What's actually in Taste of the Wild?
We analyzed Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free, their best-selling formula. The first five ingredients are buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, and peas.
This is a strong opening by any standard. Buffalo as the first ingredient is a novel, named whole-meat protein. Lamb meal and chicken meal are concentrated animal protein sources — two of them before you hit any carbohydrate. Sweet potatoes are a nutrient-dense complex carb with fiber, vitamins, and a low glycemic impact.
Three animal protein sources in the top five is uncommon at this price point. Most brands in this range lead with one meat and then fill with grains or starches. Taste of the Wild also includes bison and venison further in the ingredient list, giving it one of the most diverse protein profiles in any mainstream kibble. Shop on Amazon →
The good stuff
The formula includes actual proprietary probiotic strains — live, active cultures that support digestive health. This isn't a token mention; it's a guaranteed inclusion that many premium brands can't match. Dried chicory root provides prebiotic fiber to feed those beneficial bacteria.
The antioxidant profile is impressive: blueberries, raspberries, and tomatoes provide natural vitamins and phytonutrients. No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives — the formula uses mixed tocopherols (natural vitamin E) for preservation.
The protein content is around 32%, and unlike many competitors, the majority comes from named animal sources rather than plant fillers. The price is the real story: Taste of the Wild typically costs 30–40% less than Orijen or Acana while delivering a comparable ingredient philosophy. It's manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods, which gives them manufacturing scale that keeps costs down.
The not-so-good stuff
The legume and starch load is the main concern. Peas, pea protein, pea flour, and potato protein all appear on the ingredient list — that's a lot of legume-based ingredients in one formula. This matters for two reasons.
First, pea protein and potato protein are plant-based protein boosters that inflate the protein percentage without the complete amino acid profile of animal sources. When you see this many pea-derived ingredients, some of that 32% protein is coming from plants, not buffalo.
Second, the grain-free/DCM question. In 2018, the FDA began investigating a potential link between grain-free diets heavy in legumes and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. The investigation is ongoing and no definitive causal link has been established, but Taste of the Wild's legume-heavy formula puts it squarely in the category being examined.
"Natural flavors" is a vague ingredient that appears here, as it does in many brands. It's not harmful, but it's not transparent either.
How it compares
Taste of the Wild ties with Blue Buffalo and Diamond Naturals at B/78 — the highest scores in our Tier 1 analysis. But the value calculation tips in Taste of the Wild's favor: it typically costs less than Blue Buffalo while delivering more protein diversity and added probiotics.
Compared to the vet-recommended trio of Purina Pro Plan (C/62), Hill's (C/61), and Royal Canin (C/58), Taste of the Wild scores a full grade higher across the board. You get novel proteins, probiotics, and antioxidant superfoods instead of wheat, corn gluten, and by-product meals.
For growing puppies, the life-stage variant Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy (B/78) adds egg product and dedicated salmon oil DHA to the same water-buffalo-and-lamb-meal base. See the direct TOTW Puppy vs TOTW head-to-head.
Read the full breakdowns in our head-to-head comparisons: Taste of the Wild vs Blue Buffalo, Diamond Naturals vs Taste of the Wild, American Journey vs Taste of the Wild, Taste of the Wild vs Orijen, Royal Canin German Shepherd vs Taste of the Wild, and Zignature vs Taste of the Wild.
The bottom line
Taste of the Wild High Prairie earns a B grade (78/100) from KibbleIQ. Multiple named proteins, probiotics, antioxidant fruits, and no artificial additives — at a price that undercuts most comparable brands. The legume-heavy starch base and grain-free/DCM concern are worth knowing about, but the overall formula is one of the best values on the market. If you want premium ingredients without the premium price tag, this is where to look. Shop on Amazon →