@nlu Definitely get needing a backup, especially with supply chain issues these days. But most dogs don't need variety the way we do! They don't have any of the same cultural values tied up with food as we do, and more importantly many fewer taste buds. They have a stronger sense of smell, but that doesn't translate to taste. That's why super stinky things like fish jerky and hot dogs can be so high value -- it's the smell. But they don't need many different kibble types to be happy.
I'd go with a science backed brand: Another Purina line like Purina ONE, Iams, Royal Canin, Hills or Eukanuba.
Here are several excellent articles on ingredients lists:
https://vet.tufts.edu/wp-content/uploads/DecipheringFactFromFictionIngredients.pdf
https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/06/why-you-shouldnt-judge-a-pet-food-by-its-ingredient-list/
https://www.alltradesdvm.com/topics/nutrition/how-to-evaluate-pet-food-using-ingredients (check out the add'l resources here too)
Basically, the ingredients list isn't a recipe, is a highly manipulated document (brands know you read it and many will make sure it sounds and feels nice to you at the expense of careful formulation), and doesn't give you any information on the quality of the listed ingredients (is the meat fresh? Who knows, they aren't required to list that).
The most important thing when it comes to a pet diet is that they contain
balanced nutrients within a reasonable calorie limit. That can actually be relatively difficult to achieve, since digestion can alter the absorption of nutrients in ways we wouldn't expect (i.e. some foods don't break down to utilize all the nutrients, or break down very easily and get absorbed). For that reason, diets that undergo feeding trials
Things that people have been told are "bad" like byproducts or wheat, or whatever, are actually nutrient dense ingredients that deliver the amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc. that our dogs need to thrive. They're only "bad" to us because of marketing from fancy brands and human food trends like gluten free diets. But the science indicates, for example, that corn gluten meal (ew, who wants to eat that, right?) is actually a super nutrient dense ingredient, easily digestible, and contains critical nutrients like linoleic acid without adding shit tons of extra unnecessary calories.
There is such a thing low quality corn, expired chicken, etc. that hypothetically could be used in a diet. The ingredients list doesn't say "nearly expired chicken" obviously so you have learned nothing about the quality of those ingredients by reading the list.
Purina actually engages in pretty careful ingredient sourcing, much more careful than other smaller brands, and they're much more transparent about those source of ingredients than other brands.
https://www.purina.com/ingredients/pet-food-traceability-map
There's nothing about their ingredients that are "low quality" or problematic.
