In this comparison article for Under The Sun vs Rachael Ray Nutrish, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Under The Sun and Rachael Ray Nutrish, 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 Rachael Ray Nutrish vs Under The Sun comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Under The Sun Review Page or Rachael Ray Nutrish Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Rachael Ray Nutrish vs. Under The Sun
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.
Under The Sun Dog Food vs. Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Under The Sun
Rachael Ray Nutrish
Crude Protein
27.5%
28.6%
Crude Fat
12.1%
15.4%
Crude Fiber
4.6%
5.0%
Wet/Canned Dog Food
Under The Sun
Rachael Ray Nutrish
Crude Protein
41.1%
42.7%
Crude Fat
24.5%
25.3%
Crude Fiber
6.1%
7.3%
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.
As you can see, Under The Sun and Rachael Ray Nutrish guarantee a similar amount of crude protein. With regards to wet dog food, Rachael Ray Nutrish and Under The Sun also provide roughly the same amount of crude protein.
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Like protein, fats are an essential part of a dog's body. Fats are needed for the proper development and function of the canine body.
If you look at the average percentages of crude fat, you'll notice that Rachael Ray Nutrish typically guarantees 3.38% more fat. This is a fairly small difference between Rachael Ray Nutrish and Under The Sun, but still worth mentioning. For wet dog foods, Rachael Ray Nutrish and Under The Sun provide roughly the same amount of fat.
Under The Sun and Rachael Ray Nutrish both provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Rachael Ray Nutrish and Under The Sun also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Under The Sun Cat Food vs. Rachael Ray Nutrish Cat Food
Wet/Canned Cat Food
Under The Sun
Rachael Ray Nutrish
Crude Protein
46.5%
46.4%
Crude Fat
22.3%
25.0%
Crude Fiber
6.7%
16.1%
Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food
Cats require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Eleven of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining eleven are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these eleven essential amino acids.
Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude protein.
Crude Fat Comparison For Cat Food
There are many ways in which dietary fat contributes to the overall health of our feline friends. Here is a short list of benefits provided by fats (not exhaustive):
Help transport nutrients across cell membranes
Fats produce metabolites, which help control inflammation
Maintain healthy blood pressure
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Fats improve the taste/texture of food.
According to our average data, Under The Sun typically provides less fat than Rachael Ray Nutrish. However, this difference is relatively small and doesn't represent a significant difference between the two brands.
Rachael Ray Nutrish wet cat foods clearly provides more fiber than Under The Sun. In fact, the difference between the fiber content is roughly 9.34%, which is a significant amount.
Under The Sun Pet Food Ingredients vs. Rachael Ray Nutrish Pet Food Ingredients
Under The Sun and Rachael Ray Nutrish both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:
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.
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.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Rachael Ray Nutrish.
Corn
Corn
Corn is a cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in pet food.
Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, we'll discuss a few of the opposing arguments.
In regards to digestibility, the claims of "highly digestible" are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by pets to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.
Finally, we'll discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in pet food should certainly warrant further questioning.
Caramel
Caramel
Caramel is a widely used natural food colorant. The concentrated form of caramel is typically listed as caramel color and has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.
Corn Flour
Corn Flour
Corn flour a ground cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in pet food.
Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, we'll discuss a few of the opposing arguments.
In regards to digestibility, the claims of "highly digestible" are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by pets to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.
Finally, we'll discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in pet food should certainly warrant further questioning.
Iron Oxide
Iron Oxide
Iron oxide is an FDA approved natural food coloring agent. It's commonly found in rusting metal and provides a reddish-brown color.
We believe food colorants are unnecessary ingredients in pet food. Other than potential harm, food colorants do not provide any nutritional value. These type of ingredients are used only to make the food look appealing to humans.
Whole Corn
Whole Corn
Whole corn is the entire corn kernel (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Corn is a cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in pet food.
Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, we'll discuss a few of the opposing arguments.
In regards to digestibility, the claims of "highly digestible" are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by pets to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.
Finally, we'll discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in pet food should certainly warrant further questioning.
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.
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.
Wheat Gluten
Wheat Gluten
Wheat gluten is the main protein of wheat. Although wheat gluten is mostly protein, wheat gluten is considered controversial because it significantly boosts the protein content of the product. This is undesirable because plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.
Animal Digest
Animal Digest
Animal digest is the result of undecomposed animal tissue after hydrolysis, a chemical reaction. It is typically used as flavoring to improve taste. Animal digest is considered by many as an undesirable low-quality ingredient. What's more, the source animal is not specified and therefore animal digest can contain almost any animal, including dogs and cats!
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.
Vegetable Oil
Vegetable Oil
Specific vegetable oils are typically positive ingredients; however, this ingredient does not specify which vegetable(s) were used to produce the oil.
Without this information, it is impossible for us to make any specific statements. With any fat source, it is important to know the omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio, a property which cannot be determined with this ingredient. Thus, we have marked vegetable oil as a controversial ingredient.
Soybean Protein
Soybean Protein
Soybean protein 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.
Corn Gluten Meal
Corn Gluten Meal
Corn gluten meal is a by-product from the production of various corn products (corn starch, corn syrup, etc). It's very high in protein (nearly 60% protein) and therefore can significant boost the protein content of the product. Because plant based proteins such as corn gluten meal are inferior to meat based proteins (lack many essential amino acids), they are not suitable substitutes.
Powdered Cellulose
Powdered Cellulose
Powdered cellulose is produced from minuscule pieces of wood pulp and plant fibers. Other than its fiber content, powdered cellulose lacks any nutritional contribution.
Ground Whole Grain Corn
Ground Whole Grain Corn
Ground whole grain corn contains the entire corn kernel (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Corn is a cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in pet food.
Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, we'll discuss a few of the opposing arguments.
In regards to digestibility, the claims of "highly digestible" are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by pets to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.
Finally, we'll discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in pet food should certainly warrant further questioning.
Textured Soy Protein Product
Textured Soy Protein Product
Soybean protein product 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.
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.
Under The Sun and Rachael Ray Nutrish both use the following harmful ingredients in many of their products:
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 Under The Sun & Rachael Ray Nutrish?
According to our records, neither brand has issued any product recalls. Therefore, consumers have no reason to question the safety of Under The Sun or Rachael Ray Nutrish pet food products.
Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?
Dry Dog Food
Under The Sun
Rachael Ray Nutrish
Per Pound
$1.67
$1.87
Per Calorie
$0.0011
$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 Under The Sun or Rachael Ray Nutrish, 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 Under The Sun or Rachael Ray Nutrish will depend on your shopping habits.
Cost Analyzer Widget
Cost of Feeding Under The Sun
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Cost of Feeding Rachael Ray Nutrish
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Under The Sun and Rachael Ray Nutrish. 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 Under The Sun Pet Foods
You can purchase Under The Sun pet foods from the following stores:
4 Recipes In-Stock Today
4 Recipes In-Stock Today
4 Recipes In-Stock Today
Where To Buy Rachael Ray Nutrish Pet Foods
You can purchase Rachael Ray Nutrish pet food products from these retailers:
42 Recipes In-Stock Today
15 Recipes In-Stock Today
41 Recipes In-Stock Today
Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product
Under The Sun
Rachael Ray Nutrish
Dry Dog Food
7 Recipes
19 Recipes
Wet Dog Food
8 Recipes
12 Recipes
Dog Treats
None
20 Treats
Dry Cat Food
None
10 Recipes
Wet Cat Food
9 Recipes
18 Recipes
Cat Treats
None
4 Treats
Top Rated Under The Sun Recipes
Dog Food
Under The Sun Grain Free Recipe Made With Real Lamb
