Food Safety Score
Get a safety score for any food item
About This Calculator
Our Food Safety Score calculator analyzes any food item and gives it a safety score from 0-100 for dogs. It considers toxicity, nutritional value, choking hazards, and digestibility.
How the Food Safety Score is Determined
This tool uses a risk-based scoring system from 0 (Safest) to 10 (Most Toxic).
1. Base Score: A foundational score is assigned based on the primary toxic risk. Foods like Grapes and Xylitol start with a high score (9-10) due to acute organ failure risk.
2. Modifier Score: This score adjusts based on preparation. Raw meats and highly seasoned/fatty preparations increase the risk of bacterial infection (e.g., Salmonella) or conditions like pancreatitis.
3. Final Level: The combined score determines the final action level: Safe (low risk, small portions okay), Caution (monitor closely, minimal amounts), or Unsafe (avoid completely).
Why Food Safety Scores Help You Make Better Decisions
Not all foods are simply 'safe' or 'toxic'—many fall into a gray area where preparation, amount, and your individual dog's health status all matter.
A scoring system helps you understand relative risk. A food with a score of 3 might be okay occasionally, while a score of 8 warrants strict avoidance.
Understanding why certain foods score the way they do educates you about canine nutrition and helps you make informed decisions about new foods you encounter.
Preparation matters enormously. Plain cooked chicken is safe, but chicken with onion and garlic seasoning is dangerous. Our scoring system accounts for these nuances.
Tips for Using Food Safety Scores
- • Treat any score of 7 or above as a 'do not feed' warning—the risk is simply too high.
- • Foods scoring 4-6 may be okay in very small amounts for healthy dogs, but avoid them if your dog has any health issues.
- • Always check both the food AND preparation method. Raw and cooked versions of the same food can have very different scores.
- • When introducing any new food, start with tiny amounts and watch for digestive upset or allergic reactions.
- • Remember that scores are guides—individual dogs may have sensitivities to foods that are generally considered safe.
How to Use
- 1. Enter the food item to analyze
- 2. Get a comprehensive safety score
- 3. See breakdown of risk factors
- 4. Learn safe serving guidelines
Benefits
- ✓ Make informed feeding decisions
- ✓ Understand relative safety of foods
- ✓ Learn about hidden dangers
- ✓ Get serving size recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions
What factors determine a food's safety score?
Scores are based on toxicity risk, choking hazard, digestibility, fat content, and potential for allergic reactions. Preparation method and serving size also affect the final score.
Can a 'safe' food still make my dog sick?
Yes, even safe foods can cause problems if given in excessive amounts, if your dog has allergies or sensitivities, or if the food is prepared with harmful ingredients like garlic or onion.
How should I use this score when deciding what to feed my dog?
Use it as a quick reference tool. Scores 0-3 are generally safe for most dogs. Scores 4-6 warrant caution and small portions. Scores 7-10 should be avoided entirely.
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