dog food if your pooch has a weak stomach. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids present within the formula will also work to ensure your dog's coat and skin remain healthy and vibrant.

All of True Acre's dog foods are made with ingredients sourced from trusted farms, and without grains, wheat, corn or artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Whilst peas are listed as one of the ingredients, it will be difficult to escape this ingredient within this price bracket.

At $39.99 for a 40-lb bag, this formula is quite reasonably priced and represents a good buy for the dog owner on a budget.

8. VICTOR Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food

Victor has crafted a good mid-range all-rounder dog food that should please any dog owner. Containing 30% protein and 20% fat, this dog food is well above the average levels and will go a long way in developing and maintaining your pet's muscles and bones.

This formula is great for dog's with sensitive stomach as it is gluten-free and contains no corn, wheat, or peas. It is also loaded with natural fruit and vegetable ingredients that will aid digestive health.

The formula does contain a wide variety of animal protein sources, which can increase the risk that your dog will have an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients included. If this is the case, it might be worth investigating limited ingredient dog foods.

This formula includes the proprietary VICTOR CORE of selenium yeast (metabolic function, cellular regeneration and a strong immune response), mineral complexes (support a healthy coat and skin, paw pad integrity, immune response and efficient metabolism), prebiotics (promote immune defense and healthy digestive systems), and probiotics (promote healthy digestion and a strong immune system).

Victor Hi-Pro Plus Formula is priced at $50 for a 40-lb bag and we think that's a fair price. It's not a perfect dog food, but it one that is unlikely to disappoint.

9. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula

Named after a beloved pet who struggled with serious health issues, the Blue Buffalo company is dedicated to creating holistic premium pet food that addresses the various needs of dogs.

From prescription formulas to grain-free recipes, Blue Buffalo seeks to give every pup healthy, wholesome meals developed by leading animal nutritionists and veterinarians.

The brand sticks to all natural ingredients that are a precise blend of pure meaty goodness, flavorful taste, and complete balanced nutrition to meet the different life stage requirements of your furry family member.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula was created for the holistic health and well-being of adult dogs. All formulas start with real meat, whole grains, garden veggies and fruit, plus added LifeSource Bits, a precise blend of nutrients that have been enhanced with a Super 7 package of antioxidant-rich ingredients.

This Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe features delicious, protein-rich deboned chicken and other natural ingredients for a healthy meal your dog will love.

Why Does It Matter Where Your Pet’s Food is Made?

In the United States, there are several regulatory agencies that monitor the manufacture and sale of human food products, including the FDA and the USDA. These organizations enforce certain requirements to guarantee the quality and safety of food products intended for human consumption.

Unfortunately, there is less regulation for pet foods so it is largely up to the consumer to do the work needed to determine the quality and safety of any given product.

The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a non-profit organization that sets certain standards for animal feed and pet food, but the requirements are less strict than for human food.

It is also worth noting that the primary purpose AAFCO serves is to ensure that pet foods meet certain minimum nutritional requirements. The fact of the matter is, however, that the standards of quality for ingredients used in pet foods are much lower – even in the United States.

A pet food manufactured in the United States is less likely to contain toxic ingredients due to federal regulations, but that doesn’t mean pet food manufacturers can’t use low-quality ingredients like propylene glycol, an ingredient in antifreeze.

Pet food manufacturers are also allowed to use rendered ingredients. The process of rendering is one in which everything from feathers, blood and bone to whole dead animals is collected and heated to remove moisture and fat, creating a “meal” that can be used as a source of protein in pet foods.

This practice is very common, even for pet foods manufactured in the United States.

Is “Made in the USA” Different From “Sourced in the USA?”

Given the information from the last section, you can see how claims of pet food products being “Made in the USA” can’t necessarily be associated with quality. The truth remains, however, that pet foods made in the United States tend to be safer on the whole than pet foods made in China.

But there is a difference between the two statements, “Made in the USA” and “Sourced in the USA”. If you think back to the year 2005, you may remember the melamine crisis that killed thousands of pets across the country.

The ingredient that caused the problem was sourced from China, but could still be found in products made in the USA. Do you see the problem?

Read Also: Check out our In-Depth Analysis of American Journey Dog Food

In order for a product to carry the “Made in the USA label,” the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that it must be made from “all, or virtually all, products from the United States.”

According to AAFCO, the phrase “all, or virtually all,” can be interpreted as, “all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of US origin… that is, the product should contain no – or negligible – foreign content.”

If the product contains mostly US-sourced ingredients, the FTC requires the package to carry a disclaimer such as the following, “Made in the USA with lamb from New Zealand.”

Unfortunately, the FTC does not investigate claims of “Made in the USA” unless a complaint is filed so it is entirely possible for a pet food manufacturer to use this claim falsely.

Is Purina dog food made in the USA?

Of all Purina pet food products sold in the U.S.A., 99 percent are made in the U.S.A. Not only are the vast majority of their dog foods made in the U.S.A., but they also source most of their ingredients in the U.S.A. too.

What pet foods are made in the USA?

Purina, Fromm, Merrick, Castor and Pollux, Wysong, Instinct, Wysong, Wellness, Eagle Pack to mention a few.

What dog food is not made in China?

The Honest Kitchen 100% human grade pet food for cats and dogs is made in the USA. The Honest Kitchen pet foods contain no ingredients from China, and are soy free, GMO free, wheat free, and corn free. Merrick makes cat and dog food (in both wet and dry varieties), as well as pet treats in Hereford, Texas.

Is Blue Buffalo dog food made in the USA?

Yes, the Blue Buffalo is made in the USA, but this cannot be said for all the ingredients. The company makes most of the main ingredients and recipes in its facilities situated across the USA.