Pet Food Brand
Merrick
Acquired by Nestlé Purina in 2015. Known for deboned-meat-first formulations in both grain-free (Grain Free, Backcountry) and grain-inclusive (Classic) lines. The Limited Ingredient Diet line addresses food-sensitive pets.
At a glance
- Parent company
- Nestlé Purina PetCare
- Founded
- 1988
- Headquarters
- Hereford, Texas, USA
- Made in
- USA
- AAFCO method
- Formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles
- Typical price tier
- premium
- Pet types
- Dogs, Cats
Product lines
Recall history
2011-01-31
Class IMerrick Junior Texas Taffy dog treats — Salmonella
Typical ingredients
Common across the brand's formulations — specific SKUs vary. Always scan the actual label.
Allergens these formulas typically include
Derived from the typical-ingredient list. If your pet reacts to one of these, check whether Merrick also offers a hypoallergenic or prescription line that excludes it.
Related guides
Common questions about Merrick
Who owns Merrick?
Nestlé Purina, acquired July 2015. Merrick was founded in Texas in 1988 by Garth Merrick and grew into a mid-premium grain-free and grain-inclusive brand before the Purina acquisition. Merrick continues under its own brand name but operates within the Nestlé Purina portfolio alongside Purina ONE, Pro Plan, Fancy Feast, and Castor & Pollux.
Has Merrick been recalled?
Yes, most recently January 2011 — Junior Texas Taffy dog treats recalled after Georgia state regulators detected salmonella during routine testing. No illnesses were reported. Merrick had no other notable US enforcement-action recalls in the 2015–2024 window. The 2011 treat recall predated the Nestlé Purina acquisition. Full history with FDA URLs on the brand page.
Is Merrick grain-free good for allergies?
Partial. Merrick Grain Free and Limited Ingredient Diet (LID) lines work for some single-allergen dogs. However, most Merrick grain-free formulas contain peas and lentils, which appeared in the FDA's 2018–2022 DCM investigation case reports. For food-sensitive dogs in predisposed breeds (Dobermans, Great Danes, Golden Retrievers), hydrolysed Rx diets are a safer choice than grain-free LID foods.
Scan a specific Merrick product
Brand-level typicals don't cover every SKU. Upload a photo of the actual food label and the scanner checks the ingredient list against your pet's allergen profile in a minute.
Scan a label →Factual brand reference sourced from FDA enforcement reports, AAFCO publications, and manufacturer disclosures. Not an endorsement or a ranking.