Friskies® Gravy Swirlers Cat Food - Gravy, Chicken & Salmon

by Friskies

Overall Score: 38/100

Ingredients

1. Ground Yellow Corn (carbohydrate)
2. Corn Gluten Meal (carbohydrate)
3. Chicken By-product Meal (protein)
4. Soybean Meal (carbohydrate)
5. Beef Tallow Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols (protein)
6. Wheat Flour (carbohydrate)
7. Meat And Bone Meal (protein)
8. Animal Liver Flavor (other)
9. Fish Meal (protein)
10. Calcium Carbonate (mineral)
11. Phosphoric Acid (other)
12. Salmon Meal (protein)
13. Natural And Artificial Flavors (other)
14. Salt (mineral)
15. Dried Chicken Flavored Gravy (protein)
16. Choline Chloride (vitamin)
17. Potassium Chloride (mineral)
18. Minerals [Zinc Sulfate (other)
19. Ferrous Sulfate (mineral)
20. Manganese Sulfate (other)
21. Copper Sulfate (other)
22. Calcium Iodate (mineral)
23. Sodium Selenite] (other)
24. Taurine (additive)
25. Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement (other)
26. Niacin (Vitamin B-3) (other)
27. Vitamin A Supplement (vitamin)
28. Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5) (other)
29. Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1) (other)
30. Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2) (other)
31. Vitamin B-12 Supplement (other)
32. Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6) (other)
33. Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9) (other)
34. Vitamin D-3 Supplement (other)
35. Biotin (Vitamin B-7) (other)
36. Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K)] (other)
37. L-tryptophan (other)
38. Dl-methionine (other)
39. Red 40 (additive)
40. Yellow 5 (additive)
41. Blue 2 (additive)

Ingredient concerns

• Corn (medium concern): Corn is one of the most common allergens in dogs, though true corn allergies are relatively rare compared to protein allergies. Often used as an inexpensive filler to increase bulk. While it does provide digestible carbohydrates, its prominence in ingredient lists (especially as multiple corn-derived ingredients) can indicate a lower-quality formulation.
• Corn Gluten Meal (medium concern): Primarily used as an inexpensive plant-based protein booster that can inflate the protein percentage on guaranteed analysis without providing the complete amino acid profile of animal proteins. Its presence in large quantities may indicate the manufacturer is supplementing with cheap protein instead of using more meat.
• Chicken By-Product Meal (medium concern): While nutritionally adequate, by-product meals can vary widely in quality and digestibility. They include parts like necks, feet, and intestines, which some consumers find objectionable. Quality control is less consistent than named muscle meat sources.
• Soy (medium concern): Soy is a common allergen in dogs and cats. It contains phytoestrogens that may affect hormonal balance, though the clinical significance in pets is not fully established. Often used as an inexpensive protein and carbohydrate filler. Most soy in pet food is genetically modified.
• Wheat (medium concern): Wheat is a common allergen in dogs and cats. While it provides digestible carbohydrates and some protein, it is frequently used as an inexpensive filler. Pets with wheat sensitivities may experience skin irritation, gastrointestinal upset, or chronic ear infections.
• Meat and Bone Meal (medium concern): Like meat meal, it does not specify the species source. The inclusion of bone increases the ash/mineral content and may lower overall protein digestibility. Quality varies widely between manufacturers. Generally considered a lower-quality protein source.
• Red 40 (high concern): Provides no nutritional benefit whatsoever and is added solely for the visual appeal to human buyers, as dogs and cats have limited color vision. Multiple studies have raised concerns about behavioral effects in children, leading the EU to require warning labels on foods containing Red 40. Some animal studies have suggested potential genotoxicity, though results are debated. The FDA maintains it is safe at approved levels, but many veterinary nutritionists recommend avoiding artificial colors entirely.
• Yellow 5 (high concern): Like Red 40, Yellow 5 provides no nutritional value and is added only for appearance. It has been associated with hypersensitivity reactions and behavioral effects in children in multiple studies. Banned or restricted in several countries. The EU requires warning labels on products containing tartrazine. No legitimate reason for its inclusion in pet food.
• Blue 2 (high concern): Another artificial color with zero nutritional value. Some studies have found associations with brain tumors in male rats at high doses, though these findings are not universally accepted. Like other artificial colors, it exists in pet food solely for marketing purposes and offers no benefit to the animal.

Guaranteed analysis (dry-matter basis)

On a dry-matter basis (water removed for a fair wet-vs-dry comparison): protein 33.3%, fat 13.3%, fiber 3.3%, ash 7.5%, carbohydrate 42.5%. By calories: 30.8% from protein, 29.9% from fat, 39.3% from carbohydrate.

AAFCO compliance

This food meets the AAFCO adult cat nutrient minimums we can verify — protein 33.3% vs 26% minimum, fat 13.3% vs 9% minimum.

Wet food, with grains.

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