FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about how BiteRated works. Can't find your answer? Contact us.
“People ask us the same thing in a dozen ways: who's paying you? Nobody in the industry is — and that answer is the reason this platform exists.”
What is BiteRated?
BiteRated is an independent dog food scoring platform. We read every ingredient in a commercial dog food product and turn it into a transparent, citation-backed quality score on a 0 to 100 scale. We're currently pre-launch and building out the first product database, so scores aren't public just yet — leave your email on the contact page and we'll let you know the moment they are.
How are scores calculated?
A BiteRated quality score is a 0 to 100 rating that measures a dog food product’s nutritional quality based on the available data. It is produced by a published methodology grounded in peer-reviewed canine nutrition science and AAFCO and NRC regulatory standards. Ingredient quality, nutritional adequacy, and transparency all feed into the final number, and every weight, threshold, and penalty in the rubric is written down and openly documented.
What does the evidence confidence rating mean?
The evidence confidence rating is a measure that reflects how complete and reliable the data behind a score is. It is the second half of our two-axis architecture, which is a scoring design that separates nutritional quality from evidence confidence. The quality score reflects how good a product appears based on available data; the confidence rating reflects how much that data can be trusted. A product with limited disclosure cannot quietly earn a top score.
Do brands pay to be scored?
No. No brand pays for a score — not to improve it, expedite it, or remove it. Our independence policy is absolute, and our revenue never comes from the companies we evaluate.
How often are scores updated?
Once a product is scored, it gets re-evaluated whenever its formulation changes, alongside periodic reviews across the catalogue. Every score revision is logged so you can see how and why a score has changed over time.
Is BiteRated a substitute for veterinary advice?
No. BiteRated scores are an information tool to help you compare products. They are not veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your dog's specific dietary needs, especially for puppies, seniors, or dogs with health conditions.
Does BiteRated cost anything?
No. Browsing scores will be completely free when we launch. We believe transparency in pet nutrition should be accessible to every dog owner.
I found an error in a score. What should I do?
Please contact us through the contact page with the product name and the issue you spotted. We review every report, and if we made a mistake we correct it publicly and document the change.