Nature's Recipe Grain-Free Chicken & Beef Recipe, Chicken & Turkey Recipe & Chicken & Lamb Recipe in Savory Broth Variety Pack Wet Dog Food, 2.75-oz, case of 12

I was very disappointed when I read in the ingredients list that Nature’s Recipe wet dog food contains carrageenan; this brand of dog food seems to advertise itself as a healthy choice and even claims to promote healthy digestion. However, concerns about the potential health effects of carrageenan have been around since the 1960s. There still remain a lot of questions and controversy regarding just how safe this ingredient is for dogs or cats (or for humans) and their digestive systems. Decades of research have suggested that carrageenan, which is a food additive/preservative extracted from certain types of red seaweed, may trigger inflammation, gastrointestinal ulcerations, and damage to the digestive system. From reading a host of articles on this (including vet-reviewed/doctor-written or reviewed/fact-checked articles), carrageenan can cause bloat and other digestive upsets. In 1982, the International Agency for Research on Cancer listed "degraded" carrageenan as a possible carcinogen. "Undegraded" carrageenan is an FDA-approved food additive (not trying to throw shade here because their challenges are huge, but note that the FDA has also approved use of a number of chemicals known to be carcinogenic, including, until recently, benzene, trichloroethylene, and methylene chloride), but a report published in 2012 concluded that "even food-grade undegraded carrageenan has the potential to cause ulcerations, gastrointestinal inflammation, intestinal lesions, and potentially tumors." It may also cause IBS in both humans and pets (I have a cat who developed IBS when she was 7 yrs old -- she now can eat only special vet foods). While "degraded" carrageenan is not allowed in food products (at least not human food products), it is not clear if "safe" carrageenan degrades in the gut during digestion. There is some concern that stomach acid may cause undegraded carrageenan to begin breaking down (degrading) as it is being digested (carrageenan degrades when exposed to acid). One variation may cause inflammation and is linked to cancer. IMO consuming carrageenan is not worth the risk it may well pose to me or my pets because too many red flags remain. There are other, safer options to using this chemical additive, so I do not understand why it is still used in our pet foods. I expect better. Will not buy Nature’s Recipe again. BTW, if you are concerned about carrageenan and/or have a pet who gets sick after eating so called "healthy" pet foods, it can also be listed as "Red marine algae, Chondrus crispus, Chondrus extract, Carrageenan gum, Irish moss algae, Processed eucheuma seaweed, Vegetable gelatin," among others, in ingredient labels; so don't be fooled.

This actually looks like real shredded chicken and my picky 4 mo. old pups devour it! I just wish the serving sizes were a little bigger but still larger than small canned size food. Next best thing next to the fridge fresh food. I like to mix the two kinds together. They seem to do well. Even their poops are firm and solid. Not bad smelling at all. Compared to my prior dogs.