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Brand Comparison · 2026

Merrick vs Taste of the Wild

Merrick (premium-tier kibble from a Nestlé Purina brand that meets 1 of WSAVA's 5 questions on its own published evidence) 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. Taste of the Wild meets 2 of 5 WSAVA criteria. Taste of the Wild is roughly 40% less than Merrick.

The verdict

Taste of the Wild costs $40-65/month and meets 2 of 5 WSAVA questions. Merrick meets just 1 of 5, at $60-115/month. Taste of the Wild's maker, Diamond Pet Foods, runs seven US plants and publishes a test-and-hold program, though it names no nutritionist and has a history of recalls, notably Salmonella in 2012. Merrick's Hereford plants are run by Nestlé Purina, and its public quality evidence is a certificate reported in 2013. Taste of the Wild's label and Merrick's FAQ both lack feeding-trial claims.

Taste of the Wild offers novel proteins such as bison, salmon and venison for less money. Merrick costs more and documents less. Both brands appear in the FDA's 2019 DCM update, so a dog with cardiac risk factors needs a veterinarian's opinion first. Merrick is the pick only if your dog does best on its recipes.

Key differences at a glance

Quick comparison

DimensionMerrickTaste of the Wild
Parent companyNestlé PurinaDiamond Pet Foods
CategoryPremium dry kibbleBoutique dry kibble
WSAVA criteria met1 of 52 of 5
AAFCO substantiationFormulation onlyFormulation only
Full-time veterinary nutritionistPartialPartial
Credentialed formulatorPartialPartial
AAFCO feeding trialsNoNo
Owns manufacturing plantsYesYes
Quality control programPartialYes
Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog)$60 – $115 / month$40 – $65 / month

Nestlé Purina

Merrick

Premium-tier kibble from a Nestlé Purina brand that meets 1 of WSAVA's 5 questions on its own published evidence.

Strengths

  • Made in the Hereford, Texas plants that Nestlé Purina runs
  • Merrick's FAQ says trained animal nutritionists, including PhDs, formulate the food
  • The Hereford plant earned SQF Level 3 certification in 2013

Watch-outs

  • No nutritionist is named and no board certification is stated
  • The FAQ says formulated to AAFCO profiles, with no feeding-test claim
  • Quality-control evidence is a 2013 certificate. Merrick's current pages describe no testing program
  • Named in 16 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update. The FDA did not establish that any food caused the disease

Best for: Owners shopping the premium kibble tier who accept thinner public evidence on nutrition staff and testing.

Avoid if: You want a named nutritionist, feeding-trial substantiation or a published testing program.

Visit Merrick ↗

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. Merrick is the better choice when: Owners shopping the premium kibble tier who accept thinner public evidence on nutrition staff and testing. 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 40% less than Merrick at the midpoint of typical premium spec for a 50 lb adult dog. On WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, Taste of the Wild meets 2 of 5 vs 1 of 5 for Merrick.

Checking one brand rather than the pair? See is Merrick 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 Merrick 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.