Farmina Pet Foods began in 1965. It was as Russo Mangimi, a family company in Naples, Italy. It specialized in animal nutrition. In 1999, they collaborated with Farmina. Farmina is an English company that specializes in food research and formulation. Farmina Pet Foods is based in Italy. It has factories in Italy, Brazil, and Serbia. In 2021, Farmina added a location in Reidsville, NC. This is where it has manufacturing, research, and warehousing.
For our Farmina dog food review, we’ll look at the food ingredient quality and safety of each line of food. Our dog food reviews are based on these criteria.
IS FARMINA A GOOD DOG FOOD?
Farmina’s canned foods are among the highest scoring canned foods reviewed on dogfoodreviews.com. Farmina Pet Foods has 4 lines of wet dog foods that are low risk by our criteria. There are 5 lines of dry dog foods that are moderate to high risk. Farmina also has 2 lines of veterinary foods only available from veterinarians.
Farmina uses non-GMO grain and starch ingredients. They don’t mention alfalfa which is a known GMO crop and appears in many recipes. All other ingredients appear to be conventionally farmed. This affects ingredient safety because of likely high pesticide/herbicide residues. Some recipes don’t contain high pesticide ingredients. That’s usually because they include limited whole food ingredients. They could improve the ingredient safety score of all foods by using organic produce. It would be GMO-free and have a lower risk of pesticide use.
The company notes that the animals used eat a GMO-free diet. Antibiotics and hormones are not used. Farmina sources ingredients from Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark. However, it can’t guarantee that suppliers don’t use ingredients from China. And with the addition of a US manufacturing plant, it’s assumed produce will come from North America as well.
It’s unfortunate that many of the recipes contain added vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Some recipes have more than others. These additions are in both wet and dry recipes. This suggests lower quality ingredients. The heat processing of dry and canned dog foods can diminish nutrients.
Farmina’s dry foods tend to be high in carbohydrates. They have lower protein content than ideal. This is notable in the Quinoa Dry line with average carbohydrates of 43% and protein of 25%. These are levels we’d prefer to see reversed. Dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrate. But dry foods need starch for extrusion. Foods that are high in carbohydrate can raise insulin and cause obesity.
It’s also worth noting that Farmina doesn’t state the omega-6:omega-3 ratio in their foods. While this is true of most foods, it’s unfortunate since AAFCO allows a very inflammatory limit of 30:1. They also don’t mention whether fish ingredients are farmed or wild caught. Wild caught fish is more nutritious and has a better fatty acid profile. This is of special concern in the “Ocean” recipes that rely on many fish ingredients.
There are additional concerns with the food and marketing. These don’t affect the Instinct dog food reviews score, but they’re worth mentioning:
- Glam ingredients
- Ingredient splitting
Some Farmina recipes contain glam ingredients. These are expensive ingredients, like blueberries, kale, or apples. They are added to appeal to consumers, but may be in tiny amounts. They contribute little or no nutritional value to your dog.
This is a technique of splitting ingredients into sub-categories. It moves some ingredients higher and others lower on the list. This is often used to hide the amount of lower quality ingredients in the food. These include corn, potatoes, or peas. It also moves desirable ingredients, like proteins, higher.
Farmina N&D Quinoa Dry
Score: 4.5/10
Ingredient List For Skin & Coat Dry Recipe: Herring, dehydrated herring, pea starch, herring oil, quinoa seed, flaxseed, dried coconut, turmeric, inulin, fructooligosaccharide, yeast extract, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, psyllium seed husk, potassium chloride, salt, brewers dried yeast, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, choline chloride, beta-carotene, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, DL-Methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine, aloe vera gel concentrate, green tea extract, rosemary extract, mixed tocopherols (a preservative).
With an average score of 4.5, Farmina N&D Quinoa Dry dog food is a high risk food by our criteria. It also scores the lowest of all Farmina’s dry foods. This food averages 43% carbohydrate as calculated. This is excessively high, even for a kibble.
There are 14 recipes that average 25% protein and 43% carbohydrate as calculated. These foods rank low in ingredient quality for having high carbohydrates. They have added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. On the ingredient safety side, these foods are ultra processed. This destroys nutrients. They have high pesticide foods listed in their top 5 ingredients.
Quinoa Dry Food Benefits
- Made in house
- No GMOs
Quinoa Dry Food Concerns
- High in carbohydrates
- Contains excessive added vitamins and minerals
- Contains added amino acids
- Ultra processed
- High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
Farmina N&D Quinoa Canned
Score: 7.9/10
Ingredient List For Dog Skin & Coat Duck & Coconut Recipe: Duck, quinoa seed, herring oil, coconut, fructooligosaccharide, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine complex, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, DL-methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine.
There are 12 recipes that average 47% protein and 13% carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis. This is what we expect to see in a canned dog food. Two recipes have higher carbohydrates. All recipes have a few added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. On the safety side, these foods are highly processed, which destroys nutrients. However, they have no high pesticide foods listed in their top 5 ingredients.
Quinoa Canned Benefits
- Made in house
- No GMOs
- No high pesticide ingredients
Quinoa Canned Concerns
- Higher carbohydrates in 2 foods
- Contains excessive added vitamins and minerals
- Contains added amino acids
- Highly processed
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
Farmina N&D Prime Dry
Score: 6/10
Ingredient List For Boar & Apple Adult Mini Recipe: Wild boar, dehydrated wild boar, sweet potatoes, boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken, chicken fat, dried whole eggs, herring, dehydrated herring, herring oil, pea fiber, dried carrot, suncured alfalfa meal, inulin, fructooligosaccharide, yeast extract, dried apple, dried pomegranate, dried sweet orange, dried spinach, psyllium seed husk, dried blueberry, salt, brewers dried yeast, turmeric, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, choline chloride, beta-carotene, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, DL-Methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine, aloe vera gel concentrate, green tea extract, rosemary extract, mixed tocopherols (a preservative).
There are 8 recipes that average 34.5% protein and 27% carbohydrate as calculated. These foods rank low in ingredient quality. They have high carbohydrates, added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. On the safety side these foods are ultra processed. This destroys nutrients. They have high pesticide foods listed in their top 5 ingredients, and contain some GMO foods.
Prime Dry Benefits
- Made in-house
Prime Dry Concerns
- High in carbohydrates
- Contains excessive added vitamins and minerals
- Contains added amino acids
- Ultra processed
- Contains GMOs
- High pesticide/herbicide foods
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
Farmina N&D Prime Canned
Score: 8.2/10
Ingredient List For Chicken & Pomegranate Puppy Wet Recipe: Chicken, herring, eggs, herring oil, sweet potatoes, pomegranate, fructooligosaccharide, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine complex, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, DL-methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine.
There are 8 recipes that average 52% protein and 11% carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis. This is what we expect to see in a canned dog food. However, 2 recipes have carbohydrates a bit higher than we’d like to see. All recipes have a few added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. On the safety side, these foods are highly processed, which destroys nutrients. They have some high pesticide/herbicide ingredients.
Prime Canned Benefits
- Made in-house
- No GMOs
- Lower amount of added vitamins and minerals
- Added amino acids
Prime Canned Concerns
- 2 Foods with higher carbohydrates
- Highly processed
- Some high pesticide/herbicide foods in 2 recipes
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
Farmina N&D Ocean Dry
Score: 5.7/10
Ingredient List For Salmon, Cod & Cantaloupe Melon Adult Maxi Giant Recipe: Salmon, dehydrated salmon, sweet potato, cod, dehydrated cod, herring oil, dehydrated herring protein, pea fibre, dried carrot, alfalfa meal, inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides, yeast extract (source of manno-oligo-saccharides), dried cantaloupe melon, dried blueberry, dried apple, dried spinach, psyllium husks and seeds, dried pomegranate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, dried brewers’ yeast, turmeric, aloe vera extract, glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate.
There are 11 recipes that average 31.6% protein and 30.5% carbohydrate as calculated. These foods rank low in ingredient quality. They have higher carbohydrates, added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. On the safety side these foods are ultra processed which destroys nutrients. They have high pesticide foods listed in their top 5 ingredients. They may have GMO ingredients.
Ocean Dry Benefits
- Made in-house
Ocean Dry Concerns
- High in carbohydrates
- Contains excessive added vitamins and minerals
- Contains added amino acids
- Ultra processed
- High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
- Contains GMOs
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
Farmina N&D Ocean Canned
Score: 8/10
Ingredient List For Trout & Salmon Wet Recipe: Trout, salmon, cod, herring, sweet potatoes, shrimp, herring oil, fructooligosaccharide, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine complex, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, DL-methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine.
There are 12 recipes in this fish-based line that have average protein of 55%. They have very low carbohydrates of 2% as calculated on a dry matter basis. These foods have some vitamins added. However there are excessive minerals and amino acids added. There are no GMO or high pesticide/herbicide ingredients used.
Ocean Canned Benefits
- Made in house
- Minimal added vitamins
- No GMOs
- No high pesticide/herbicide ingredients
- Minimal carbohydrates
Ocean Canned Concerns
- Excessive added minerals
- Excessive added amino acids
- Highly processed
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
Farmina N&D Pumpkin Dry
Score: 4.8/10
Ingredient List For Lamb & Blueberry Puppy Medium & Maxi Dry Recipe: Lamb, dehydrated lamb, pea starch, chicken fat, dehydrated herring, dried pumpkin, herring, dried whole eggs, herring oil, pea fiber, dried carrot, suncured alfalfa meal, chicken cartilage (source of glucosamine hydrochloride e chondroitin sulfate), inulin, fructooligosaccharide, yeast extract, dried blueberry, dried spinach, psyllium seed husk, dried apple, dried sweet orange, dried pomegranate, salt, brewers dried yeast, turmeric, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, choline chloride, beta-carotene, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, DL-Methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine, aloe vera gel concentrate, green tea extract, rosemary extract, mixed tocopherols (a preservative).
There are 12 recipes that average 31% protein and 31% carbohydrate as calculated. These foods rank low in ingredient quality for having high carbohydrates. They also have excessive added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. On the ingredient safety side these foods are ultra processed which destroys nutrients. They have high pesticide foods listed in their top 5 ingredients.
Pumpkin Dry Benefits
- Made in house
Pumpkin Dry Concerns
- High in carbohydrates
- Excessive added vitamins and minerals
- Excessive added amino acids
- Ultra processed
- High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
- Contains GMOs
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
Farmina N&D Pumpkin Canned
Score: 8.1/10
Ingredient List For Venison & Pumpkin Adult Wet Recipe: Venison, chicken, herring, pumpkin, eggs, herring oil, sweet potatoes, apples, fructooligosaccharide, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine complex, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, DL-methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine.
These recipes averages protein of 55% and low carbohydrates of 2% as calculated on a dry matter basis. This is very low carbohydrates for canned dog food. These foods have excessive minerals and amino acids added but only a few vitamins. There’s a high pesticide/herbicide ingredient in some recipes.
Grain-Free Pumpkin Canned Benefits
- Made in house
- Low added vitamins
- No GMOs
- Low in carbohydrates
Grain-Free Pumpkin Canned Concerns
- Excessive added minerals
- Excessive added amino acids
- Highly processed
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Dry
Score: 4.8/10
Ingredient List For Chicken & Pomegranate Puppy Medium & Maxi Dry Recipe: Boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken, whole spelt, whole oats, chicken fat, dried whole eggs, herring, dehydrated herring, dried beet pulp, herring oil, dried carrot, suncured alfalfa meal, chicken cartilage (source of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate), inulin, fructooligosaccharide, yeast extract, dried pomegranate, dried apple, dried spinach, psyllium seed husk, dried sweet orange, dried blueberry, salt, brewers dried yeast, turmeric, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, choline chloride, beta-carotene, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, DL-Methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine, aloe vera gel concentrate, green tea extract, rosemary extract, mixed tocopherols (a preservative).
These foods rank low in ingredient quality for having high carbohydrates. They have excessive added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. On the safety side these foods are ultra processed which destroys nutrients. They have high pesticide foods listed in their top 5 ingredients.
Ancestral Grain Dry Benefits
- Made in house
Ancestral Grain Dry Concerns
- High in carbohydrates
- Contains excessive added vitamins
- Contains excessive added minerals
- Contains added amino acids
- Ultra processed
- High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
- Contains GMOs
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
THE FARMINA PET FOODS RECALLS
To date, Farmina Pet Foods has not had any recalls or voluntary withdrawals in the United States or Europe.
Evaluation Criteria
We evaluate and score dog foods based on two criteria:
Are the Ingredients High Quality?
Here are some common low-quality ingredients or markers we look for:
- Is there excessive carbohydrate content, which can cause gut imbalances?
- Does the food contain unnamed proteins, which are low quality?
- Does the food use cellulose (wood pulp) as a source of fiber instead of real food?
- Are there excessive vitamins and minerals added in place of real food nutrition?
- Are there excessive added amino acids or plant proteins instead of expensive meat protein?
- Does the food contain inflammatory processed seed oils?
How Safe Are the Ingredients?
Many ingredients come from unhealthy, inflammatory sources or are full of pesticides so we look for:
- How processed is the food?
- Does the food contain known genetically modified foods?
- Does the food contain ingredients known to be high in pesticides?
- Does the food contain natural flavor, which are often MSG or animal digest?
- Does the food contain rice, which is high in arsenic?
Each food is objectively evaluated by these criteria and a score is assigned using the average of ingredient quality and safety. This is NOT a paid list and there are no affiliate links. Dogs Naturally has partnered with DogFoodReviews.com to make sure dog owners have unbiased, objective criteria to help them choose the best dog food on the market. You can view the full Evaluation Criteria at DogFoodReviews.com.
