Decoding Ingredient Splitting — How Brands Mislead with Grains & Sugar

Pet food labels may look clean and wholesome, but behind the scenes, some brands use a tactic called ingredient splitting to disguise the dominance of cheap fillers like grains and sugars. At Sanctum Paws & Fangs, we believe every ingredient should earn its place — not hide behind clever formatting. This guide reveals how ingredient splitting works, why it matters, and how to spot it like a pro.

🧪 What Is Ingredient Splitting?

Ingredient splitting is the practice of dividing a single ingredient into multiple sub-ingredients to push it further down the label — making it appear less dominant than it really is.

Example: Instead of listing “peas” once, a brand might list:

Pea protein
Pea flour
Pea fiber

Together, these may outweigh the meat in the recipe — but by splitting them, the meat appears first on the label. It’s a legal but misleading way to manipulate ingredient order.

🍚 Commonly Split Ingredients

Ingredient	Split Variants
Peas	Pea protein, pea flour, pea fiber
Corn	Corn gluten meal, corn flour, corn syrup
Rice	Brown rice, white rice, rice bran, rice flour
Potatoes	Potato starch, potato protein, dried potatoes
Soy	Soy flour, soy protein isolate, soybean meal

These ingredients are often used to inflate protein content or bulk up the recipe — without adding meaningful nutrition.

🛑 Why It’s Problematic

Misleading Labels: Makes it seem like meat is the main ingredient when it’s not
Nutritional Imbalance: Excessive carbs and plant proteins can lead to inflammation, allergies, and digestive issues
Allergy Risks: Hidden allergens may trigger reactions in sensitive dogs
Trust Erosion: Undermines transparency and consumer confidence

🧭 How to Spot Ingredient Splitting

Scan the first 5 ingredients — they make up the bulk of the food
Look for multiple versions of the same item (e.g., pea flour + pea protein)
Be wary of vague terms like “natural flavor” or “meat meal”
Don’t be fooled by “meat is the first ingredient” claims — check what follows

🐶 Why It Matters

Dogs deserve food that’s honest, nourishing, and biologically appropriate. Ingredient splitting can mask a formula that’s heavy in carbs and light on real meat — which may contribute to skin issues, shedding, hot spots, and chronic inflammation.

🛡️ What to Choose Instead

Single or limited ingredient foods
Named proteins (e.g., “duck,” not “poultry meal”)
Whole food sources — no by-products or synthetic fillers
Transparent brands that disclose sourcing and formulation

🐾 Final Thoughts

Ingredient splitting is a clever trick — but you’re smarter than the label. At Sanctum Paws & Fangs, we curate products that extend your pet’s life, not just fill their bowl. Because every dog deserves to thrive, not just survive.

PART 2

Ingredient splitting is surprisingly common — even among brands marketed as “premium.” While not every formula from these companies uses the tactic, here’s a list of 20 well-known brands that have been flagged for ingredient splitting in at least some of their recipes:

🕵️♂️ Top 20 Premium Dog Food Brands Known to Use Ingredient Splitting

Brand	Commonly Split Ingredients Used
Taste of the Wild	Peas, lentils, potatoes
Blue Buffalo	Peas, rice, corn
Merrick	Peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes
Earthborn Holistic	Peas, lentils, chickpeas
Fromm	Peas, potatoes, rice
Zignature	Peas, chickpeas, flaxseed
Crave	Peas, lentils, tapioca
Pure Balance	Peas, rice, corn
American Journey	Peas, chickpeas, sweet potatoes
Wellness CORE	Peas, lentils, potatoes
Canidae PURE	Peas, chickpeas, sweet potatoes
Nutro Ultra	Peas, rice, oats
Iams	Corn, wheat, soy
Hill’s Science Diet	Corn, wheat, soy
Royal Canin	Corn, wheat, rice
Acana	Lentils, peas, chickpeas
Orijen	Lentils, peas, beans
Instinct Raw Boost	Peas, tapioca, chickpeas
Nature’s Logic	Millet, rice, oats
Victor	Peas, sweet potatoes, flaxseed

🛡️ Important Notes

Not all formulas from these brands use ingredient splitting — some offer clean, transparent recipes.
Splitting is legal and often used to manipulate ingredient order, making meat appear more dominant than it is.
Always read the first 5 ingredients and look for multiple versions of the same item (e.g., pea protein, pea flour, pea fiber).

🛡️ Top 20 Premium Kibble Brands That Avoid Ingredient Splitting

Brand	Notes on Transparency & Formulation
Spot & Tango (UnKibble)	Human-grade, whole ingredients; no fillers or splits
Open Farm	Ingredient-level traceability; Certified Humane meats
Annamaet	Clean formulations; no legumes or split grains
Nature’s Logic	Millet-based; no synthetic vitamins or split carbs
Dr. Tim’s	Veterinarian-formulated; no ingredient stacking
Holistic Select	Digestive-focused; uses whole grains and named proteins
Wellness CORE	Transparent recipes; minimal use of legumes
Canidae PURE	Limited ingredient lines with clean protein sources
Redbarn Sky	Poultry-based; avoids legume stacking
Nulo Freestyle	High meat inclusion; low plant protein load
A Pup Above (Cubies)	Sous-vide meets kibble; human-grade and traceable
Jinx	Salmon-based; grain-inclusive and allergy-friendly
Farmina N&D	Low glycemic index; avoids split legumes
Now Fresh (Petcurean)	Single-source proteins; grain-free with whole veggies
Solid Gold	Ancient grains; avoids excessive carb stacking
Merrick Classic	Grain-inclusive; joint support and clean labeling
Wellness Complete Health	Balanced recipes; avoids ingredient padding
Open Farm RawMix	Freeze-dried raw chunks; no split legumes
Ziwi Peak (Air-Dried)	Whole prey philosophy; no fillers or artificial additives
Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Kibble	Freeze-dried raw coating; clean protein-first formulas

🧭 What to Look For

Named whole ingredients (e.g., “duck,” “oats,” “pumpkin”)
No duplicate listings of the same item (e.g., “pea flour,” “pea protein,” “pea fiber”)
Transparent sourcing and manufacturing disclosures
Limited ingredient recipes with single protein sources