Stiftung Warentest tests dog food: discounters perform better than expensive brands
- info9580869
- Aug 27
- 2 min read
Who hasn't been there? We often stand helplessly in front of the shelves in the supermarket or specialist shop: premium brand or cheap food from the discounter? Advertising usually promises the best for our furry friends – but does it deliver what it promises? Stiftung Warentest took a closer look at this and tested 24 different dry foods. The result is surprising – and a real help for many dog owners when making their decision.
Only one product rated ‘very good’
Of all the varieties tested, only one food received the top rating of ‘very good’:
4Paws Sunny Hills Premium Softbrocken, available at Edeka, Netto and Budni. A daily ration for a 15-kilogram dog costs around £0.70. Stiftung Warentest certified that the food provides a complete supply of nutrients and gave correct feeding recommendations.
Good results from low-cost discounters
Inexpensive products also performed well. Recommended brands include:
Orlando Gourmet High Premium Nuggets (Lidl)
Pablo Kraft Menü (Netto) – at only £0.25 per day
Winston Saftige Happen (Rossmann) – grade 1.9
Overall, 20 of the 24 products tested achieved at least a ‘satisfactory’ rating.
Expensive brands disappoint
Some well-known products failed to impress in the test:
Lucky Dog (Penny) received a ‘sufficient’ rating. The reason: too little vitamin A and methionine, as well as incorrect feeding recommendations.
Adult Duck & Potato (Josera) was also only rated ‘adequate’. Here, the testers criticised the low methionine content and risky portion sizes.
Real Nature Country Selection Mediterranean (Fressnapf) scored ‘adequate’ – despite the highest daily price of £1.90. Criticism was levelled at the lack of nutrients such as linoleic acid and methionine. The promise that it was particularly suitable for sensitive dogs was also not confirmed.
‘Sensitive’ products often only mediocre
Stiftung Warentest also paid particular attention to foods advertised as ‘sensitive’. The result: not a single one of the products tested was really convincing. Five varieties received only a ‘satisfactory’ rating or worse. The testers considered some advertising claims to be misleading, as the same nutritional requirements apply to sensitive food as to other complete feeds.
Price differences of £0.25 to £1.99 per day
The study also shows how much prices vary: Depending on the brand, feeding a medium-sized dog costs between £0.25 and £1.99 per day – which equates to between £91 and £726 per year.
Conclusion
The test clearly shows that a high price is no guarantee of good quality. Even inexpensive products from discounters can provide dogs with a balanced diet, while some expensive brands have serious nutritional deficiencies. It is therefore worthwhile for dog owners to take a detailed look at the test results – and not to rely solely on advertising or brand image when buying food.
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