Wainwright's Light Adult Trays review

This tray keeps the company of the typical adult wet food, both of them in our Excellent band, so nothing about the lighter positioning has held it back. Turkey at 59% is still the bulk of the recipe, and the moisture figure is declared, not assumed. Carbohydrate converts to an estimated 18.9% of dry matter against 15.8% for the typical adult wet food, with the brown rice accounting for most of that difference. Transparency reads Outstanding and nutritional balance Excellent, with value Excellent as well and protein and processing at Good.

Ingredients, as declared: Turkey (59%), Brown Rice (6%), Sweet Potato (4%), Dried Peas (2.5%, equivalent to 8% peas), Dried Carrots (1%, equivalent to 8% carrots), Minerals, Dried Alfalfa, Pear, Dried Seaweed (0.12%), Dried Herbs (Parsley, Rosemary, Fennel, Marigold Flowers), Chicory Root Powder (as a source of Prebiotic Fructo-oligosaccharide) (0.05%), Yucca Extract (0.005%)

Turkey at 59% leads the list. As a meat it is lower in fat and calories than chicken, which is why light and senior recipes reach for it so consistently, and it is easy on most digestions. Protein converts to 35.7% of dry matter.

Brown rice at 6% is what distinguishes this tray. It is a whole grain, not a refined one. That makes it slow to digest and gentle in the bowl. Behind it come sweet potato at 4%, dried peas at 2.5% standing in for 8% peas, and dried carrots at 1% standing in for 8% carrots. Between them carbohydrate converts to an estimated 18.9% of dry matter.

Dried alfalfa and pear come next without percentages. Then dried seaweed at 0.12% for iodine and minerals, and a herb mix built from parsley and rosemary with fennel and marigold flowers. Chicory root powder at 0.05% is the prebiotic fibre, with yucca extract at 0.005% closing the list. All trace level, all recognisable.

The analysis is where the light label needs reading carefully. Fat converts to 30.4% of dry matter and energy runs at an estimated 126 kcal per 100g, so this is not a thin recipe in itself. What makes it light is the serving. The label's guide for a dog of 12kg to 25kg tops out at 790 grams a day, and it is the size of the portion that keeps the calories in check. Fed to that guide it does the job it promises.

Vitamins A, D3 and E are declared at 2,500IU, 200IU and 30mg. The trace elements run zinc at 50mg, iron at 10mg, copper at 5mg and iodine at 0.5mg, each one printed with its dose.

£4.28 a kilo, in a single 395g tray.

The energy sum for a 15kg adult dog in moderate condition comes to about 840 kcal a day (110 × bodyweight^0.75, the standard maintenance estimate). Roughly 668 grams of this tray covers that, or £2.86 a day. A dog being held to a reducing portion would eat less than that. For a dog of 12kg to 25kg the label's own guide runs from 493.8 to 790 grams.