I'm sure it applies to cat food as well: How to grade your dog's food: Start with a grade
of 100: 1) For every listing
of «by - product», subtract 10
points 2) For every non-specific animal source -LRB-» meat» or «poultry», meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract 10
points 3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10
points 4) For every grain «mill run» or non-specific grain source, subtract 5
points 5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. «ground brown rice», «brewerâ $ ™ s rice», «rice flour» are all the same grain), subtract 5
points 6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3
points 7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3
points 8) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3
points 9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more
points 10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2
points 11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2
points 12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2
points 13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog is not allergic to wheat), subtract 2
points 14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog is not allergic to beef), subtract 1
point 15) If it contains
salt, subtract 1
point Extra Credit: 1) If any
of the meat sources are organic,
add 5
points 2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist,
add 5
points 3) If the food is baked not extruded,
add 5
points 4) If the food contains probiotics,
add 3
points 5) If the food contains fruit,
add 3
points 6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains),
add 3
points 7) If the animal sources are hormone - free and antibiotic - free,
add 2
points 8) If the food contains barley,
add 2
points 9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds),
add 2
points 10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal,
add 1
point 11) If the food contains sunflower oil,
add 1
point 12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count «chicken» and «chicken meal» as only one protein source, but «chicken» and «'' as 2 different sources),
add 1
point 13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin,
add 1
point 14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide - free,
add 1
point