Brand Comparison · 2026

Acana vs Taste of the Wild

Acana (Champion Petfoods' more affordable line; same WSAVA gaps as Orijen) and Taste of the Wild (grain-inclusive and grain-free kibble at mid-tier pricing; partial WSAVA compliance) compared head-to-head on WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, AAFCO substantiation, monthly cost, and which dog each is best for in 2026. Both brands meet 2 of 5 WSAVA criteria. Taste of the Wild is roughly 45% less than Acana.

The verdict

Two boutique kibbles built on novel and regional ingredients, both short on compliance. Acana, Champion Petfoods' more affordable line, meets 2 of 5 WSAVA criteria, owns its manufacturing, and emphasizes regional ingredient sourcing at $70-120/month. Taste of the Wild also meets 2 of 5, owns its plants through Diamond, and centers novel proteins like bison and venison at $40-65, but carries a 2012 Salmonella recall history.

Both use formulation-only substantiation and have grain-free lines named in the FDA DCM investigation, and neither names a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, so neither suits a cardiac-risk dog. Pick Taste of the Wild for novel proteins at a lower price. Pick Acana for Champion's regional-ingredient philosophy. For full WSAVA compliance, look elsewhere.

Key differences at a glance

Different makers: Acana is Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods); Taste of the Wild is Diamond Pet Foods.
WSAVA manufacturer-quality: both meet 2 of 5 criteria.
Monthly cost: Taste of the Wild runs roughly 45% less than Acana for a typical 50 lb dog.
Heart-health context: both Acana and Taste of the Wild appear in the FDA's diet-related DCM investigation, which has not established that any food caused the disease.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Acana	Taste of the Wild
Parent company	Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods)	Diamond Pet Foods
Category	Boutique dry kibble	Boutique dry kibble
WSAVA criteria met	2 of 5	2 of 5
AAFCO substantiation	Formulation only	Formulation only
Full-time veterinary nutritionist	Yes	Partial
Credentialed formulator	Partial	Partial
AAFCO feeding trials	No	No
Owns manufacturing plants	Yes	Yes
Quality control program	Partial	Yes
Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog)	$70 – $120 / month	$40 – $65 / month

Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods)

Acana

Champion Petfoods' more affordable line; same WSAVA gaps as Orijen.

Strengths

Less expensive than Orijen with similar formulation philosophy
Owned manufacturing
Recipes built around regional ingredient sourcing

Watch-outs

Named in 67 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update, the most of any brand. The FDA did not establish that any food caused the disease
Formulation-only substantiation
No named board-certified veterinary nutritionist (Champion reports a full-time PhD animal nutritionist)

Best for: Owners who want Orijen's philosophy at a lower price and accept the trade-offs.

Avoid if: You want full WSAVA compliance or your dog has cardiac risk factors.

Visit Acana ↗

Diamond Pet Foods

Taste of the Wild

Grain-inclusive and grain-free kibble at mid-tier pricing; partial WSAVA compliance.

Strengths

Lower price than most premium kibbles
Owned manufacturing through Diamond
Recipes built around novel proteins (bison, salmon, venison)

Watch-outs

Historical contamination recalls (notably 2012 Salmonella)
No board-certified veterinary nutritionist on staff
Named in 53 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update. The FDA did not establish that any food caused the disease

Best for: Owners drawn to novel protein lineups at moderate prices.

Avoid if: You want full WSAVA compliance or have a dog with cardiac risk factors.

Visit Taste of the Wild ↗

Which is better for your dog?

The right pick depends on your individual dog. Acana is the better choice when: Owners who want Orijen's philosophy at a lower price and accept the trade-offs. Taste of the Wild is the better choice when: Owners drawn to novel protein lineups at moderate prices.

On cost, Taste of the Wild is roughly 45% less than Acana at the midpoint of typical premium spec for a 50 lb adult dog. On WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, both brands tie at 2 of 5.

Checking one brand rather than the pair? See is Acana WSAVA-approved or is Taste of the Wild WSAVA-approved.

Where to buy

Made your pick?

Check current pricing on whichever brand fits your dog. Prices and promotions change frequently, so it is worth comparing both before you commit to a bag or a subscription.

Shop Acana on Chewy →Shop Taste of the Wild on Chewy →

Disclosure: these are affiliate links and IntelliBowl may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission does not influence the comparison above. See our methodology.

Personalized recommendation

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Compare these brands against others

Methodology: WSAVA criteria reflect each brand's publicly documented manufacturer-quality practices as of October 2026, scored against the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee's 5-question rubric. AAFCO substantiation reflects the dominant method used across the brand's main retail product line. Monthly cost reflects typical US 2026 retail for a 50 lb adult dog at premium spec, before autoship discounts. Recommendations are editorial and not influenced by affiliate relationships. See our recommendation methodology for IntelliBowl's quiz-engine ranking logic.