The scores
Fromm Gold: B (84/100) - Five distinct protein sources, dual omega-3s, fresh vegetables, and a prebiotic - from a fifth-generation family-owned Wisconsin company.
Acana Red Meat Recipe: B (88/100) - Three fresh named meats and three meat meals before any carb, organ meats, herring oil, and an extensive superfood blend - from Champion Petfoods, the makers of Orijen.
How the ingredients compare
The top five ingredients reveal different philosophies:
Fromm: Duck, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Oatmeal, Pearled Barley
Acana: Fresh Angus Beef, Fresh Yorkshire Pork, Fresh Grass-Fed Lamb, Beef Meal, Pork Meal
Fromm leads with two animal proteins, then hits oatmeal at position four - a quality whole grain that provides slow-release energy and soluble fiber. Acana doesn't reach a non-animal ingredient until position seven, packing six meat-based proteins up front. That's a significant difference in animal-ingredient density.
But ingredient positioning isn't everything. Fromm's formula includes duck, chicken, lamb, menhaden fish meal, dried egg, and salmon oil - six animal protein sources spread across the list. Acana concentrates its meat heavier at the top. Both approaches deliver excellent protein diversity; Acana just front-loads it more aggressively.
Where Acana pulls ahead
Meat inclusion: Six animal ingredients before the first carb versus Fromm's two. The sheer volume of meat in Acana's formula means a higher percentage of the total protein comes from animal sources rather than grains or legumes.
Organ meats: Fresh beef liver, pork liver, beef tripe, beef kidney, and pork kidney provide naturally occurring taurine, CoQ10, and B vitamins. Fromm doesn't include organ meats, which is the single biggest gap between these two formulas.
Superfood breadth: Pumpkin, butternut squash, zucchini, kale, spinach, cranberries, blueberries, turmeric, milk thistle, and rose hips. Fromm has a solid vegetable blend (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans), but Acana's botanical list is more extensive and includes functional anti-inflammatory ingredients. Shop on Amazon →
Where Fromm holds its own
Grain-inclusive formula: This is Fromm's strongest card. Oatmeal, pearled barley, and brown rice replace the legume-heavy base that Acana uses (peas, lentils, chickpeas, pinto beans). The FDA's ongoing investigation into grain-free diets and DCM directly applies to Acana but not to Fromm. For owners of predisposed breeds - Dobermans, Boxers, Great Danes - this alone could be the deciding factor.
Track record: Fromm Family Foods is a fifth-generation, family-owned company that has never had a Class I recall. In an industry where recall history is a legitimate safety concern, that's a genuinely significant differentiator. Acana's parent company Champion Petfoods has faced lawsuits (though not Class I recalls) over heavy metal levels - allegations the company disputed.
Dual omega-3 sources: Flaxseed delivers plant-based ALA while salmon oil provides marine-based EPA and DHA. Acana has herring oil for marine omega-3s but lacks the complementary plant source. Both dogs and dermatologists would approve of Fromm's approach.
Availability and range: Fromm offers an extensive lineup across grain-free, grain-inclusive, and limited-ingredient formulas. If your dog has specific dietary needs, Fromm likely has a formula for it. Acana's lineup is more focused on the meat-forward, grain-free approach. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Acana earns the higher score with its more intensive animal-ingredient profile, organ meat inclusion, and broader superfood blend. But a 4-point gap within the same letter grade means this comparison comes down to priorities, not quality. If you want maximum meat density and don't have DCM concerns, Acana is the pick. If you prefer a grain-inclusive formula with a pristine safety record and dual omega-3 sources, Fromm is equally excellent. Both brands quietly outperform nearly everything on mainstream pet store shelves. The fact that most dog owners have never heard of either one is the real shame.