Nutriwolds is a new Yorkshire-based raw manufacturer, providing ethically sourced, FEDIAF balanced raw food beyond the 80/10/10 ratio, suitable for all life stages and for cats too! Available in 7 recipes, and in 500g or 1kg sizes. www.nutriwolds.co.uk Quality ★★★★★The quality of Nutriwolds is amazing. The minces are a course texture (this review is about the chunky variety rather than the fine mince), with identifiable ingredients that you can actually see in the mince itself. I'm not really sure what else to say about the quality that I haven't discussed below, and I think the photos at the end of this review do it justice! Ingredients ★★★★★The ingredients in each Nutriwolds recipe is amazing- they have some really unique ingredients that you wouldn't find in other brands. They still have a really high meat content, but have additional vegetables, herbs, oils and mineral superfoods, like Himalayan Pink Rock Salt, included. The vegetables (red cabbage, mooli, courgette and a small amount of spinach) amount to less than 10% of each recipe, and may be a good alternative for those dogs who don't tolerate the "usual" vegetables included in raw minces. I also love how transparent Nutriwolds are with their ingredients. Everything is listed on the packaging and website, right down to the exact percentage. There are no ambiguous terms, and the proteins of each meat cut are listed (so you know the heart is from beef etc). It would be nice to see exactly which cuts of meat are used; for example, I can see that there is lung in the Lamb Cool Pot recipe, but I don't know exactly how much lung is actually in it as it is not listed separately in the ingredients- I assume it falls under the 61.97% grass fed lamb. That is just me being picky though, as some manufacturers don't even include an ingredients list on the packaging! Texture ★★★★★What I like about Nutriwolds is that they offer two mincing textures- chunky and fine. This review looks at the chunky minces, and I'm amazed at how chunky they actually are! There are big chunks of meat, lung, heart, liver and vegetables throughout the minces (as can be seen on the photos), so it does truly live up to the name. I did find that the Rare Bit of Rabbit and Salmon Brunch recipes weren't quite as chunky as the other recipes in terms of meat chunks, but they are still a nice texture. The Salmon Brunch was also quite wet and oily, but this is to be expected as salmon and herring are oily fish (think of all the skin loving omega-3's though!). There is a very small amount of myoglobin released as it defrosts, but this doesn't significantly change the texture of the mince. While this mince is great for those looking for a chunkier texture, if your dog has the tendency to pick out certain bits and leave the rest, then it may be better to opt for the fine mince. I say this because, if your dog selectively eats and will leave certain things then there is a risk that they won't be eating a nutritionally balanced diet, as the whole meal needs to be consumed to maintain the balance. Ranges & Variety ★★★★Nutriwolds have a good selection of FEDIAF balanced recipes, with proteins including beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, pork, rabbit and fish (salmon/herring specifically). They don't have a range of "exotic" or "novel" proteins, but this could be linked to their views on ethical and local sourcing of raw materials. They do not have a range of chunks or bones if you prefer to do DIY. Are They Nutritionally Balanced? ✔Yes! Nutriwolds is FEDIAF balanced (and beyond) which means you don't need to worry about adding anything to the diet, and you can be reassured that your dog/cat is getting everything they need. You can read more about why FEDIAF balance is good on the website. Nutriwolds is also balanced for all life stages, making it suitable for every age, and is even suitable for cats. Single Protein Recipes? ✘All recipes are mixed proteins, with all containing beef organs. Vegetable Free Recipes? ✘All recipes include vegetables, along with other whole food additions. They are organically and locally sourced, and are not your typical vegetables included in most raw recipes- red cabbage, courgette and mooli instead! Ethics & Sourcing ★★★★★It is clear that ethical sourcing has been considered with these Nutriwolds recipes, with the majority of the ingredients sourced from UK and Yorkshire ethical suppliers. For example, their pork falls into the 1-2% of pork raised free range in the UK, Their beef and lamb is also grass fed and locally sourced, along with their salmon which is sustainably sourced in Scotland. Nutriwolds have a dual supply for their rabbit to ensure continuity, due to the seasonal availability of wild rabbit (meaning it could be farmed or wild). I don't necessarily think this is a disadvantage, as their farmed rabbit is still sourced from certified EU higher ethical farms. The vegetables are organic, sourced from a local farm in York, and their SeaGrow seaweed is also sourced from the North Sea at Scarborough. Packaging ★★★★If you're looking for environmentally friendly packaging, then look no further. Nutriwold's packaging is made from bagasse, which is a by-product of the sugar cane industry, making the packaging (even the inks and glues) biodegradable;. The packaging isn't rigid like plastic, and won't shatter or break if dropped. It did lose a star for packaging, purely because I found that the meat did stick to the inside. Although most did come off with a bit of scraping, I wasn't able to get it all off. I am happy to sacrifice a little bit of the meat that sticks to the inside, because I know that the packaging is environmentally friendly. I especially like that their packaging sleeves are coated with SafeTouch™, which inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi for the lifespan of the sleeve. Although I wouldn't say this is essential, it is certainly a nice feature that gives you a bit of reassurance when handling the packaging. The standard hygiene protocols apply when handling the meat itself though, as the SafeTouch™ won't inhibit the microbes in the raw itself. The external carton sleeve is also fully recyclable, currently seeking biodegradable certification. There is a good amount of information on there, including the ingredient lists, analytical constituents, storage instructions, feeding recommendations, manufacturing information (although the batch date is on the bagasse itself rather than the sleeve), and company contact information. If ordering direct from the Nutriwold's website, they also use environmentally friendly packaging. They use recyclable cardboard boxes and sheep wool liners to keep the raw frozen in transit, rather than polystyrene boxes. There is also a liner return scheme available, so you can receive a discount for returning the wool liners. Price ££-£££Nutriwolds is on the more expensive side, averaging at around £6/kg. Considering the quality of the ingredients, type of packaging and ethical sourcing, I don't personally think this is too expensive. The Brand's Website ★★★Nutriwold's website is easy to navigate, the graphic design is very appealing and the information they have on there is good. The only criticism I would give that only bulk ordering is allowed. For the individual products, they can only be purchased in quantities of 8 or 20 x 1kg tubs, and 16 or 40 x 500g tubs. There is an option for a starter box, or a "build your own" box, but again, these are limited to the above quantities. If you were wanting to order less than 8kg, or wanted a variety of products not in the set quantities, then it would be best to look at one of Nutriwold's suppliers. Overall Rating ★★★★★Nutriwolds is probably one of the best raw foods I've tried, and I've tried a lot of them! From the ingredients and the packaging, to the actual look of the mince itself, I can't find many flaws or complaints.
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All views here are my own. No reviews have been sponsored by the brand and all products have been purchased with my own money.
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