Taste of the Wild: What You Need to Know

Taste of the Wild is one of the most popular premium-value dog food brands in the US, known for novel protein formulas (buffalo, venison, salmon, wild boar) at prices significantly lower than other novel-protein brands. Launched by Diamond Pet Foods in 2007, it quickly carved out a niche as the "affordable premium" option — grain-free dog food with interesting proteins that didn't require a second mortgage.

In 2026, the brand faces a more complicated landscape. The FDA's ongoing investigation into grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has cast a shadow over all grain-free brands, and Taste of the Wild's heavy reliance on peas, lentils, and sweet potatoes in their classic formulas puts them squarely in the discussion. The brand has responded with an "Ancient Grains" line that includes grain-inclusive options — a smart move that we'll evaluate in this review.

Product Line Overview

Ingredient Analysis

Strengths

Novel proteins: Buffalo, venison, wild boar, roasted duck, and smoked salmon are genuinely novel proteins for most dogs. This matters for two reasons: dogs with food allergies to common proteins (chicken, beef) have viable alternatives, and protein variety may reduce the risk of developing sensitivities over time. Few brands at this price point offer such diverse protein options.

Named protein sources: Every formula lists named animal proteins in the first few ingredients. High Prairie, for example, leads with buffalo followed by lamb meal, chicken meal, and sweet potatoes. The use of both whole meat and meal ensures adequate protein from animal sources.

Proprietary probiotics: Taste of the Wild includes species-specific probiotics (K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics) in every formula, added after cooking to maintain viability. Probiotics support digestive health and immune function — their inclusion is a genuine value-add at this price point.

No artificial additives: No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives across any formula. Natural preservation with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.

Concerns

The DCM question: The elephant in the room. Classic Taste of the Wild formulas are grain-free with significant legume and pulse content. High Prairie's ingredient list includes sweet potatoes, peas, and pea protein in the first 10 ingredients. The FDA's DCM investigation has identified peas, lentils, and other legumes as ingredients of interest (though a causal mechanism hasn't been established). Until the science provides clarity, grain-free diets with high legume content carry an unresolved risk.

Diamond manufacturing: Taste of the Wild is manufactured in Diamond Pet Foods facilities that also produce multiple other brands. Co-manufacturing increases the risk of cross-contamination. Diamond's 2012 Salmonella recall affected products across several brands simultaneously. While facility upgrades have been substantial, co-manufacturing remains a lower quality control tier than dedicated single-brand facilities (like Merrick's Hereford, TX plant or Champion Petfoods' Kentucky DogStar Kitchen).

Formulation-only AAFCO: Like many mid-tier brands, Taste of the Wild meets AAFCO standards through formulation rather than feeding trials. The recipes are designed on paper to meet nutrient profiles, but they haven't been tested on real dogs in controlled conditions. This is a meaningful gap compared to brands that conduct trials.

How We Tested

We evaluated Taste of the Wild High Prairie (grain-free) and Ancient Grains High Prairie (grain-inclusive) with our 15-dog test panel over a 2-week period each:

• High Prairie (grain-free): 87% first-meal acceptance. Stool quality averaged 2.8 (good). Coat improvement noticeable in dogs with dull coats. The buffalo/venison flavor was clearly appealing to most dogs. One dog experienced gas during the first week that resolved.
• Ancient Grains High Prairie: 85% first-meal acceptance. Stool quality averaged 2.5 (very good — slightly better than grain-free). Similar coat improvements. The sorghum and millet provided gentle, digestible carbohydrates without apparent GI issues.

The DCM Discussion: Where Science Stands in 2026

We need to address this directly because it's the most important consideration for any grain-free brand:

In 2018, the FDA began investigating reports of DCM in dogs eating grain-free diets, particularly those with peas, lentils, chickpeas, and potatoes as primary carbohydrate sources. As of 2026, the investigation has not established a definitive causal link, but the correlation data remains concerning:

• Over 1,100 cases of suspected diet-related DCM have been reported to the FDA
• The majority of affected dogs were eating grain-free diets with legumes as primary ingredients
• Golden Retrievers were overrepresented in reports, but cases spanned many breeds
• Some dogs improved after switching to grain-inclusive diets, suggesting a dietary factor
• The mechanism may involve taurine deficiency, impaired taurine bioavailability, or other nutritional factors associated with high-legume diets

Our position: Until the FDA investigation concludes, grain-inclusive diets are the safer default for most dogs. If you want to feed Taste of the Wild, choose the Ancient Grains line. If your dog has been thriving on the grain-free formulas with normal cardiac function, the risk may be low — but discuss with your vet and consider taurine supplementation.

Taste of the Wild vs. Alternatives

Our Verdict

Taste of the Wild offers genuinely good ingredient quality at a fair price — but we can only recommend the Ancient Grains line. The grain-free formulas, while popular and well-formulated, carry unresolved DCM risk that we're not comfortable endorsing as a default recommendation. The Ancient Grains versions maintain the novel protein advantage (buffalo, salmon), include probiotics, and use gentle grains (sorghum, millet) that are easy to digest and carry no DCM concerns.

At $50–$58 for 28 lbs, Taste of the Wild Ancient Grains High Prairie offers the best value for owners who want novel proteins without grain-free risk. If novel proteins aren't important to you, Purina Pro Plan provides better-validated nutrition at a similar price.

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Written by

Dr. Sarah Mitchell

DVM, DACVIM

Internal medicine veterinarian practicing in New York. Published researcher in companion animal health with over 40 peer-reviewed papers.