Food Comparator for Dogs

The technical score (0 to 100) is a weighted average of the IDNM (Minimum Nutrient Density Index), which measures the nutritional quality of the recipe on a dry-matter basis, and the IPFI (Ingredient Purity Index), which audits label transparency and the quality of the protein and fat sources. The formula is (IDNM × 0.55) + (IPFI × 0.45) and the calculation is 100% algorithmic.

IDNM stands for Minimum Nutrient Density Index. It is the proprietary My Pet Magazine algorithm that calculates the nutrient density of a food on a dry-matter basis, worth up to 100 points. It adds up protein, fat, carbohydrates and ash against the AAFCO and FEDIAF target ranges, penalizing excess carbohydrates and rewarding high-quality protein.

Dry matter takes water out of the calculation. Without that conversion, a wet food would look like it had far less protein than a dry one, even when the real density is the same. Measuring on a dry-matter basis makes it fair to compare foods with different moisture levels, for cats and dogs alike.

The IDNM and IPFI indices are the same, but the nutritional targets change by species. Cats require at least 26% protein on a dry-matter basis and dogs 18%, per AAFCO. Bonuses such as taurine and feeding trials are adjusted too: cats score higher on taurine, since it is an essential feline nutrient.