Free label diagnostic
Is your dog or cat food an A or an E?
- A 1 minute
- C 5 questions
- E No signup
How good is your pet food, really?
5 questions, 1 minute. No signup, no email.
What we ask and why
Five questions picked for discriminating power. Each one isolates a signal that statistically separates a high-quality pet food from a poor one.
- The very first ingredient. By law, ingredients are listed by weight. A named meat with a % ("Chicken 35%") beats a vague "animal by-products". Cereals in first place is the strongest signal of a low-cost formula.
- Crude protein level. Under 20% is insufficient for most carnivores and semi-carnivores. Above 30% usually means a meat-first recipe. Crude protein alone does not prove quality, but it filters out the worst.
- Artificial preservatives. BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin are legal but flagged by multiple health bodies. Natural antioxidants (tocopherols, rosemary extract) are the clean alternative.
- Precision of the ingredient list. Naming the species (chicken, salmon) and giving percentages signals a manufacturer who controls its supply chain. Vague phrasing like "meats and animal by-products" hides cheap fillers.
- AAFCO feeding trials or FEDIAF compliance. A formula tested in vivo on animals for six months is far more trustworthy than one that was only calculated on a spreadsheet.
Full methodology on our methodology page. Browse the complete rankings in the rankings or jump to top-rated foods by species.
Questions and answers
How long does the diagnostic take?
Under one minute. Five questions, four options each. No signup, no email, no account.
Do I need my current pet food in front of me?
Yes. Keep the bag, can or pouch handy. Questions ask about the first ingredient, crude protein percentage, preservatives, how precise the ingredient list is, and whether AAFCO feeding trials or FEDIAF compliance is mentioned.
How is the A to E grade calculated?
Each of the five answers is worth 0 to 3 points. We sum to 0-15 and map to a grade: 13-15 = A, 10-12 = B, 7-9 = C, 4-6 = D, 0-3 = E. The cut-offs mirror the PetFoodRate 5-axis methodology used on our full product rankings.
Is the result reliable?
It is a fast label screen, not a vet consultation. It catches the 5 most discriminating signals between a good and a poor formula. For a full verdict on a specific product, use our rankings or the detailed product page.
What do I do after I get my grade?
A and B: you are on a strong formula, stay. C: there are better options at the same price range, browse our A-rated lists. D and E: switch brand soon, start with our 'worst foods to avoid' list and the rankings by species.
Is it free? What's the catch?
Fully free. No course to sell, no email capture, no account. PetFoodRate runs on affiliate commissions from retailers like Zooplus (only when you click through and buy). Your diagnostic is never sold or linked to an identity.