There is restricted ownership information available. It appears Tender & True’s parent company is Omaha Industries Inc. This can be the parent company of Crete Core Ingredients. This is a fresh and frozen supplier of ingredients to the pet food industry. Omaha Industries Inc. was founded in 1979. It’s involved in warehousing and cold storage. The home office is in Omaha, Nebraska.
In 2014, Tender & True introduced USDA certified organic pet foods. They produce some recipes which can be organic and non-GMO. Some recipes are grain-free. There are also recipes with conventionally farmed ingredients. They make products for dogs and cats. All processing is completed in the corporate’s plant in Crete, Nebraska.
For our Tender & True pet food review, we’ll have a look at the food ingredient quality and safety of every line of food. Our pet food reviews are based on these criteria.
IS TENDER & TRUE A GOOD DOG FOOD?
Tender & True produces 3 lines of pet food. They have dry, freeze-dried and canned with a complete of 14 recipes. The company produces organic and non-GMO recipes. They also produce recipes with conventionally farmed ingredients.
Tender & True recipes are poultry-based and fish-based. The company sources and supplies its own ingredients. It states it has an extended relationship with growers and fisheries. However, it doesn’t state the countries of origin for its ingredients.
Tender & True is the primary pet food manufacturer to acquire Global Animal Partnership (GAP) certification. This applies to all its poultry recipes. Producers need to fulfill about 100 different criteria to realize a Step 1 GAP certification. This places importance on animal welfare. Poultry has been certified to Step 2 and Step 3. It’s described as humanely raised. They have an enhanced environment with outdoor access. Producers are going beyond the fundamental requirements.
The salmon and whitefish are also certified. They follow the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). This label is an emblem of sustainability. It certifies fish was caught by a responsible fishery. They ensure healthy oceans and safeguard seafood supplies. This fish is wild caught. It’s more nutritious than farmed fish and has a greater fatty acid balance.
In 2014, Tender & True launched its organic pet food. Only pet food products with 95% organic ingredients can display the USDA organic seal. The company offers 3 organic dry recipes. There is 1 organic freeze dried recipe and a pair of organic canned recipes.
It’s good to see organic recipes. This means a minimal risk of pesticide/herbicide residues. GMO crops aren’t used either. This is notable in recipes with vegatables and fruits. They are frequently heavily sprayed. However, the 13 dry and canned recipes don’t include produce. They don’t profit from their micronutrients. The result’s there’s an excessive list of added vitamins and minerals.
This is unlucky as synthetic nutrients aren’t as bioavailable as in whole foods. Whole food sources include the complete spectrum of cofactors. This makes them secure and bioavailable. Added vitamins implies the food is of poor dietary value.
These recipes are grain-free. But that doesn’t mean they’re low in carbohydrates. In fact, each the dry and canned recipes have high levels of carbohydrates. They’re from ingredients reminiscent of chickpeas, tapioca, potato, peas, rice and sweet potato. The freeze-dried line has very low carbohydrates. This is sweet to see.
Some recipes contain processed, inflammatory seed oils. They have plant proteins. They’re an inexpensive substitute for animal protein. Other quality concerns include unnamed animal protein. This is an indication of low quality. These recipes contain fish oil that will be constituted of any kind of fish or poultry. They will be from rendered waste of many proteins.
The freeze-dried recipe scores 10/10 for ingredient safety. The dry recipes rating lower for being ultra processed. This causes a lack of nutrients from various stages of heating. Canned foods have less processing. They still lose nutrients from heating.
The organic recipes don’t contain ingredients with high pesticide/herbicide residues or GMOs. However, the opposite recipes within the dry and canned lines have GMOs. They even have high pesticide/herbicide ingredients in the highest 5. All recipes use natural flavor. Some recipes contain rice. It can contain arsenic.
Tender & True doesn’t state the omega-6:omega-3 ratio of their recipes. This is true of most firms. It’s a priority because AAFCO allows a really inflammatory ratio of 30:1. Diets wealthy in omega-6 fats could cause chronic inflammation.
Let’s have a look at each line in a bit of more detail.
Tender & True Dry
Score: 3.9/10
Ingredient List For Organic Turkey & Liver Recipe: Organic Turkey, Organic Chicken meal, Organic tapioca starch, Organic dried peas, Organic chickpea, Organic flaxseed meal, Organic potato starch, Organic chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Organic Pea Flour, Organic chicken liver, Natural Flavors, Menhaden fish oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Monosodium phosphate, Choline chloride, Mixed tocopherols(preservative), Calcium Carbonate, Ascorbic acid, Vitamin E complement, Zinc proteinate, Zinc sulfate, Manganous oxide, Manganese proteinate, Inositol, Ferrous sulfate, Niacin, Vitamin B12 complement, Zinc oxide, Iron proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Riboflavin complement, Calcium pantothenate, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Sodium selenite, Copper sulfate, Vitamin A complement, Copper proteinate, Citric acid (preservative), Vitamin D3 complement, Folic acid, Potassium iodide.
Tender & True Dry pet food is a high risk food by our criteria. There are 7 recipes. They average 27% protein. There are 35% carbohydrates as calculated.
These foods rank low in ingredient quality. They have high carbohydrates. It appears the corporate goes to extra lengths in its organic certifications. However, organic ingredients aren’t utilized in all recipes. That makes it essential for added vitamins and minerals. There’s added sugar, plant protein, and inflammatory seed oil. They have unnamed animal protein like fish oil. These foods are ultra processed. Heating destroys nutrients. Three recipes are certified organic. They don’t contain ingredients with high pesticide/herbicide residues or GMOs. However, the opposite 4 recipes have GMO ingredients. They’re in the highest 5 ingredients. They even have high pesticide ingredients. All recipes use natural flavor. They have rice, which may contain arsenic. One recipe comprises coconut oil. Tender & True doesn’t provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio. This is a priority since AAFCO allows a really inflammatory ratio of 30:1.
Dry Benefits
- Made in house
- Some organic certified recipes
- Contains no wheat, corn or soy
- Salmon and whitefish are wild caught
Dry Concerns
- High carbohydrates
- Excessive added vitamins & minerals
- Seed oil (2 recipes)
- Contains plant protein
- Contains unnamed animal protein
- Contains sugar
- Ultra processed
- High pesticide/herbicide foods
- GMOs in top 5 ingredients
- Contains rice
- Contains natural flavor
- Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
- Doesn’t specify if fish oil is from farmed or wild-caught fish
- Uses ingredient splitting
- Contains coconut oil (1 recipe)
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
Tender & True Freeze-Dried
Score: 8/10
Ingredient List For Farmers Market Recipe: Organic Chicken, Organic Turkey, Organic Chicken Liver, Organic Flaxseed Meal, Organic Carrots, Organic Dried Eggs, Dried Organic Chicken Broth, Fish Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Organic Pumpkin, Organic Sweet Potatoes, Organic Apples, Organic Blueberries, Organic Kale, Mixed Tocopherols (preservative), Salt, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Inositol, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, d- Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Citric Acid (preservative), Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid.
Tender & True Freeze-Dried pet food is a low risk food by our criteria. There is 1 recipe. It is 38% protein. There are 5% carbohydrates as calculated. This is an authorized organic pet food. However, this line loses points for having added vitamins and minerals. This is disappointing for freeze-dried pet food. There can be added sugar, and fish oil which is an unnamed animal protein. Tender & True doesn’t provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio, which is a priority since AAFCO allows a really inflammatory ratio of 30:1.
Freeze Dried Benefits
- Made in house
- Certified organic
- No high pesticide/herbicide ingredients
- No GMO crops
- Minimal Processing
- Minimal Carbohydrates
- Contains no wheat, corn or soy
Freeze Dried Concerns
- Contains excessive added vitamins & minerals
- Contains unnamed protein
- Contains sugar
- Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
- Doesn’t specify whether fish oil is from farmed or wild-caught fish
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
Tender & True Canned
Score: 5.4/10
Ingredient List For Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe: Salmon, Fish broth, Pea protein, Dried sweet potatoes, Pea flour, Fish oil, Salt, Natural flavor, Agar-agar, Tricalcium phosphate, Sodium phosphate, Magnesium proteinate, Calcium carbonate, Potassium chloride, Choline chloride, Taurine, Zinc proteinate, Thiamine mononitrate, Iron proteinate, Niacin complement, Vitamin E complement, Copper proteinate, Vitamin A complement, Sodium selenite, Calcium d-pantothenate, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Riboflavin complement, Biotin, Manganese proteinate, Vitamin B12 complement, Folic acid.
Tender & True Canned pet food is a moderate risk food by our criteria. There are 6 recipes. The average protein is 39% protein. Average carbohydrates are 24% as calculated on a dry matter basis. These foods are low in ingredient quality for having high carbohydrates. They have added vitamins and minerals. There is added sugar, plant protein and inflammatory seed oil. They use unnamed animal protein (fish oil). Canned foods are highly processed. This destroys nutrients. Two recipes are certified organic. They don’t have ingredients with high pesticide/herbicide use. There are not any GMO ingredients either. However, the opposite 4 recipes have GMO crops and high pesticide ingredients in the highest 5. Two recipes use natural flavor and rice. Rice can contain arsenic. Tender & True doesn’t provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio. This is a priority since AAFCO allows a really inflammatory ratio of 30:1.
Canned Benefits
- Made in house
- Some certified organic recipes
- Contains no wheat, corn or soy
- Salmon and whitefish are wild caught
Canned Concerns
- High in carbohydrates
- Contains excessive added vitamins & minerals
- Contains added amino acids (1 recipe)
- Contains seed oil
- Contains plant protein
- Contains unnamed animal protein
- Highly processed
- High pesticide/herbicide foods in top 5 ingredients
- GMOs in top 5 ingredients (1 recipe)
- Contains rice
- Contains natural flavor
- Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
- Doesn’t specify farmed or wild-caught fish for fish oil
- Uses ingredient splitting
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
TENDER & TRUE DOG FOOD RECALLS
To date, Tender & True has not had any recalls or voluntary withdrawals.
Evaluation Criteria
We evaluate and rating dog foods based on two criteria:
Are the Ingredients High Quality?
Here are some common low-quality ingredients or markers we search for:
- Is there excessive carbohydrate content, which could cause gut imbalances?
- Does the food contain unnamed proteins, that are low quality?
- Does the food use cellulose (wood pulp) as a source of fiber as an alternative of real food?
- Are there excessive vitamins and minerals added instead of real food nutrition?
- Are there excessive added amino acids or plant proteins as an alternative of costly meat protein?
- Does the food contain inflammatory processed seed oils?
How Safe Are the Ingredients?
Many ingredients come from unhealthy, inflammatory sources or are filled with pesticides so we search for:
- How processed is the food?
- Does the food contain known genetically modified foods?
- Does the food contain ingredients known to be high in pesticides?
- Does the food contain natural flavor, which are sometimes MSG or animal digest?
- Does the food contain rice, which is high in arsenic?
Each food is objectively evaluated by these criteria and a rating is assigned using the common of ingredient quality and safety. This is NOT a paid list and there are not any affiliate links. Dogs Naturally has partnered with DogFoodReviews.com to make sure that dog owners have unbiased, objective criteria to assist them select one of the best pet food available on the market. You can view the complete Evaluation Criteria at DogFoodReviews.com.