Can the food guru's take a look at this food please?

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I know I have posted before about my difficulty in getting a reliable supply of Orijen and Acana and I had another problem this month. I buy two large bags at a time and always give plenty of notice before I re-order but there are glitches and it is mostly because the company that distributes the food is based in the UK and prioritizes UK stores so if there is any problems Ireland gets the short straw.  A new pet boutique opened up recently and is committed to high quality foods and treats etc (no rubbish food) They sell a lot of the freeze dry and raw foods and are organizing to supply Orijen and Acana but know there are problems.  Anyway long story short they have a UK food called Applaws who only use free range chicken and locally sourced foods and I just wondered if you could take a look and let me know what you think.  I bought a small bag and the boys love it and had no problems when I gave it to them for a few days while we waited (again) for their Acana to arrive.  I'm not going to change them completely but would like to know if this is ok for a backup once in a while.  It is roughly the same price and you feed the same amount.. here is the list of ingredients for the chicken variety. They are bringing out a fish variety shortly. I would be very grateful if those of you who know how to read these lists could give me a thumbs up or down?

Composition: Chicken 66% (from Dried Chicken), Chicken Mince 8%, Peas 8% (from Dried Peas), Potato Starch 6%, Poultry Oil 2.5% (Source of Omega 6), Beet Pulp, Poultry Gravy, Whole Egg (from Dried Egg), Cellulose Plant Fibre, Minerals, Vitamins, Salmon Oil (source of omega 3), Tomato (from Dried Potato), Carrot (from Dried Carrot) Chicory Extract (F.O.S), Alfalfa Meal, Seaweed/Kelp, Yeast Extract (Purified Beta Glucan 0.1%), Glucosamine, Methylsulfonylmethane, Chondroitin, Carrot, Peppermint, Paprika Meal, Turmeric, Thyme Extract, Citrus Extract, Taurine 1000 mg/kg, Yucca Extract, Cranberry, Fennel Extract, Carob Extract, Ginger, Rosehip Extract, Dandelion Extract, Rosemary Oil Extract, Oregano, Probiotic: Contains E1705 Enterococcus faecium cernelle 68 (SF68: NCIMB 10415) 1,000,000 cfu/kg as an aid in the establishment, maintenance and restoration of a balanced gut flora in dog

Additives: Vitamins: Vitamin A (retinyl acetate) 19,000 IU/kg, Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 2,000 IU/kg, Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) 640 mg/kg; Trace Elements: Sodium Selenite 0.33 mg/kg, Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 3.26 mg/kg, Ferrous Sulphate Monohydrate 233 mg, Cupric Sulphate Pentahydrate 40 mg/kg, Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate 94 mg/kg, Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate 444 mg/kg. ; Natural Antioxidant: Mixed Tocopherols; Gut Flora Stabiliser: E1705 Enterococcus faecium cernelle 68 (SF68; NCIMB 10415) 1,000,000,000 cfu/kg 

Analytical Constituents: Protein 37% Crude Oils and Fats 20%, Crude Fibres 4.5%, Crude Ash 8.5%, Calcium 1.6%, Phosphorous 1.33%, Carbohydrates <23.5% No added artificial colourants flavourings or preservatives. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's fine for a back-up food. It's not as good as Orijen, but it's better than most foods. And your saving grace is that no pet foods in the UK contain the synthetic vitamins and chemical preservatives that we have in the cheap food, your governments don;t allow them even in pet food.

I love some of the terms for the ingredients, lol. What is "chicken mince"? Chicken meal? And "poultry oil" instead of "poultry fat". LOL

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Thanks Karen, good to know there is something I can use if we get stuck.  Chicken mince is minced up chicken. I think you call it ground as in ground beef? Poultry oil is an odd description it's normally fat here too. I switch them between Orijen and Acana normally here and they both do great on the two of them. I like that there are different varieties we can alternate between.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Do you happen to know where Applaw's ingredients come from? I forgot all about the sourcing issue. 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

UK, free range chicken the rest is all locally sourced.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Okay then! 

[Janice Jones]

Minced meat not to be confused with mincemeat for Xmas! I have been in the USA for 30 years and still get confused at the butchers and grocery store :-)
Can I ask where you get you food from? My brother lives in the U.K. and I would love to get his rescue lab on a good food. We are visiting the U.K. in a few days and I would appreciate contact information.
Thanks in advance.
Janice

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Orijen and Acana are excellent and they are available in the UK. I live in Ireland, a different country altogether!   If you do an online search in the area that your brother lives in or an on-line supplier in the UK that would deliver to him that would be best.

[Janice Jones]

Yes, I understand Ireland is a different country...I am English :-) I was just trying a short cut to find the distributor in the u.k.
My husbands grandparents were Irish on his mothers side. One from Northern Ireland and one from Southern Ireland, (his parents gave him what I thought was a Scottish name ,Gordon......go figure :-) We also have a new member just joined our family from Belfast whose name is also Gordon....so perhaps I am wrong in thinking that is a Scottish name. Which part are you from?

[F, Calla & Luca]

This reminds me of when I got a recipe from a pub on England for the best shepherd's pie I ever ate. I sent the owner a small check to cover his mailing etc. Not only was the recipe for a cast of thousands but I did practically need a translator. Among the ingredients was beef mince : ) I made the best approximation I could back in the day and it was great!

[Lisa Turner]

Having moved from the UK to Chicago a year ago, I totally get this. It made me laugh!!!!

[Lisa Turner]

I have my acana pacific delivered once a month (automatically) by chewy.com. It's great! A big bag just lands on the front porch monthly! I may pay a little more but I never ever run out!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Lisa, Nicky lives in Ireland. I don't think chewy.com delivers overseas, lol.