American Natural Premium
Brief Overview
American Natural Premium (ANP) was founded in Wisconsin in 1998. According to founders Gene Large and Jennifer Burlo, they wanted to provide high quality high quality pet food at an affordable price. According to the company, ANP focuses on three main criteria: quality, taste, and price. ANP currently makes nine kibbles for dogs (including three grain free foods); several treats and biscuits; and dry cat food. Company headquarters are located in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
Who Manufactures American Natural Premium Dog Food?
According to the information we found from several sources, American Natural Premium pet foods are co-packed for the company by Fromm which has several USDA-inspected pet food manufacturing plants in Wisconsin.
American Natural Premium Dog Food Recalls
We did not find any recalls listed for American Natural Premium products in the FDA database.
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American Natural Premium Dog Food Overview
Until rather recently, American Natural Premium has been considered a regional brand. It’s been readily available in the upper midwest so many people in Wisconsin and surrounding areas knew about it and liked it but people outside the region probably hadn’t heard of it. With the growth of sites like Chewy.com, American Natural Premium (and other regional brands) are now easily available to everyone.
ANP has several features that dog lovers will like, especially if you have multiple dogs or you feed bigger dogs. First, their foods are very reasonably priced for premium dog foods. Second, some of their formulas are available in 40-lb bags. If you have 2-3 Labrador Retrievers or other big dogs, you probably know how fast they can go through a 25-lb bag of premium dog food. It’s nice to buy a big bag of food that lasts a little longer. It’s even nicer when that 40-lb bag of food costs less than $60.
We also like the fact that this food is co-packed for the company by Fromm, a company that has a very good reputation in the dog food business.
We personally know several midwest breeders and dog show exhibitors who feed ANP and they have dogs that are always in wonderful condition, with healthy skin and coat. You can find many breeders and dog show people online who give glowing reports about ANP foods.
According to the ANP web site, their foods have no corn, wheat, or soy; and no ingredients from China. Their foods are quality-tested during cooking and before distribution. They purchase their ingredients in small batches, often from local farmers and producers, to ensure quality and freshness. Their foods are cooked in small batches at low temperatures to ensure palatability, digestibility, and the availability of the nutrients. Probiotics are added after cooking to ensure their viability. These are all good things to see in the food you feed your dog.
As already mentioned, ANP currently makes nine kibbles, including three grain free foods.
First Five Ingredients: chicken meal, oatmeal, brown rice, white rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 25 percent, Crude Fat (min) 16 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3.5 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content: 384.33 Kcal/cup
This is an all life stage food.
First Five Ingredients: lamb meal, brown rice, barley, peas, oat flour
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 24 percent, Crude Fat (min) 14 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 4 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content: 382.72 Kcal/cup
This is an all life stage food. This food is completely free of chicken and potatoes.
First Five Ingredients: chicken meal, oatmeal, oat flour, potato, brown rice
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 22 percent, Crude Fat (min) 11 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3.5 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content: 364.89 Kcal/cup
This is an all life stage food. Low fat formula.
First Five Ingredients: chicken meal, pearled barley, oatmeal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), whole dried egg
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 30 percent, Crude Fat (min) 20 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3.5 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content: 387.88 Kcal/cup
This is an all life stage food. High performance formula for active and working dogs. Suitable for pregnant and nursing dogs and growing puppies.
First Five Ingredients: chicken meal, pearled barley, oatmeal, whole dried eggs, chicken
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 25 percent, Crude Fat (min) 17 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3.5 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content: 387.35 Kcal/cup
This is an all life stage food.
First Five Ingredients: chicken meal, brown rice, white rice, barley, oat flour
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 21 percent, Crude Fat (min) 11 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3.5 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content: 364.89 Kcal/cup
This is an all life stage food. No peas, no potatoes. Low fat, low protein.
First Five Ingredients: duck meal, peas, potatoes, pea flour, pork meat meal
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 28 percent, Crude Fat (min) 17 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3.5 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content: 399.18 Kcal/cup
This is an all life stage food. Grain free, no chicken.
First Five Ingredients: ocean fish meal, peas, potatoes, pea flour, pork meat meal
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 28 percent, Crude Fat (min) 17 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 3.5 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content: 407.09 Kcal/cup
This is an all life stage food. Grain free, no chicken.
First Five Ingredients: pork meal, potatoes, chick peas, green peas, lentils
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 26 percent, Crude Fat (min) 14 percent, Crude Fiber (max) 6 percent, Moisture (max) 10 percent
Calorie Content: 490.0 Kcal/cup
This is an all life stage food. Grain free, single-source meat protein.
As you can see, American Natural Premium foods offer a nice selection of meat proteins. They have grain free foods, foods that do not contain peas or potatoes, and foods that do not contain chicken. And the foods are free of corn, wheat, and soy, so you can avoid most of the common allergens for dogs if this is an issue for your dog. You can also choose from low to high protein formulas and from low fat to high fat for dogs that are expending lots of energy. ANP doesn’t have specific formulas for puppies, large, or small breeds, but many dog lovers will be able to find suitable foods from these nine kibbles to meet these needs based on the nutrients and percentages.
Along with these foods, ANP also makes five treats for dogs. Two of them are grain free and two are wheat-free. They make Coconut Colada Flavor (grain free), Sardine & Kelp Flavor (grain free); Chicken Bites Recipe (wheat-free), Bison Bites Recipe (wheat-free); and Biscuits for Dogs.
We can take a closer look at one of the American Natural Premium foods in the next section.
American Natural Premium Exhibitor’s Choice Dog Food Review
We’ve chosen ANP Exhibitor’s Choice because we know several people who feed this food. They give it high marks and their dogs seem to thrive on it so we thought it deserved a closer look.
According to ANP, this is an all life stage formula food for ultimate condition and coat. It has highly digestible protein from chicken meal and fresh chicken. It also has salmon oil – a source of omega-3 – and whole eggs which increase the shine, thickness, and color of the coat. ANP uses a blend of antioxidant-rich vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, and celery for the immune system. They also use chicken cartilage which is a natural form of glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints.
The first five ingredients in the food are: chicken meal, pearled barley, oatmeal, whole dried eggs, and chicken. So, that’s two sources of meat protein in the first five ingredients along with whole dried eggs which are another source of animal protein.
Chicken meal and whole chicken are both considered good sources of meat protein. Chicken meal has had most of the moisture removed before cooking so it’s a more concentrated form of protein. Chicken in general has lots of vitamin B6 and phosphorus, along with niacin and selenium.
Pearled barley is about 7 percent protein, 3 percent fat, and 90 percent carbohydrates. It’s a good source of manganese and some other minerals and vitamins. It’s also a good dietary fiber. Its insoluble fibers slow down digestion and provide friendly bacteria for the digestive tract, especially in the colon.
Oatmeal has about 12 percent protein, 18 percent fat, and 70 percent carbohydrates. It’s a good source of phosphorus and selenium, and a very good source of manganese. The carbohydrates in oatmeal are complex carbs which include dietary fiber in the form of soluble fiber. This fiber attracts moisture in the gastrointestinal tract and swells. It makes your dog feel full after eating. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels. Oatmeal is a healthy wholegrain used in many good dog foods today. The food also contains whole ground oats farther down the ingredient list.
Whole dried eggs are frequently used as a substitute for fresh eggs in dog foods. Some people prefer to see fresh eggs in pet foods but whole dried eggs have many advantages for pet food manufacturers. We do not consider them to be an inferior ingredient. Eggs are a great source of animal protein. They are high in protein (35 percent) and extremely bioavailable, meaning that your dog can easily access the nutrients from the egg. Eggs are a good source of lots of vitamins and minerals.
Other ingredients of interest in this food include: chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols) – an excellent named fat in dog foods. Potatoes – potatoes are about 11 percent protein, 1 percent fat, and 88 percent carbohydrates. Some people will dislike the use of potatoes here but many dogs can eat them without a problem. Potatoes are a good source of Vitamin B6, Potassium and Manganese, and a very good source of Vitamin C. Potatoes have taken a rap because of glycoalkaloids (nerve toxins) but they are only present in the stems, shoots, and green parts of the skin. Another complaint about potatoes is their association with “leaky gut syndrome.” According to people who believe in this syndrome, potatoes and other starches can cause dogs to have digestive problems, immune system problems, allergies, arthritis and other problems. The best advice regarding potatoes is probably to pay attention to your dog’s reaction to this ingredient. If your dog shows any digestive problems when eating a food containing potatoes, avoid potatoes. Otherwise, if your dog can eat them, there is probably no reason to avoid them.
The food also contains tomato pomace which is an excellent source of soluble fiber with high levels of antioxidants such as lycopene. It is the mixture of tomato skin, pulp, and crushed seeds that remain after the tomatoes are juiced to make ketchup, juice, soup, and so on. We do not consider tomato pomace to be a filler ingredient.
Salmon oil is an excellent cold water source of omega-3 fatty acid which is good for your dog’s skin, coat, heart, immune system, and other functions. The food also contains flaxseed which is a plant source of omega-3. Flaxseed is a phytoestrogen but, in small amounts, it should be fine. Note that there is a difference in the omega-3 from fish and plant sources. In general, omega-3 from fish sources are superior for your dog.
Some people are critical of the use of alfalfa meal in dog foods but since it’s almost always used in small amounts, we don’t have a problem with it. Alfalfa meal is relatively high in protein (air-dried alfalfa contains between 14 and 22 percent protein). It’s a source of insoluble fiber. It also provides calcium, potassium, and other trace minerals in the diet, including vitamin K, which may be why some dog food companies use it so they don’t have to use a synthetic form of vitamin K. Alfalfa does contain phytoestrogens which are endocrine disruptors, like soy and legumes; and it has some anti-nutrients which can interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients. Obviously, you would not want to feed your dog a food that used alfalfa as a meat-substitute. But, in small amounts, as a source of vitamins, it should be fine. It’s used in many premium dog foods today.
The food also features carrots, lettuce, and celery which are said to be an antioxidant blend. And the food has chicken cartilage which is a natural form of glucosamine that is good for joints. The food also has chicory root and other pre- and probiotics in the form of fermentation products, along with chelated minerals for better absorption of the minerals.
We note that this food includes cheese as an ingredient. We’re not sure why cheese is added as an ingredient but Fromm also uses it in their foods. Most dogs seem to love cheese so maybe it helps with palatability. It’s very low in the ingredient list so it’s doubtful that it adds much protein. If your dog has problems with dairy products, the cheese in this food is so low in the list that it’s probably a very small amount. It probably won’t bother most dogs.
We don’t see any ingredients in this food to cause concern. ANP Exhibitor’s Choice looks like a very good food with good quality ingredients. It looks like it would be a good dog food for any dog as long as the dog did not have a food allergy or sensitivity to these ingredients.
Calorie Content: 387.35 kcal/cup
Nutrition Statement
American Natural Premium Exhibitor’s Choice is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein (min)……………………..25.0%
Crude Fat (min)…………………………….17.0%
Crude Fiber (max)………………………….3.5%
Moisture (max)…………………………….10.0%
The dry matter basis (DMB) figures for this food are: 27.8 percent protein; 18.9 percent fat; 3.9 percent fiber; and 40.6 percent carbohydrates.
This food has above average protein and above average fat compared to many premium dog foods. It has average fiber and above average carbohydrates.
Where can you buy American Natural Premium Dog Food?
You can purchase American Natural Premium from Chewy.com and other online retailers. You can also check the retail locator on American Natural Premium’s web site to find retailers near you.
American Natural Premium Dog Food Coupons
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Visit the American Natural Premium web site to sign up for a “Welcome To The Family” kit and find out about coupons and special offers. You can also check out their Facebook page to learn about discounts and special offers.
Final Thoughts
We really like the American Natural Premium Exhibitor’s Choice dog food and highly recommend it. We also like some of the other ANP foods such as their grain free foods and their Endurance formula. If you are interested in one of their formulas with low fat/low protein, please check the dry matter figures carefully. You may also wish to contact the company to ask for exact figures, especially if you need to feed your dog a low fat food for health reasons. That’s the only way to get exact numbers. We also think you should be cautious about feeding dogs low protein if they need a low fat diet. Just because your dog may need a low fat diet doesn’t mean he needs low protein. This is especially true for senior dogs who often need more protein as they get older, not less.
Otherwise, we think the American Natural Premium dog foods look very good. Recommended.
Below is a list of Products reviewed in this article
I recently called Fromm and asked where they get their meat from. Mostly out out country, duck in France, lamb in New Zealand, erc. . Living in WI I asked why they could not get some of this meat locally as it seems is advertised. Not a gd answer for it. Now I notice that someone else so-packs it for them.
Nothing was from China.
So how can one be sure of not getting food contaminated witih pentabarbital (euth)asia) or sick animals, etc whether in or out of the country?