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Looking for suitable dog food for your pet can be difficult, especially if your dog has sensitivities or allergies. That’s why it’s crucial to study your options carefully and see which fits your dog best.
This review looks at Gravy Train dog food, a unique pet food that can transform its dry kibbles into tasty gravy by adding warm water. It also provides inexpensive dog food for owners on a budget.
If you’re thinking of trying its dog food for your furry friend, this Gravy Train dog food review provides an in-depth look and analysis of the brand, featuring three of its popular products.
Rating
Since it lacks quality ingredients and nutritional value and uses plenty of artificial ingredients, we rate Gravy Train 3/5.
Since it lacks quality ingredients and nutritional value and uses plenty of artificial ingredients, we rate Gravy Train 3/5.*Find out more about our editorial & review standards
Gravy Train Overview
Gravy Train has been in operation since the 1950s. It’s the first dog food brand to turn its dry kibbles into brown gravy by adding warm water. Ideally, the gravy makes the food more flavorful for dogs.
Founded in 1959, General Foods developed the Gravy Train brand, but it’s currently under the J.M. Smucker Company after acquiring Big Heart Pet Brands in 2015.
The J.M. Smucker Company is a huge consumer brand owning and manufacturing various products from pet foods to coffee. Aside from Gravy Train, the company also holds other pet food brands like 9Lives, Kibbles ‘n Bits, Milo’s Kitchen, and Rachel Ray Nutrish, among many others.
Today, it produces several products for Gravy Train, including wet canned dog foods, dry dog food, and dog treats.
You can find its headquarters in Orrville, Ohio, but it manufactures its products in over 30 locations across North America.
Is Gravy Train Dog Food Good?
Gravy Train is an affordable option for dog owners looking for a basic and tasty gravy-flavored meal. The brand claims that it offers flavors that dogs love.
Although Gravy Train meets the nutritional standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), our analysis below shows that it uses low-quality and controversial ingredients in its dog food.
Below are some quick perks and downsides of using Gravy Train dog foods.
Pros
- Offers a unique rich gravy sauce by adding water to the kibble
- Affordable dog food compared to other brands
- Currently operated by an established company with over 100 years of experience
- Meets the nutritional levels required by the AAFCO
Cons
- Has had a massive recall in the past
- Uses inexpensive, low-quality, and artificial ingredients
- Uses plenty of controversial ingredients, such as colorings
- Doesn’t specify the ingredients list, such as the animal protein
- Some products don’t meet AAFCO standards, as the Beef Sticks treats
Best of Gravy Train Dog Food Products
Let’s analyze the most popular pet foods and dog treats from Gravy Train.
1. Gravy Train Beefy Classic
The Gravy Train Beefy Classic dry dog food offers crunchy kibbles with a meaty aroma. Your dog will surely drool at this classic beefy scent and flavor.
Rest assured that it’s formulated to meet the AAFCO’s dog food nutrient profiles for Adult Maintenance.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 17% | 8% | N/A |
Dry Matter Basis | 19% | 9% | 65% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 18% | 20% | 62% |
Ingredients List: Corn, Soybean Meal, Meat and Bone Meal, Wheat Middlings, Animal Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Animal Digest, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Cellulose Gum, Wheat Flour.
Ingredients Analysis
Unlike other pet food brands, the first five ingredients of this dry dog food offer average nutrition.
When you look at the ingredients list, it’s primarily composed of corn and soybean meal, which are inexpensive and controversial components. Corn offers average nutrition, while soybean can trigger allergies.
It also lists unidentified bone and meat meals, which are rendered animal by-products. Since the meat is unknown, it can come from pigs, goats, or cattle. Although it’s a protein-rich ingredient, it has low digestibility, which could result in stomach issues if you have sensitive dogs.
Meanwhile, the fourth ingredient lists wheat middlings, a by-product of cereal grain processing. Unfortunately, these by-products can consist of floor sweepings and milling dust. These are ingredients you don’t want your beloved dog to consume.
In addition, the Gravy Train Beefy Classic uses animal fat for extra protein. However, it didn’t specify the animal used, which could make it difficult to identify food allergens for your dog.
Although this dry dog food provides complete and balanced nutrition, it offers lower-quality ingredients than most average dog foods. In addition, it contains many questionable ingredients and artificial colorings and flavors.
- Controversial Ingredients: Corn, soybean meal, meat and bone meal, wheat middlings, animal fat, animal digest, wheat flour, caramel color, sodium selenite, red 40, BHA, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 2
- Estimated Meat Content: Meat and bone meals
2. Gravy Train Meaty Classic Beef Liver & Bacon Flavor
The Gravy Train Meaty Classic Beef Liver & Bacon Flavor offers a mix of different meats and parts to create an irresistible pet food. You can also turn this food into gravy by adding water.
Its recipe follows nutritional levels established by the AAFCO for Adult Maintenance.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 17% | 8% | N/A |
Dry Matter Basis | 19% | 9% | 65% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 18% | 20% | 62% |
Ingredients List: Corn, Soybean Meal, Beef and Bone Meal, Wheat Middlings, Animal Fat (Preserved with BHA), Animal Digest (Source of Liver flavor), Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Wheat Flour, Cellulose Gum.
Ingredients Analysis
Similar to the previous pet food, this product contains low-quality ingredients that offer moderate nutrition for your dog. However, it has indicated its meat source, citing beef meat as its primary protein.
This Gravy Train dog food lists corn, soybean meal, and wheat middlings within its top five ingredients. However, it uses beef and bone meal as its protein source, and beef is generally a rich source of protein.
It also includes folic acid, a component required for amino acid metabolism. Having enough folic acid in your dog’s nutrition helps in red blood cell production and DNA synthesis.
Besides this, the product lists animal fat, a by-product of rendering. Notice that it uses BHA preservatives. It’s a component that helps stabilize fats in dog foods and treats. However, pet owners should avoid this ingredient if their dog has kidney damage.
It still contains several vitamins, minerals, and supplements. However, they’re listed further down the list, meaning they constitute a small amount of your dog’s diet.
Overall, this Gravy Train dog food offers an average protein content, fat, and fiber percentage compared to other dog foods on the market. But, if your dog isn’t a picky eater, it still provides a balanced meal.
- Controversial Ingredients: Corn, soybean meal, wheat middlings, animal fat, animal digest, wheat flour, caramel color, sodium selenite, red 40, BHA, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 2.
- Estimated Meat Content: Beef and bone meal and bacon fat
3. Gravy Train Beef Sticks
Gravy Train Beef Sticks offer a dog treat with a beefy flavor suitable for puppies and adult dogs. When feeding small dogs, remember to break this treat for easy consumption.
Regarding its AAFCO nutrient profile, this product doesn’t mention it on the brand’s website, which means it might not follow the recommended nutrition for dog treats.
We also noticed that this pet treat is the only Gravy Train dog food on this list to state a real meat source as its first and main ingredient. However, it also contains beef by-products, sugars, and colorings.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 19% | 5% | N/A |
Dry Matter Basis | 26% | 7% | 63% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 24% | 15% | 60% |
Ingredients List: Beef, Wheat Flour, Soy Flour, Corn Syrup, Beef By-Products, Soybean Meal, Soy Protein Concentrate, Corn Starch, Propylene Glycol, Salt.
Ingredients Analysis
Unlike the other Gravy Train dog foods, this treat contains fewer ingredients and more organic components. It lists beef as its first ingredient, meaning it mainly uses natural beef and provides a good protein source.
It also includes gluten-filled wheat flour as one of the main ingredients. Wheat flour is safe for dogs to eat and provide fiber, vegetable protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, you should avoid these ingredients if your dog has difficulty digesting food, has a wheat allergy, or is gluten intolerant.
We also noticed that the Gravy Train Beef Sticks contain several soy ingredients, such as soy flour, soybean meal, and soy protein. Although it’s safe for dogs to consume, your pets should stay clear of this treat if they have a soy allergy.
Meanwhile, this dog treat also contains corn syrup, which is safe for dogs to consume, but it has a high sugar content that’s not suitable for them. Consuming this treat regularly or in high amounts could put your dog at risk for obesity or diabetes.
Unfortunately, it also includes colorings, like caramel color, and preservatives like potassium sorbate and BHA, which aren’t advisable for dog foods.
It may be a treat that dogs may generally like, but it’s not a healthy reward, especially if your dogs deal with allergies and require specific dietary needs.
- Controversial Ingredients: Wheat flour, soy flour, corn syrup, corn starch, caramel color, BHA, red 40
- Estimated Meat Content: Beef and beef by-products
Product Recalls – 8 Recalls
The J.M. Smucker Company had dog food recalls in 2018, including Gravy Train dog food. Specific products possibly contained low levels of pentobarbital, a drug used for euthanasia.
The company recalled the following Gravy Train products:
- Gravy Train with T-Bone Flavor Chunks, 13.2-ounce can, UPC 7910052541
- Gravy Train with Beef Strips, 13.2-ounce can, UPC 791052542
- Gravy Train with Beef Chunks, 13.2-ounce can, UPC 7910034417
- Gravy Train with Chicken Chunks, 13.2-ounce can, UPC 7910034418
- Gravy Train with Chicken Chunks, 22-ounce can, UPC 7910051645
- Gravy Train with Beef Chunks, 22-ounce can, UPC 7910051647
- Gravy Train with Lamb & Rice Chunks, 13.2-ounce can, UPC 7910052543
- Gravy Train Chunks in Gravy with Beef Chunks, 13.2-ounce can, UPC 7910034417
Other Customer Reviews
Below are some customer reviews of Gravy Train dog foods and treats. Unfortunately, you’ll only find a few reviews of its products, as only select online distributors have them in stock.
Its lower-quality dog foods and previous recall may have affected its popularity, despite its affordable price.
The following reviews are primarily positive, but the lack of sales and online reviews also speak about the credibility and quality of Gravy Train dog food.
Final Word
Gravy Train offers an affordable product line of wet dog food, dry dog food, and treats featuring classic meat flavors. It’s known for its unique kibbles that become rich gravy after adding warm water.
Despite its inexpensive products and tasty treats, Gravy Train recipes offer lower nutritional value compared to other dog foods. Although the nutrients in its products comply with the AAFCO, it uses by-products, artificial ingredients, and other low-quality components, which can harm your pets.
Also, Gravy Train doesn’t entirely identify its ingredients. And it’s best to avoid dog food brands that don’t disclose their detailed ingredients list to avoid feeding your pet unhealthy or risky recipes.
So, we score the Gravy Train dog food on the lower side, given its poor food quality and lack of ingredient transparency.
While it’s still an excellent basic dog food, we’ll only recommend it to dogs with no sensitivities or allergies. Most online reviews seem to say that their dog loves Gravy Train. So, rest assured that it’s still a good meal for your pets.