Essentials Bacon Flavor Dry Dog Food
Verified Aug 17, 2026
This is a crunchy dry food for adult dogs, using ground corn, wheat, meat meal, and soybean meal as its main protein and energy sources, with added chicken and bacon fat for flavor. It’s a complete and balanced maintenance diet, fortified with vitamins, minerals, taurine, and amino acids. The small crunchy kibbles are designed to help provide some mechanical cleaning action on the teeth while your dog chews.
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Strong Choice
This formula is a basic adult maintenance dry food suitable for generally healthy, non-working adult dogs that don’t need especially high protein or calories. It relies on cereal grains and meat meal for protein and energy, and is nutritionally balanced to AAFCO standards by formulation. It can work well for dogs who do fine on grain-inclusive, moderate-protein diets and don’t have issues with chicken, soy, or wheat.
Computed from 4 of 4 applicable checks. Missing data is skipped, never counted against a food.
The KibbleLab Score (1–10) is assessed from publicly available product data. Our evaluation is science-based, not marketing-based.
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At a Glance
Where these benefits come from
Benefits the manufacturer highlights in its own product marketing. KibbleLab lists them for reference and does not verify these claims.KibbleLab Review
Strengths
- Meets AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance, so it is complete and balanced for adult dogs.
- Includes added taurine and amino acids like DL-methionine and L-lysine to support a more complete amino acid profile.
- Grain-inclusive formula using corn and wheat, which provide digestible carbohydrates and plant protein for most dogs.
- Crunchy kibble texture can offer some mild mechanical cleaning effect on the teeth as dogs chew.
Considerations
- Contains wheat, soy, and chicken fat, so it is not a good choice for dogs with allergies to these ingredients.
- Protein level at 20% is on the lower side compared with many modern adult dog foods, so it may not suit very active or working dogs.
- Meat meal is not specifically identified by species, which may be a concern if your dog has known meat allergies.
- Calorie density is moderate, so portion control is important to avoid weight gain in less active dogs.
Full Ingredient List
Ingredients and analysis reflect manufacturer data at the time of our last update and can change without notice. Always check the actual product packaging before feeding.
Ingredient filtering helps identify compatible options but is not a substitute for a veterinary elimination diet.
Top 5 Ingredients Explained
01
Corn
Corn is commonly used in dog and cat foods as a digestible source of carbohydrates and calories, and it also provides some plant protein, fiber, B vitamins and minerals while helping with kibble structure and palatability. While generally safe and economical, corn is relatively high in starch and has an incomplete amino acid profile for obligate carnivores (cats), can be a source of mycotoxin contamination if poorly stored, and although true corn allergies are uncommon, some pets may be sensitive, so quality and proper formulation with animal proteins are important.
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02
Wheat
Wheat is a common cereal grain used in pet foods as a source of digestible carbohydrates, some plant-based protein, B vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, and it also helps with kibble texture and binding. It provides energy and fiber for many dogs but can cause food allergies or gluten sensitivities in a minority of pets and is generally less ideal as a primary ingredient for obligate carnivores like cats, so pets with known grain or wheat sensitivities should avoid it and calorie intake should be monitored to prevent weight gain.
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03
Meat
Meat is a primary animal-based source of protein and fat in pet foods, providing essential amino acids, highly bioavailable vitamins and minerals (including B vitamins, iron and zinc) and nutrients such as taurine that are particularly important for cats. While meat supports muscle maintenance, growth and palatability, it must be included within a balanced, complete formulation or appropriately supplemented because plain muscle meat can be deficient in calcium and other nutrients, and considerations about quality, fat content, sourcing, species-specific sensitivities or allergies, and pathogen risk with raw feeding are important.
04
Corn Protein Feed
Corn protein feed is a plant-based protein ingredient commonly used in dry pet foods to increase crude protein and energy content, though its digestibility and amino acid balance depend on processing. It can contribute useful protein for dogs and cats but has lower biological value than animal proteins and may be deficient in some essential amino acids (and is not a substitute for animal-derived nutrients for obligate carnivores), so manufacturers typically balance it with other protein sources and quality control to avoid allergens or contaminants.
05
Chicken Fat
Chicken fat is used in dog and cat foods as a concentrated energy and flavor source that supplies essential fatty acids (notably linoleic acid) and aids absorption of fat‑soluble vitamins, improving palatability and supporting skin and coat health. Because it is calorie‑dense, diets must account for added fat to prevent weight gain, and quality (proper rendering and antioxidant protection to prevent rancidity) is important; although fats are less commonly allergenic than proteins, pets with poultry sensitivities may still react in some cases.
Nutritional Breakdown
How to read As Fed versus Dry Matter
As fed shows the numbers straight off the label, water included. Dry matter removes the water so you can compare a wet food and a dry food fairly.What is calorie density
How many calories the food packs per unit. Denser foods mean smaller portions for the same calories.Not sure how much of this to feed?
The right daily portion depends on your dog's weight, age, and activity level. Create a free account, add your dog, and get their daily calories and portion sizes.
Product Details & Brand
Product Specs
AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy
What is AAFCO
Association of American Feed Control Officials. It sets the nutritional
adequacy standards US pet foods are measured against.
What is AAFCO
Association of American Feed Control Officials. It sets the nutritional adequacy standards US pet foods are measured against.Brand
Sportmix provides affordable, performance-oriented pet nutrition for active dogs and cats. The brand targets value-conscious consumers seeking reliable formulas for sporting and working animals.
Manufacturer
Midwestern Pet Foods manufactures its products in company-owned facilities located in Monmouth, Illinois; Evansville, Indiana; Chickasha, Oklahoma; and Waverly, New York. The company oversees production and quality control internally, using established safety and testing protocols. It has been subject to FDA oversight and recall processes, most notably in 2020–2021.
Manufacturing details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing.
Recall History
No recall is listed for Sportmix Essentials Bacon Flavor Dry Dog Food.
Source: FDA animal food recall listings back to January 2019 · Checked daily, last on Aug 31, 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
Has Sportmix ever been recalled?
We have no recalls on record for Sportmix. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
How does KibbleLab rate foods?
Our scores are based on ingredient composition, nutritional profile, AAFCO compliance, and health considerations. We don't penalize by-products, grains, or synthetic preservatives. Brands cannot pay for higher scores.
Is KibbleLab a substitute for veterinary advice?
No. KibbleLab provides data-driven food analysis, not medical advice. Always consult your veterinarian before making dietary changes, especially for pets with health conditions.
KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.
KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through product links. No one can pay for a higher score, or to change what we recommend for your pet.
Product data sourced from manufacturer websites, AAFCO statements, and FDA recall listings. Last verified dates reflect our most recent data check. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
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