Introduction
Zignature is a pet food company that was founded in 2010 in Perham, Minnesota by Pets Global Inc. The focus of Zignature is creating limited ingredient diets using novel proteins and carbohydrates to reduce food sensitivities in dogs and cats. Zignature offers both grain-free and grain-inclusive formulas using high-quality ingredients sourced from US farmers.
The Zignature brand offers a variety of dry foods, canned foods, and treats made with unique proteins like guinea fowl, trout, kangaroo, and duck which reduce the likelihood of triggering food allergies. Their product lines cater to the specific needs of puppies, adults, seniors, small/toy breeds, and performance dogs. Zignature aims to provide natural, well-tolerated nutrition for dogs with food sensitivities.
Company History
Zignature was founded in 2010 by Pets Global Inc, a privately held company headquartered in North Hollywood, California. Pets Global Inc was established by Dave Hallman, who wanted to create a line of limited ingredient dog foods using high quality ingredients sourced from the USA.
Hallman had previously worked in the pet food industry and saw an opportunity to make limited ingredient diets more accessible and affordable. He believed limited ingredient diets could help dogs with food sensitivities.
The Zignature brand was launched in 2010 with 13 formulas made with novel proteins like kangaroo, guinea fowl, trout, lamb, salmon, turkey, duck, venison, and catfish. Zignature was one of the first brands to use exotic meats like kangaroo to reduce ingredients dogs had likely never eaten before.
Product Lines
Zignature offers a variety of dry food, canned food, and treat options for dogs of all sizes and ages.
Dry Food Recipes
Zignature has over a dozen dry food recipes for dogs. These recipes are grain-free and single-source protein formulas. Some of the proteins used in the dry foods include turkey, salmon, lamb, duck, kangaroo, and trout. There are recipes specially formulated for puppies as well as recipes for adult dogs of all sizes from small breeds to large breeds.
Canned Food
For pet owners who want a wet food option, Zignature has several canned/pouches recipes. These canned foods complement the dry kibble and feature the same limited ingredient, meat-first formulas. Proteins include chicken, lamb, salmon, trout, and duck. There are grain-free options as well as recipes formulated for puppies.
Treats
Zignature has crunchy treats made from the same high-quality ingredients as their kibble recipes. These single-source protein treats are grain-free with limited ingredients. Flavors include turkey, salmon, lamb, duck, venison, catfish, and kangaroo. There are also several soft and chewy treat recipes made with real meat.
Ingredients
Zignature uses limited ingredient formulas and meat-first recipes in all of their dog foods. They aim to provide high-quality nutrition from a simplified set of key ingredients.
Their recipes avoid many common allergens found in mainstream dog foods. Zignature does not use corn, wheat, soy, chicken, chicken eggs or chicken by-products in their formulas. This helps dogs with food sensitivities.
Instead, they use novel proteins like kangaroo, guinea fowl, trout, salmon, turkey and duck as the first ingredients. Carbohydrate sources include chickpeas, peas and tapioca. These provide energy and dietary fiber while reducing ingredients that commonly cause food intolerances.
In addition to limiting potential allergens, the focused set of core ingredients allows Zignature to better monitor the quality and source of each key ingredient in their recipes.
Manufacturing & Sourcing
Zignature dog food is manufactured in the United States in Perham, Minnesota. The company has their own state-of-the-art manufacturing facility where they make all of their dog food products. This allows them to closely monitor quality control and follow strict procedures.
In terms of sourcing, Zignature dog foods contain unique, hypoallergenic ingredients that are imported from all over the world. Their meat proteins such as kangaroo come from Australia, lamb from New Zealand, and trout & salmon from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Canada. Their starches and vegetables are sourced from trusted North American growers. By importing premium ingredients from their regions of origin, Zignature can provide novel protein sources while meeting their strict quality standards.
Quality Standards
Zignature holds itself to high standards when it comes to the quality and safety of its pet foods. The company employs rigorous safety testing procedures and quality control processes to ensure its products are nutritious and safe for pets.
All Zignature recipes undergo extensive safety testing before ever being made available to consumers. Samples of each formulation are analyzed for pathogenic bacteria like salmonella and e. coli, as well as mycotoxins from mold growth. The company’s manufacturing facilities follow HACCP plans (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) to identify any potential hazards that could affect food safety.
In terms of quality control, Zignature carefully oversees each step of the manufacturing process. They monitor the sourcing, handling and storage of raw ingredients, the formulation process, cooking temperatures and procedures, packaging integrity, and finished product sampling. There is continued testing throughout the production process. Additionally, Zignature keeps comprehensive documentation to ensure traceability from start to finish.
By prioritizing safety and quality at every stage, Zignature aims to provide pet parents with nutritious, wholesome recipes they can feel confident feeding to their dogs and cats.
Reviews
Zignature dog food receives mostly positive reviews from pet owners. On sites like Chewy.com and Amazon, Zignature formulas have an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Happy customers say the limited ingredient recipes help dogs with food sensitivities and allergies. They also praise the natural, high-quality ingredients. According to reviews, dogs enjoy the taste of Zignature’s protein-rich, grain-free recipes.
The most common complaints in negative reviews of Zignature dog food are about quality control issues. Some pet owners report finding pieces of plastic or large unidentifiable objects in their dog’s food. Others say the kibble varies in size with some batches having a high percentage of crushed pieces. There are also some reports of dogs refusing to eat certain Zignature recipes after the formula changed.
While most pets do well on Zignature, there are isolated cases of dogs experiencing gastrointestinal upset after switching to this brand. Overall though, most owners say it is a high quality dog food that helps dogs with sensitivities thrive. Positive reviews focus on the limited ingredients, fresh meats, digestibility, and palatability.
Recall History
As a relatively new brand in the dog food industry that has only been around since 2011, Zignature dog food does not have a long track record to evaluate when it comes to recalls. The earliest recall involving Zignature was in April 2018, when the FDA alerted the company that several varieties of their dog food contained dangerously high levels of vitamin D. An excess of vitamin D can cause vomiting, weakness, kidney failure or even death in dogs.
Specifically, Zignature was notified that their Zignature Kangaroo Formula Dry Dog Food batches with best by dates of December 4, 2019 through December 5, 2020 contained excessive and potentially toxic levels of vitamin D. The products affected were:
- 4lb. bags
- 13.5lb. bags
- 27lb. bags
Zignature promptly recalled all of the affected batches. Owners who had purchased the recalled Zignature dog food were instructed to dispose of it or return it for a full refund.
To date, this vitamin D toxicity issue in 2018 is the only recall in Zignature’s history. The company took steps following the recall to modify their manufacturing processes and attempt to prevent excessive vitamin D in their formulas going forward. However, it remains to be seen if Zignature will encounter any additional recalls as the brand continues to expand.
Prices
Zignature offers dog food at prices comparable to other premium dog food brands. Their products retail in the following general price ranges:
- Zignature dry dog food: $50-$70 for a 25 lb. bag
- Zignature canned dog food: $2.50-$3.50 per 13 oz. can
- Zignature treats: $10-$15 per bag
The average cost across Zignature’s product line is around $60 for a 25 lb. bag of dry food and $3 per canned food can. This positions Zignature as a premium-priced dog food brand compared to standard grocery store brands that retail for $20-30 per bag for dry food. However, Zignature is competitively priced compared to boutique, natural, or grain-free brands that can cost $80-120+ per bag.
The higher price tag reflects Zignature’s commitment to high-quality, novel protein ingredients and limited ingredient recipes without fillers. For dog owners willing to pay more for premium nutrition, Zignature offers affordably-priced options compared to artisanal specialty brands.
Conclusion
Zignature dog food is made by Pets Global, Inc., a U.S. based company that specializes in limited ingredient and hypoallergenic dog food. Zignature offers grain-free recipes made with novel sources of meat protein like kangaroo, guinea fowl, and trout. Their dog foods are free from common allergens like chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, and dairy. Zignature uses high quality ingredients sourced in the U.S, New Zealand, and Australia. Manufacturing is done in company-owned facilities in the U.S. following strict quality control standards. Reviews indicate most dogs enjoy the flavors and do well on Zignature dog food. There was one recall of Zignature in 2018 due to potential salmonella contamination. Zignature is considered a premium dog food brand and prices are on the higher end compared to many standard grocery store brands.