What do consumer-group tests like Which? say about kibble quality?

Consumer organisations such as Which? in the UK and Consumer Reports in the US publish comparative tests of dog and cat foods, based on composition, coverage of needs and labelling. Their work tends to find nutritional quality often adequate, while flagging weak information on feeding amounts and gaps between claims and composition (Which?, consumer testing).

The nature of these tests

Which? and Consumer Reports are independent consumer associations that run comparative tests free of brand influence. Their pet-food work examines composition, fit to needs and the clarity of labelling (Which?, consumer testing). The recurring finding: many foods broadly match nutritional needs, yet thin information on how much to feed contributes to pet overweight, a problem that compounds the roughly 59 percent of dogs and 61 percent of cats overweight or obese in the US in 2022 (Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 2022).

How to place these tests

These tests offer a useful independent view, distinct from affiliate comparison sites, but they remain a snapshot of a dated panel of products. They complement, without replacing, the FEDIAF and AAFCO adequacy references and the WSAVA manufacturer-assessment method (FEDIAF, 2019; WSAVA, 2021). For a current view, it is best to read the association's most recent publications directly rather than an old summary.