Our Verdict
The 4health Wholesome Grains Dry product range is made of three recipes which all receive 4 stars.
This dry product range has meat or fish as its first ingredient and is mixed with a blend of probiotics, vitamins and fatty acids for optimal nutrition and health.
Pros
- Meat or fish are the primary ingredients
- Contains probiotics
- Preservative-free
- Omega fatty acids
- Contains taurine
Cons
- Contains sodium selenite
- Limited choice of flavors
The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| 4Health Wholesome Grains All Life Stage Chicken Formula | 4 | A |
| 4Health Wholesome Grains Adult Indoor Chicken Formula | 4 | M |
| 4Health Wholesome Grains Adult Salmon and Rice Formula | 4 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
4health Wholesome Grains All Life Stage Chicken Formula was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
4health Wholesome Grains All Life Stage Chicken Formula
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken meal, ground white rice, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), cracked pearled barley, salmon meal, potatoes, potato protein, egg product, natural flavor, ocean fish meal, flaxseed, sodium bisulfate, potassium chloride, DL-methionine, choline chloride, dried chicory root, taurine, dried kelp, carrots, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, cranberries, rosemary extract, parsley flake, yucca schidigera extract, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, sodium selenite, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is ground white rice, another name for rice flour. Ground rice is made from either white or brown rice and is considered a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.
The fourth ingredient is peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber. However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The fifth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The sixth ingredient is cracked pearled barley. Cracked Pearled Barley is produced when the seed hull and bran is removed from barley grain.
Fiber is distributed throughout the barley grain, rather than being contained within the hull meaning that cracked pearled barley is still a source of fiber. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
The seventh ingredient is salmon meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations. 2
The eighth ingredient is potatoes. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
In addition, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
This recipe receives a 4 star rating.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, 4health Wholesome Grains All Life Stage Chicken Formula recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 37.8%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 34.2%, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 53%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 35.9% and a mean fat level of 16.7%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 39.4% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 46%.
This means the 4Health Wholesome Grains dry product line contains near-average protein, above-average carbs and near-average fat when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
4health Wholesome Grains dry product range is a quality dry cat food, developed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of fully developed adult cats or kittens.
Has 4health cat food been recalled in the past?
Yes, 4health has had two recalls.
In 2012, Diamond Pet Foods, which makes 4health, recalled all 4health foods manufactured in Gaston, South Carolina, due to potential salmonella contamination.
In 2013, Diamond recalled several cat food brands, including 4health, due to potentially insufficient thiamine levels.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
About
4health is a pet food company owned by Tractor Supply Company, a home and ranch company based in Tennessee.
This company was founded in 1938 as a mail-order tractor part supplier. However, it has now grown to sell a wide variety of products including pet food and supplies. 4health brand is one of its biggest selling products made by Diamond Pet Foods.
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Article reviewed by
Veterinarian
Dr Georgia Jeremiah has a first class honors degree in comparative pathology with field experience in anatomic and clinical pathology, studying disease processes in a multitude of species.
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