In this comparison article for Primal vs Nature's Recipe, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Primal and Nature's Recipe, we'll use up-to-date nutritional and price information.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.
Throughout this Nature's Recipe vs Primal comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Primal Review Page or Nature's Recipe Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Nature's Recipe vs. Primal
According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.
All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a dry matter basis.
Primal Dog Food vs. Nature's Recipe Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Primal
Nature's Recipe
Crude Protein
48.0%
27.6%
Crude Fat
26.7%
13.5%
Crude Fiber
4.6%
4.8%
Wet/Canned Dog Food
Primal
Nature's Recipe
Crude Protein
49.5%
53.9%
Crude Fat
28.4%
13.5%
Crude Fiber
5.3%
6.6%
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these ten essential amino acids.
The comparison table above shows that Primal dry dog foods provide significantly more protein than Nature's Recipe. More specifically, Primal guarantees at least 20.38% more protein. For wet dog foods, Nature's Recipe provides more protein (about 4.37% more).
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Fats are an absolutely vital component of a balanced canine diet. Not only do fats provide energy, but they also serve important roles in the normal development and function of your dog's body. For example, fats help dogs produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among many other significant functions.
Primal dry dog foods clearly provides more fat than Nature's Recipe. In fact, the difference between the fat content is roughly 13.26%, which is a significant amount. Similarly, Primal wet dog foods provide significantly more protein than Nature's Recipe wet foods.
There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fiber content of the two brands. With regards to wet dog food, Nature's Recipe and Primal also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Primal Pet Food Ingredients vs. Nature's Recipe Pet Food Ingredients
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Nature's Recipe.
Wheat
Wheat
Wheat is regarded as an inexpensive and low-quality filler in pet food. However, wheat does provide plant-based protein and makes pet food more affordable for consumers. It's important to note that plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.
Garlic
Garlic
Garlic in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.
Beet Pulp
Beet Pulp
Beet pulp is the by-product which remains once sugar has been extracted from sugar beets. The primary contribution of beet pulp is dietary fiber.
We'd also like to note that beet pulp is fairly controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that beet pulp can promote intestinal health and regulate blood sugar. However, opponents claim that beet pulp is an inexpensive filler.
Canola Oil
Canola Oil
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Canola Meal
Canola Meal
Canola meal is a high protein by-product of canola oil production. This ingredient is marked controversial because it may be derived from genetically modified rapeseed, which is associated with multiple adverse health affects.
Fat Product
Fat Product
Fat product is controversial because the source of the fat is not identified. Ingredients which do not clearly specific a source are typically very low quality ingredients.
Pea Protein
Pea Protein
Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
Brewers Rice
Brewers Rice
Brewer's rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewer's rice is a lower quality grain. Brewer's rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.
Garlic Spice
Garlic Spice
Garlic spice in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.
Caramel Color
Caramel Color
Caramel color is a concentrated form of caramel, a natural food colorant. Caramel color has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel color is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.
Garlic Powder
Garlic Powder
Garlic powder in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.
Soybean Flour
Soybean Flour
Soybean flour contains more than 50% protein. Therefore, soybean can significantly boost the protein content of the product. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.
Tomato Pomace
Tomato Pomace
Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Ground Whole Wheat
Ground Whole Wheat
Ground whole wheat contains the entire grain of wheat (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Wheat is regarded as an inexpensive and low-quality filler in pet food. However, wheat does provide plant-based protein and makes pet food more affordable for consumers. It's important to note that plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.
Dried Tomato Pomace
Dried Tomato Pomace
Dried tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Soybean Protein Isolate
Soybean Protein Isolate
Soy protein isolate is a highly refined/purified form of soy bean protein. Roughly 90% of soy protein isolate is protein. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.
Soybean Protein Concentrate
Soybean Protein Concentrate
Soybean protein concentrate is produced by removing the water soluble carbohydrates from soybeans. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Poultry Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Poultry Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Poultry fat is a by-product of poultry tissue rendering. Poultry fat is a controversial ingredient because the specific protein is not specified. Such ingredients are typically low-quality in comparison to named poultry fats (e.g. chicken fat, turkey fat).
We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Nature's Recipe.
Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex
Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex
Menadione sodium bisulfate complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."
Product Safety: Recall History of Primal & Nature's Recipe?
Primal has been recalled 2 times.
March 13, 2015: low thiamine level
Dec. 22, 2017: incorrect bone grind size
According to our records, Nature's Recipe has never been recalled.
Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?
Dry Dog Food
Primal
Nature's Recipe
Per Pound
$45.57
$1.93
Per Calorie
$0.0227
$0.0012
The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.
If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Primal or Nature's Recipe, input your pet's weight into our cost analyzer widget.
Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands. However, the actual price that you'll pay for Primal or Nature's Recipe will depend on your shopping habits.
Cost Analyzer Widget
Cost of Feeding Primal
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Cost of Feeding Nature's Recipe
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Primal and Nature's Recipe. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.
Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!
Where To Buy Primal Pet Foods
You can purchase Primal pet foods from the following stores:
15 Recipes In-Stock Today
20 Recipes In-Stock Today
15 Recipes In-Stock Today
14 Recipes In-Stock Today
Where To Buy Nature's Recipe Pet Foods
You can purchase Nature's Recipe pet food products from these retailers:
27 Recipes In-Stock Today
10 Recipes In-Stock Today
10 Recipes In-Stock Today
Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product
Primal
Nature's Recipe
Dry Dog Food
None
19 Recipes
Wet Dog Food
None
17 Recipes
Dog Treats
6 Treats
None
Dry Cat Food
None
None
Wet Cat Food
None
None
Cat Treats
None
None
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