What's actually in Merrick?
We analyzed Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe. The first two ingredients are deboned chicken and chicken meal — a whole fresh protein followed by its concentrated form. Brown rice and barley follow as quality whole-grain carbohydrates. Sweet potato at position five is an excellent complex carbohydrate and fiber source. Peas appear mid-list, followed by chicken fat, salmon meal, apples, blueberries, and salmon oil.
The list is relatively lean — no exotic additives, no filler grains, no by-products. What's there is quality; what isn't there is by design. Shop on Amazon →
The good stuff
The protein stack is the headline. Deboned chicken first, chicken meal second, salmon meal further down — three named protein sources in a single formula. Most brands at this tier offer two. Salmon meal adds a second animal species to the amino acid profile, providing complementary nutrients that pure-chicken formulas lack.
Whole grains throughout: brown rice and barley are both quality complex carbohydrates with better glycemic profiles than white rice or corn. Sweet potato provides additional fiber and natural beta-carotene. Apples and blueberries round out the produce side. Salmon oil delivers marine omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) for skin, coat, and anti-inflammatory support.
No corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Merrick is owned by Purina (acquired 2015) but maintains separate sourcing and formulation. The Classic line has maintained its quality profile through the acquisition.
The not-so-good stuff
No probiotics. No prebiotic either — unlike Wellness Complete Health, which includes chicory root extract, Merrick Classic doesn't address gut microbiome health at all. This is the most notable gap in an otherwise strong formula.
No glucosamine or chondroitin. Again, Wellness Complete Health includes both at the same price point. For dogs without joint concerns this is irrelevant, but it's a missed opportunity at the premium tier.
The produce inclusion is limited to apples and blueberries. No leafy greens, no carrots, no vegetables beyond the sweet potato. Compared to Fromm Gold's more extensive vegetable blend, the produce side is thin.
How it compares
At B/80, Merrick Classic sits near the lower end of the premium tier. It falls below Acana (B/88), Fromm Gold (B/84), and Wellness Complete Health (B/82), and ties with Taste of the Wild (B/78) and Diamond Naturals (B/78) at roughly the same quality level.
It's a meaningful step above the vet-recommended mainstream brands — 20+ points above Purina Pro Plan (C/62), Hill's Science Diet (C/61), and Royal Canin (C/58). At a similar price to Wellness, the choice between them comes down to whether joint health matters: pick Wellness if it does, Merrick if it doesn't.
Read the full breakdowns in our head-to-head comparisons: Merrick vs Blue Buffalo and Freshpet vs Merrick.
Life-stage variant: Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy (B/78) simplifies the adult protein stack to chicken + salmon meal + turkey meal and adds DHA from salmon meal, supplemental taurine, and quinoa plant protein for the 0-12 month developmental window.
The bottom line
Merrick Classic earns a B grade (80/100) from KibbleIQ. Three named protein sources, whole grains, sweet potato, salmon oil, and a clean label make it a reliable premium option. It doesn't break new ground the way Fromm or Acana do, but the fundamentals are solid. If you want a no-fuss grain-inclusive formula with quality ingredients and a reasonable price, Merrick delivers. Shop on Amazon →