Fromm Dog Food: Reviews, Recalls, and Analysis

We seldom trust something more than a long-established family business that has stood the test of time. Fromm is one such company whose rich history and premium dog food recipes developed over many decades instill trust in their customers.

Are they deserving of that trust? We’ll review their products in this article to provide you with a clear picture of this family-run pet food business. Before we start, we just want to note that we are not affiliated with Fromm, and this is a completely objective review.

The History of the Fromm Family Business

The Fromm and Nieman family business is over a century old! They began their involvement in the animal nutrition industry way back in 1904. These two families started as fox fur farmers, which prompted them to experiment with their nutrition to get the healthiest possible foxes with the lushest fur. They abandoned the fur business eventually and focused entirely on dog food.

The Wisconsin-based family business is not just one of the oldest dog food companies—they also developed the first dog distemper vaccine in the 1930s. Fromm Family Foods were the first to commercially produce the most popular form of dog food today—dry kibble—by the end of the 1940s.

Fromm Family Foods is run by the fourth and fifth generations of the Niemans today—Tom and Kathy Nieman and their two sons. The family prides themselves on their old-fashioned way of running a business by making long-term (generation-spanning) plans rather than taking it year by year. It seems to be working exceptionally well for them.

Where Is Fromm Family Pet Food Produced?

Fromm takes their business seriously and personally. That’s why nothing is outsourced, and they own three production plants where the food is made:

• A dry food manufacturing facility in Mequon, Wisconsin
• Another dry food plant in Columbus, Wisconsin
• A wet food cannery in Eden, Wisconsin

They want to be in complete control of the entire production and safety management process. That’s why every product with the Fromm Family Foods label—including both dog and cat food—originates from these three family-owned facilities.

It’s important to note that they are not being secretive by keeping everything in-house—the plants are subject to third-party inspections by various regulatory bodies, such as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Fromm Recalls History

One of the main reasons why Fromm inspires trust is their almost non-existent recall history. They don’t mass-produce their food—instead, they make everything in limited batches to ensure quality and consistency of their products. That’s why the company had only one product recall, and it was initiated by them.

They recalled their 12 oz. cans of dog food pates from the Gold production line in March 2016 after only a couple of months of production. Fromm lab tests showed that the food contained higher than normal levels of Vitamin D, which could cause dogs to lose appetite.

Vitamin D poisoning can result in kidney disease and even death when it goes unnoticed. The company was lucky since there were no reports of dogs getting sick from their food. The worst reported cases were of dogs who showed a slight decrease in appetite after eating the recalled food consistently over a longer period.

As there were no complaints by pet parents prior to the recall, it seems that Fromm could have gotten away without initiating it themselves. Their precaution and willingness to do the responsible thing commands respect.

What Kind of Dog Food Does Fromm Produce?

Generations-spanning experience in producing pet food makes Fromm Family Foods excellent in what they do. The company takes a holistic approach to making their products, and they take special care to make their formulas as nutritious and balanced as possible.

Their food is made of fresh farm-grown veggies and fruits, real and diverse meats, as well as famous local Wisconsin cheese. Fromm food is also popular with parents of dogs prone to food allergies because they consist of high-quality ingredients and novel protein sources that appeal to their pooches’ tummies.

That said, all Fromm’s dog foods are categorized into seven product lines or formulas. Each food adheres to the formula but features some ingredients unique to it. If your pooch likes one of the formulas, you can introduce diversity in their diet while keeping their meals balanced.

Fromm’s dog food formulas are:

1. Four-Star
2. Gold
3. Classic
4. Pâté
5. Family Recipes
6. Remedies
7. Crunchy Os

Fromm’s Four-Star Dog Food

The Four-Star menu offers almost 30 recipes, the majority of which are dry foods, but there are also some canned entrées and doggy treats. This formula is designed to provide you with an array of interchangeable meals you can switch between when your dog gets fed up (literally) with one recipe.

Fromm’s Four-Star foods are great for pet parents looking to introduce some diversity into their baby’s diet. As these are colorful dishes made of many different meat types, fruits, and veggies, they are ideal for dogs who don’t suffer from allergies and intolerances. They also offer many nutritious options for picky eaters.

Fromm’s Four-Star Dog Food Example: Duck À La Veg Recipe

Image source: Fromm Family

Duck À La Veg is a great example of the Four-Star formula. We chose this recipe because its main protein source is the duck, which is a so-called “novel” protein. This means it’s an uncommon protein source that your dog is unlikely to be intolerant or allergic to. The recipe is full of top-quality ingredients without any “shady” ones you can’t identify.

Ingredients

Duck, Duck Meal, Chicken, Oat Groats, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, White Rice, Chicken Meal, Dried Egg Product, Sweet Potatoes, Whole Oats, Dried Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat, Millet, Whole Barley, Cheese, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Apples, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Salt, Monosodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Chicory Root Extract, Vitamins, Minerals, Cranberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Blueberries, Sodium Selenite, Taurine, Probiotics.

More Examples of Fromm’s Four-Star Recipes

Some other recipes from this product line include:

• Beef Frittata Veg
• Chicken Au Frommage
• Lamb & Lentil
• Pork and Peas

Fromm’s Gold Dog Food

Fromm’s Gold product line takes “a holistic approach” to dog nutrition. It offers quality food categorized by the life stages of your pup so that you can choose the right kind. Fromm’s Gold formula has three different categories, all of which feature recipes for all ages. These are:

1. Original Fromm Gold, which is poultry-based
2. Fromm Heartland Gold, with red meat and grain-free
3. Fromm Gold Coast, with ocean fish and grain-free

There are 13 Gold recipes, and these are great if you’re looking for an age-specific food for your pooch. This product line has size-specific options as well, but only for large dogs. If you were looking for a flaw in their near-perfect offer, that’s it—small dogs are discriminated against! The Gold formula also features some weight management recipes, which can be an ideal solution if your pooch is a bit on the heavier side.

Fromm Gold Dog Food Example: Fromm Puppy Gold

Image source: Fromm Family

Fromm Puppy Gold is both for puppies and nursing mothers. It’s rich in chicken protein and wholesome ingredients that the best puppy food has to have. The Gold product line foods contain probiotics for better digestion, as well as salmon oil that will make your pup’s coat shine. This formula is also available for large breed dogs.

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Broth, Oat Groats, Pearled Barley, Menhaden Fish Meal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Egg Product, Potatoes, Chicken Liver, Whole Oats, Salmon Oil, Whole Barley, Cheese, Flaxseed, Brewers Dried Yeast, Duck, Lamb, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Celery, Monocalcium Phosphate, Alfalfa Meal, Monosodium Phosphate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Chicory Root Extract, Taurine, Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Chicken Cartilage, Vitamins, Minerals, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), L-Tryptophan, Sodium Selenite, Probiotics.

More Fromm Gold Recipes

Some other Fromm Gold recipes include:

• Adult Gold
• Heartland Large Breed Puppy
• Gold Coast Weight Management
• Reduced Activity & Senior Gold

Fromm Classic Dog Food

The Fromm Classic recipes are old-school, chicken-based, and simple. That’s because they are based on the original From Family Recipe from 1949. The formula is only improved to match today’s standards of dog nutrition. All the recipes from this product line combine chicken with eggs and brown rice.

As these recipes are stripped down and plain, they don’t come in many different versions. There are only three Fromm Classic recipes:

1. Puppy
2. Adult
3. Mature Adult

If you have more trust in traditional cuisine, you can try these with your dog. They are suitable for all breeds and sizes, and the Mature Adult recipe is not limited to senior dogs only—you can buy it for your less active or overweight pup.

Fromm Classic Dog Food Example: Adult

Image source: Fromm Family

Fromm Classic Adult is suitable for adult dogs who are normally active. It’s packed with high-quality chicken meat and fat and enriched with various vitamins and minerals. Menhaden fish meal is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for your pup’s skin and coat, as well as their joints.

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Oat Groats, White Rice, Chicken Fat, Beet Pulp, Menhaden Fish Meal, Dried Egg Product, Cheese, Flaxseed, Brewers Dried Yeast, Chicken Liver, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Vitamins, Minerals, Calcium Sulfate, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sodium Selenite, DL-Methionine, L-Tryptophan, Taurine, Probiotics.

Fromm Pâté Dog Food

Most of Fromm’s foods we listed so far are of the kibble type (except for some from the Four-Star product line). Fromm Pâté recipes are all canned foods, which can be used as stand-alone meals or as toppers for dry food.

There are 23 Fromm Pâté recipes, and they are mostly cooked in protein-rich broths, which make the foods super delicious for your pooch. If you have a picky eater, you can trick them into eating anything if you pour some Fromm Pâté over it. The choice of flavors is almost overwhelming.

Fromm Pâté Example: Chicken, Salmon & Oats Pâté

Image source: Fromm Family

Chicken, Salmon & Oats Pâté is one tasty example of Fromm’s canned food options. Its main protein source is chicken, and it’s cooked in chicken broth for extra flavor. Fromm’s canned foods lack in omega-3 fatty acids, but this one, in particular, has salmon as a rich source of this important substance.

Ingredients

Chicken, Salmon, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Whole Oats, Carrots, Potatoes, Dried Egg Product, Peas, Flaxseed, Minerals, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Locust Bean Gum, Vitamins.

More Fromm Pâté Examples

This product line features an abundance of delish recipes, such as:

• Beef, Chicken & Oats
• Turkey & Pumpkin
• Lamb & Sweet Potato
• Seafood Medley

Fromm Family Recipes

Fromm Family Recipes, otherwise known as the Frommbalaya product line, are hearty wet dog foods. They feature quality meat cooked in a tasty broth together with carrots, potatoes, and rice stew. All the recipes contain the same vegetable ingredients, but meats and broths differ.

Fromm Family Recipes are the following:

1. Beef, Vegetable & Rice Stew
2. Chicken, Vegetable & Rice Stew
3. Lamb, Vegetable & Rice Stew
4. Pork, Vegetable & Rice Stew
5. Turkey, Vegetable & Rice Stew

Fromm Family Recipes Example: Chicken, Vegetable & Rice Stew

Image source: Fromm Family

Fromm’s Chicken Frommbalaya is the most popular recipe in the Family Recipes product line. Your dog will enjoy delicious chicken meat cooked in a combination of a chicken and turkey broth together with healthy veggies. When you feel it’s time to change your pooch’s main protein source, you can just pick another recipe from the Frommbalaya line.

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Turkey Broth, Potatoes, Carrots, White Rice, Peas, Dried Egg Product, Xanthan Gum, Salt, Salmon Oil, Minerals, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins.

Fromm Family Remedies

The Remedies line features two canned options. They call these two digestive “supplements” when, in reality, they are not supplements but wet dog foods rich in fiber. These are great if your pooch suffers from constipation and needs a little help.

You can feed these “remedies” to your dog just like regular food, but don’t make them your pup’s everyday meals—you can introduce them every once in a while to aid their digestion. These canned remedies come in two options:

1. Chicken Formula
2. Whitefish Formula

Fromm Family Recipes Example: Chicken Formula

Image source: Fromm Family

The Chicken Formula from the Remedies line is based on quality chicken meat and liver. It contains a fiber blend of miscanthus grass, pumpkin, and chicory root extract that are great for your pup’s digestion. The food is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding.

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, White Rice, Pumpkin, Sunflower Oil, Miscanthus Grass, Flaxseed, Chicory Root Extract, Minerals, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Locust Bean Gum, Vitamins.

Fromm’s Crunchy Os

Crunchy Os is Fromm’s latest product line, and it contains only doggy teats. The name tells you a lot about the treats—Crunchy Os are crunchy little delicious rings that your dog will love (we’d eat them as well!).

There are five different flavors:

• Banana Kablammas
• Blueberry Blasts
• Pot Roast Punchers
• Pumpkin Kran Pow
• Smokin’ CheesePlosions

Fromm’s Crunchy Os Example: Banana Kablammas

Image source: Fromm Family

Crunchy Os Banana Kablammas is a multigrain snack that your dog will love to munch on. It’s a fusion of different flavors that you’ll want to try yourself (but don’t)—banana, cinnamon, and oats. Don’t forget that these little crunchers are only a snack, so don’t give them to your pooch all too often.

Ingredients

Whole Grain Sorghum, Banana, Oat Groats, Pearled Barley, Dried Egg Product, Dried Whey, Coconut Oil, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Cane Molasses, Natural Flavor, Tapioca, Calcium Carbonate, Cinnamon.

What Kind of Dog Is Fromm Dog Food for?

As you can see, Fromm has something for everyone! Whatever their size, age, and breed, you’re bound to find something that your pooch will love to eat.

If you want to mix up your dog’s diet, you can opt for Fromm’s Four-Star line. When your doggy has stool issues, you can buy a can of their Remedies. You have a large breed puppy and don’t know what to feed them? Fromm has a food designed for them! Your pooch suffers from allergies? Fromm has a variety of kibble options with novel proteins and quality ingredients that are unlikely to make your dog have a reaction.

The only option Fromm is currently lacking is a formula for senior small breed dogs. Their regular senior dog food from the Gold line will probably do, though. It’s among the best senior dry dog food you can find on the market. If you’d rather find something specific to your dog’s size, you can check out our list of best dry dog food for small dogs.

Is Fromm a Good Dog Food Brand?

In short, Fromm dog food is one of the best pet food brands there is! This family business has stood the test of time, and it is thriving after more than a century.

Since it’s made in smaller batches, the food is pricey, but you’ll rest easy knowing that your pup eats delicious and nutritious meals every day. The Niemans don’t mass-produce their products, and everything is manufactured in their plants, which means they care about the quality of their product.

If the price is not a deal-breaker for you, we strongly recommend you try some of their formulas as they are one of the best dry dog food brands on the market.

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_food
2. Ricci, Rebecca, et al. “Undeclared Animal Species in Dry and Wet Novel and Hydrolyzed Protein Diets for Dogs and Cats Detected by Microarray Analysis.” BMC Veterinary Research, vol. 14, no. 1, 2018, doi:10.1186/s12917-018-1528-7.
3. Richter, Gary. The Ultimate Pet Health Guide: Breakthrough Nutrition and Integrative Care for Dogs and Cats. Hay House, 2017.