Reading food labels for homemade dog food: a grocery store guide

Key points

• Choose plain ground meat from a single species and check the % lean; skip anything seasoned, “enhanced with a solution” or sold as patties or meatloaf mix.
• Nothing marinated, seasoned, smoked, cured, brined or pickled: these contain salt, spices and often garlic or onion.
• With canned fish, “packed in water” isn't enough: look for “no salt added” too.
• Plain yogurt and kefir with no sugar or sweeteners; peanut butter that is 100% peanuts, unsalted and xylitol-free (also sold as “birch sugar”).
• Never boxed broth or bouillon cubes: almost all contain onion and lots of salt.

Reading food labels is half of making homemade dog food safely. Our recipes only use dog-safe ingredients, but at the grocery store the same ingredient can come in very different forms: a pack of plain ground beef and a pack of seasoned patties look almost the same in the meat case, a chicken breast “enhanced with a solution” sits right next to a plain one, and a can of sardines or a cup of yogurt can contain exactly what we don't want in your dog's bowl.

This guide is a cheat sheet for your shopping trip: what to read on the package of meat, fish, dairy, peanut butter, flours and frozen vegetables, why boxed broth and bouillon cubes are out, and a list of words that, if you see them on the label, mean “not this one.”

The golden rule: the fewer ingredients, the better

When you cook for your dog, you're almost always looking for an unprocessed food: meat, fish, a vegetable, a grain. So the ingredient list on the package should be very short, ideally a single word: “chicken breast,” “cod,” “green beans,” “rolled oats.”

If the list is long, includes additives you don't recognize, or words like “seasoned,” “flavoring” or “solution,” put it back on the shelf. Always read the ingredient list and the fine print under the product name, not just the big name on the front: the front can say “All Natural Chicken” while the small print says “contains up to 15% chicken broth.”

Chicken, turkey, beef and pork

Ground beef, hamburger and “ready to cook” packs

This is the most important difference, and these packs often sit side by side in the meat case looking almost identical.

	Ground beef	Hamburger	Patties, meatloaf mix, seasoned ground meat
What the label says	“Ground beef,” “ground chuck,” “ground sirloin,” with a % lean	“Hamburger”	“Burger patties,” “meatloaf mix,” “seasoned,” “Italian style”
What's in it	Only beef; no fat can be added beyond what comes with the trimmings	Beef, and loose beef fat may be added	Mixed species (beef, pork, veal) or added salt, spices, breadcrumbs and sometimes onion or garlic
For your dog?	Yes, choosing a lean one	Better not: often fattier	No

Under USDA rules, plain ground beef and hamburger can't contain added water, phosphates, binders or extenders, and anything else that is added, like seasonings, has to appear on the label. So the ingredient line you want is simply “beef.”

If you have a butcher counter you trust, ask them to grind a specific cut for you, for example beef round or boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You'll know exactly what's in it and how much fat it has.

Marinated, seasoned and “enhanced” meat

Marinated pork loin, kebabs, teriyaki or BBQ chicken, buffalo wings, rotisserie chicken, burgers, fresh sausages, bacon: all out. They contain salt, paprika, pepper, garlic and other seasonings. Look for plain meat with nothing else.

Watch out, too, for chicken, turkey and pork that has been “enhanced” or injected with a solution of water, salt, sodium phosphates, broth or flavorings. The label has to say so, usually in small print under the product name: “enhanced with up to 12% of a solution of…” or “contains up to 15% chicken broth.” Many whole turkeys sold as “self-basting” or “pre-basted” are in the same situation. Don't rely on “natural” or “all natural” on the front: check the fine print.

% lean and % fat

In the US, many packs of ground meat state the lean-to-fat ratio, such as “90% lean / 10% fat.” When a % lean is shown, the % fat has to be shown next to it. There is a legal fat ceiling for ground beef and hamburger, but within it the range is wide, so the number on the label is what tells you whether that pack suits your dog.

What the label says	For your dog
93% lean or more (93/7, 96/4), or “ground turkey breast” / “ground chicken breast”	The best option for overweight dogs, dogs with pancreatitis or a sensitive stomach
90% lean (90/10)	A good everyday choice for most dogs
85% lean or less (85/15, 80/20, 73/27) and “hamburger”	Too much fat for daily use; choose a leaner pack
Ground pork	Usually quite fatty and often without a % lean; better a lean cut such as pork loin or tenderloin
Ground turkey or ground chicken (no “breast”)	It can include skin and fat, so check the % lean; or buy skinless breast or thigh and chop or grind it yourself

Pork must always be thoroughly cooked and never fed raw, because it can transmit pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease), which is fatal to dogs. We explain it on the page about pork for dogs.

Dates, cold chain and the USDA mark

• Dates: a “sell by” date tells the store how long to display the product; it isn't a safety date. Ground meat is what keeps the shortest: cook it or freeze it within 1-2 days of buying it, and once a vacuum-sealed or modified-atmosphere pack is opened, the date on the package no longer counts: use it within 24 hours.
• Cold chain: pick up meat and fish at the end of your shopping, carry them in an insulated bag in summer and put them in the fridge as soon as you get home. Don't buy packs that are bloated, have cloudy liquid or smell bad when opened, or frozen products with a lot of frost or ice chunks inside, which usually means they have thawed and been refrozen.
• Inspection mark and lot: meat and poultry carry the round USDA inspection mark with the plant's establishment number (“EST.” or “P-”). It doesn't make the meat more or less safe for your dog, but together with the lot or date code it lets you check whether your pack is affected if there's a recall.

Fish

For our recipes, use fresh or frozen fish with nothing else. Fish labels in the US usually also say whether it is wild-caught or farm-raised and where it comes from, and fish sold as “previously frozen” is best not refrozen raw.

Yes	No
Hake, fresh cod, sardines, mackerel or salmon, fresh or frozen, cleaned and boneless	Salt cod, even after soaking, as it keeps a lot of salt
Frozen fillets whose ingredient list is only the fish (and the water from the ice glaze)	Smoked fish: smoked salmon, lox, kippers or smoked sardines are very salty
Cans that are “packed in water” and “no salt added”	Pickled, in tomato or mustard sauce, in sauces, spicy or seasoned
	Breaded or battered fish, fish sticks and imitation crab (surimi)

Canned fish

This is where you need to look closely: plenty of cans “packed in water” still contain salt, and some tuna adds “vegetable broth.” Look for cans that also say “no salt added”, or check that the ingredient list is only fish and water. Cans in oil aren't dangerous but they add a lot of fat: if you use them now and then, drain them very well. Canned sardines come with softened bones and can be given with them; tuna, because of its mercury, only occasionally.

Yogurt, kefir and other dairy

For treats, frozen snacks or as a topper, yogurt and kefir must be plain, unsweetened and free of sweeteners. The ideal ingredient list: “cultured milk” or “milk, live active cultures.”

• Vanilla, “honey,” flavored, fruit-on-the-bottom or sweetened Greek yogurts: no, because of the sugar. Plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt is fine.
• “Light,” “nonfat” or “0%” flavored yogurts: they almost always contain sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame). Some products may contain xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs.
• “No sugar added” doesn't mean no sweeteners: read the whole list.
• Cottage cheese and ricotta: choose plain ones, “no salt added” or low sodium, and unflavored. Regular cottage cheese is fairly salty.

Plain lactose-free yogurts and kefirs also work, and can suit dogs that don't digest lactose well.

Peanut butter

It's one of the ingredients you need to watch most, because a normal jar and a dangerous one can sit on the same shelf. Peanut butter for your dog has to be:

• 100% peanuts: the ingredient list says only “peanuts” (roasted is fine; skin on or off doesn't matter).
• Xylitol-free. It may appear as “xylitol” or “birch sugar” (and as E967 on European labels). In dogs it causes a sudden drop in blood sugar and liver damage, even in small amounts. More on the xylitol page.
• Unsalted, with no sugar, no honey, no chocolate or cocoa.
• Ideally without palm oil, hydrogenated oils or other added oils, which is what most “no-stir” versions use: not toxic, but extra fat.

“Reduced sugar,” “sugar-free,” “protein,” “keto” or “no sugar added” versions are the ones most likely to contain sweeteners. Even if you've bought the same jar before, read the label again: manufacturers change their recipes. We use it, for example, in our whole wheat peanut butter dog biscuits.

Boxed broth and bouillon cubes: no

Even when they're labeled “homestyle,” “organic” or “low sodium,” boxed or canned broths and stocks, bouillon cubes, granules and paste concentrates are not suitable for your dog:

• Almost all contain onion or leek, sometimes garlic, and the onion family damages a dog's red blood cells.
• They contain a lot of salt, including the “reduced sodium” ones.
• Bouillon adds flavor enhancers, yeast extract, fats and spices.

Ready-made vegetable soups and purees (butternut squash, zucchini) have the same problem: nearly all contain onion, leek and salt. The alternative is easy: the unsalted cooking water from the recipe itself, or a homemade broth for dogs that you can freeze in ice cube trays.

Flours and oats

For cookies and treats, the label should list only the grain or legume: “whole wheat flour,” “rice flour,” “chickpea flour,” “rolled oats.”

• Don't use self-rising flour or cake, pancake or baking mixes: they contain leavening agents, and some contain sugar or salt.
• Don't use breading mixes, breadcrumbs (they contain salt and yeast) or bread mixes.
• For oats, only plain rolled oats; no flavored instant oatmeal packets, muesli, granola or oats “with honey,” “with chocolate” or “with fruit,” which may contain raisins.
• If your dog doesn't tolerate gluten or your vet has asked you to avoid wheat, rice flour and chickpea flour are good alternatives: try the gluten-free rice flour and carrot treats and the chickpea flour and pumpkin treats.

Frozen vegetables

Frozen vegetables are very handy for homemade dog food: green beans, peas, carrots, broccoli, chopped spinach or diced butternut squash. They're just as good as fresh as long as they are only vegetables.

Yes	No
“Cut green beans,” “sweet peas,” “chopped spinach”: a single vegetable	“Seasoned,” “in butter sauce,” “with cheese sauce,” “garlic” and most steam-in-bag sides with sauce
Plain vegetable blends whose list includes no onion or leek	“Seasoning blend,” mirepoix, sofrito and stir-fry or fajita mixes: they contain onion, peppers and often garlic and salt
	Vegetables “with bacon” or “with ham”

Always check blends: some “soup vegetables” or “stew vegetables” include onion or leek even if the photo doesn't show it.

Red-flag words on the label

If you see any of these words in the product name or the ingredient list, that product is not for your dog's food.

If it says…	Why not
Onion, garlic, leek, chives, shallot (also “powder,” “dehydrated” or “minced”)	They damage red blood cells and can cause anemia
Xylitol, birch sugar	Highly toxic: drop in blood sugar and liver damage
Sweetener, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, sorbitol, maltitol	They add nothing, some cause diarrhea, and they are a clue that others may be present
Sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, honey	Added sugar your dog doesn't need
Salt, sodium chloride, salted, brined, cured, seasoned	Too much sodium
“Enhanced with a solution,” “contains up to …% broth,” self-basting	Injected salt water, phosphates or flavorings
Sulfites, sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite	They destroy vitamin B1
Spices, seasoning, paprika, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon	They irritate the stomach; some are toxic
Marinated, smoked, cured, pickled, barbecue	Salt, spices and often garlic or onion
Patties, meatloaf mix, “for meatballs”	May contain salt, breadcrumbs and seasonings
Broth, stock, bouillon, yeast extract, flavor enhancer, MSG (monosodium glutamate)	A sign that it contains salt and seasonings
Cocoa, chocolate, coffee	Toxic to dogs
Raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts	Toxic to dogs
Natural flavor(s), artificial flavor(s), flavoring	It doesn't say what it is, and it can hide onion or garlic: better pick another product

For the complete list, with what happens if your dog eats them, see foods dogs should not eat. And if you've already done your shopping, the what to cook for my dog tool tells you which recipes you can make with what's in your fridge.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use ground beef from the grocery store for homemade dog food?

Yes, as long as the label says ground beef (or another single meat) and the ingredient list is only meat. Avoid seasoned ground meat, patties, meatloaf mix and anything “enhanced with a solution.” Choose a pack that is 90% lean or more, cook or freeze it within a day or two of buying it, and keep it refrigerated.

What peanut butter is safe for dogs?

One made from 100% peanuts, with no salt, no sugar and above all no xylitol, which may also be listed as “birch sugar.” Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs even in small amounts. Be wary of reduced-sugar, protein, keto or no-sugar-added versions, and read the label every time, because manufacturers change their recipes.

Can dogs eat canned tuna or sardines?

Now and then, yes, if they are packed in water with no salt added. Many cans packed in water still contain salt, so check that the ingredient list is only fish and water. No pickled fish, tomato or mustard sauce, or spicy versions. Cans in oil only occasionally and well drained. Tuna is best kept small because of its mercury.

Can I use store-bought chicken broth or bouillon in my dog's food?

No. Almost all boxed broths and bouillon cubes contain onion or leek, which are toxic to dogs, and a lot of salt, even the low-sodium ones. Use the unsalted cooking water from the recipe itself, or make a homemade broth for dogs with chicken and safe vegetables, no onion or salt, and freeze it in ice cube trays.

What kind of yogurt can dogs eat?

Plain yogurt with no sugar and no sweeteners, whose ingredient list is only milk and live cultures. Avoid sweetened, vanilla, flavored and fruit yogurts, and light or nonfat flavored ones, which can contain sucralose, aspartame or even xylitol. Plain unsweetened Greek yogurt and plain kefir work too. Start with a small amount in case your dog doesn't tolerate lactose well.