Member’s Mark Information
Member’s Mark is the own brand of the large retail store – Sam’s Club. Sam’s Club is a membership-only store that can be best compared to Costco but isn’t as widespread, especially internationally.
Despite being common knowledge, many aren’t aware that Sam’s Club is owned by Walmart and was named after its founder Sam Walton.
One of the first traits of the brand that you may notice is that Member’s Mark products are sold in very large bags, similar to brands like Kirkland and Victor.
Selling products in large quantities is the bread and butter of membership stores like Sam’s club and is appealing to dog owners who are looking to minimize cost or who own multiple dogs.
From our research, we believe that Member’s Mark recipes are produced in the United States; however, it isn’t clear where they are produced or if a 3rd party manufacturer is used.
Many grocery store brands outsource their production to a 3rd party as it is not efficient to have a dedicated facility.
This is also the case for several of the Walmart-exclusive pet food brands like Pure Balance and Ol’ Roy, which are outsourced.
Given that Member’s Mark is the own brand of Sam’s Club, it won’t come as a shock that it is only available to purchase from Sam’s Club stores and Sam’s Club’s website.
Just to confirm, Member’s Mark is not available from large pet food websites like Chewy, Petflow, or Amazon.
Member’s Mark Product Range
Dog Food
Member’s Mark’s dog food range is quite small and consists of a small range of dry dog food recipes and a single wet food recipe.
Within this range, there are both grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes and a puppy recipe. At this time, Member’s mark does not produce any size-specific recipes, such as those for small-breed or large-breed dogs.
Cat Food
Member’s Mark produces a very small range of cat food recipes, even smaller than the dog food range. This includes a single dry food recipe and a small number of wet/canned cat food recipes.
Sadly, Member’s Mark does not produce any age-specific cat food, such as those for kittens or senior cats, but their dry food recipe is designed for all life stages. Member’s Mark’s dry cat food recipe is not grain-free.
Member’s Mark Nutrition
Dog Food
Given that Member’s Mark is the own brand of a retailer, you would expect the nutrition to be sub-optimal.
However, this isn’t the case, and the nutrition offered by Member’s Mark recipes is above-average when compared to similar brands.
This above-average nutritional profile provides above-average proportions of protein and fat and reasonable proportions of carbohydrates.
Below is an example of the nutrition provided by one of Member’s Mark’s best dry dog food recipes.
As you can see, the sum of protein and fat in this recipe is almost 70% which is impressive and comparable to far more expensive or high-quality brands.
If you would like to learn more about canine nutrition, we highly recommend checking out our Dog Food Guide.
Cat Food
The nutrition offered by Member’s Mark cat food recipes is average to above average.
This consists of proportions of protein and fat that are usually above average and proportions of carbohydrates that are reasonably high.
It is critical that cats consume a diet high in animal and fish-based protein and fat and that they do not consume an overly excessive proportion of plant material.
This is because they are obligate carnivores, and their digestive system is not suited to a diet high in plant matter.
If you would like to learn more about cat nutrition, you should read our Cat Food Guide.
Member’s Mark Ingredients
High-Quality Meat & Fish Ingredients
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Lamb
- Salmon
- Whitefish
Member’s Mark uses a small range of high-quality meat and fish ingredients, including the above. These ingredients are regulars in the industry and are chosen because they are widely available and highly nutritious.
In particular, Salmon is an excellent addition to any dog food recipe thanks to the high levels of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids it contains.
These fatty acids are believed to provide several health benefits, including an improvement to the health of a dog’s skin and coat.
You can learn more about Salmon and its benefits in our article Best Dog Food With Salmon.
Other Notable Ingredients
Member’s Mark uses a variety of grain ingredients in its recipes, such as Barley, Brown Rice, and Sorghum.
Grain ingredients are often a controversial addition to pet food, with many in the industry dissuading their use.
However, there are others who are strong supporters of their use, especially those that feed brands like Purina Pro Plan or Royal Canin.
The grain ingredients used by Member’s Mark are preferred to others by some as they are perceived as less processed and more nutritious.
Regardless, grains like these can provide consistent nutrition in the form of carbohydrates, fiber, and some plant-based protein.
You can learn more about these ingredients in our articles, Barley, In Dog Food & Sorghum In Dog Food.
Some of Member’s Mark’s grain-free recipes make use of Menhaden Fish Meal. Menhaden Fish are not well known to the average consumer, but in-short, they are harvested for their fish oil.
After this oil has been harvested, a nutritious fish meal remains, and rather than dispose of this, it is used by many pet food brands as a supplementary source of protein and fat.
You can learn more about this interesting pet food ingredient in Menhaden Fish Meal in Dog Food.
Peas are a regular addition to dog food recipes industry-wide, including recipes from Members Mark.
Peas are chosen as they are easy to source, affordable, and provide favorable nutrition that is high in plant-based protein.
However, concerns have arisen over the last few years with links between the high use of legumes in dog food and an increased rate of Canine Heart Disease.
While this link is far from conclusive, it worried many dog owners who switched to recipes with grains instead. You can read more about this in our article Best Dog Foods Without Peas.
Many dog food brands use Dried Beet Pulp in their recipes as a source of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber can be important to some dogs as it can aid digestion and ensure dogs have regular stools.
However, outside of this fiber content, Dried Beet Pulp provides minimal nutrition to pets as it has already been extracted during processing.
Learn more about this ingredient in our article, Dried Beet Pulp In Dog Food.
Brewers Yeast is a minor ingredient used in dog food recipes as it can provide beneficial vitamins and minerals.
These vitamins and minerals can intern improve the health and well-being of a dog, although some may dispute whether the benefits would be negligible.
You can learn more, including how Brewers Yeast is produced in our article Brewers Yeast In Dog Food.
Flaxseed is an extremely popular ingredient in pet food recipes due to the fact that it is one of the best plant-based sources of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
Many believe that these fatty acids can provide numerous health benefits to dogs and humans alike.
Examples of these benefits include improved cognitive function, a reduction in the risk of certain diseases, and improved condition of a dog’s skin and coat.
However, they aren’t the only benefits, and Flaxseed has a couple more tricks up its sleeve; learn more in Flaxseed In Dog Food.
Member’s Mark Animal Testing
At this time, we have no information on what type of animal testing, if any, that Member’s Mark participates in.
It can often be extremely difficult or impossible to source testing information for private-label brands like Member’s Mark.
Even so, many pet food manufacturers and brands avoid disclosing information related to animal testing as consumers may not react well.
We strongly believe that laboratory and invasive testing of animals is a cruel and outdated practice and one which should be eliminated.
Member’s Mark Recalls
Based on our research (FDA, AVMA, DogFoodAdvisor), Member’s Mark has not issued any recalls in the past and is, therefore, a recall-free pet food brand.
Given that we have limited information on where Member’s Mark recipes are made, we can not be certain that Member’s Mark’s manufacturing partners do not have a history of recalls.
Some major pet food manufacturers who produce private label brands like Member’s Mark have experienced recalls in the last decade.
However, we will give Member’s Mark the benefit of the doubt, and we hope that they can continue their recall-free record in the coming years by prioritizing safety and quality.
We always suggest that pet owners remain vigilant of any future recalls of Member’s Mark or any other pet food brand to ensure your pets remain healthy and safe.
Best of Member’s Mark
Grain Free High Protein Chicken & Vegetable Recipe Review
The above grain-free recipe from Member’s Mark is one of their best and boasts an impressive nutritional profile.
It has a minimum of 34% protein and 15% fat, as listed in its Guaranteed Analysis. This is significantly above average when compared to other dog food brands, especially at its price point.
This nutrition is thanks to a mix of Chicken, Chicken Meal, and Menhaden Fish Meal. These three ingredients are excellent sources of animal or fish-based protein and fat.
Outside of these meat and fish ingredients, the recipe utilizes a mix of legumes and starch ingredients such as Chickpeas, Peas, and Potatoes. These ingredients provide carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
Lastly, the recipe contains some industry favorites in tiny quantities, such as Flaxseed, Beet Pulp, and Tomato Pomace.
These minor ingredients provide extra nutrition, such as dietary fiber or the Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
Grain Free Turkey & Vegetable Stew Review
Wet dog food is an appealing treat or regular addition to many dogs’ diets, and the above recipe from Member’s Mark would be a satisfactory choice.
The recipe’s core ingredient is Turkey, which is an excellent source of animal-based protein and fat. Also, there is a smaller portion of Turkey Liver, which is another positive addition to the recipe.
Organ meat such as Liver can enhance a recipe’s flavor and boost otherwise low levels of select vitamins and minerals. Many premium brands make extensive use of organ meat ingredients.
Outside of its Turkey ingredients, this recipe uses a small portion of Carrots, Peas, and Potatoes to provide carbohydrates and fiber.
The portion size of these ingredients is modest and will not make up the bulk of the recipe.
Complete All Life Stages Review
Above is Member’s Mark’s only dry cat food recipe, and it is designed for cats of all ages.
The recipe’s primary ingredient is Poultry By-Product Meal, which is a mix of Chicken and Turkey By-Products.
While these ingredients may not be visually appealing to cat owners, they can provide cats with nutrition in the form of protein and fat.
It is critical that cats’ diet is high in animal or fish-based foods, given they are obligate carnivores.
Outside of this poultry content, the recipe uses a mix of Corn, Wheat, and Soy ingredients. These provide carbohydrates, fiber, and some vitamins and minerals.
Sadly, these ingredients are not ideal additions to a cat’s diet and are dense sources of carbohydrates.
Member’s Mark Featured Articles
At this time, Member’s Mark has not been featured in any of our articles.
Full Member’s Mark Product Range
Dry Dog Food
Chicken & Rice Recipe
Salmon & Pea Recipe
Lamb & Rice Recipe
Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Grain Free High Protein Chicken & Vegetable Recipe
Complete Adult Maintenance Recipe
Chicken & Rice Puppy Recipe
Wet/Canned Dog Food
Grain Free Turkey & Vegetable Stew
Dry Cat Food
Complete All Life Stages
Wet/Canned Cat Food
Salmon Dinner
Mixed Grill Dinner
Turkey & Giblets Dinner
Whitefish & Tuna Dinner
Why did Samsclub stores stop selling MembersMark Turkey Stew canned dog chow? Was there anything wrong with the product that has not been disclosed? I fed my dogs this for years now. Please advise why the stoppage of stocking the item and its sale to members.
I use this also, they told me at store that it had a recall with no further info.
i have seen nothing about a recall! and 2 of my dogs went to the ER with an unexplained illness!!! i need more info!
Our dog has been extremely sick since we got the Turkey Stew, we could not figure out what was wrong. Even the vet couldn’t figure it.. after x-rays and blood tests still no explanation. There should be a lawsuit again members mark and i am shocked they have not issued a recall notice… knowing they took the product of the shelves.
I received an email stating there was a problem with the CANS, NOT THE FOOD. They want them returned for reimbursement. Nice, but I don’t live close to a Club and if I take it back with no replacement, I’ll have no food for my dogs. They don’t have Pedigree or Alpo can available either. Ridiculous! Not good for business!
I haven’t seen a recall I’ve been looking for it for weeks now. I know it’s run out at the stores during the pandemic before so I thought that’s what happened again except I found it weird that they don’t even have it online anymore even to say sold out it just disappeared. Now I really want to know what’s going on. My dogs have been eating it mixed with a much better dry food than sams club offers but this canned food seemed pretty good and my dogs are fine. That sucks because their price was great.
I have been giving my dogs members mark food for about a month now. All of them have experienced Diarrhea one after another. I completely stopped using the canned turkey food. I am about to stop using the dog food. My dogs have been off their treats for weeks just so I could figure out the problem. It’s the food. It needs a recall.
I had been buying this canned food for several months and my puppy was doing well with this. He’s recently developed an allergy to chicken. I bought a case the beginning of Dec before he ran out of the case I had. When I started this case, I opened the can of this Turkey stew and it was obviously beef! I was annoyed but after a few days his stools were normal for the first time in months! I am wondering if the pulling of this food is because of it being the wrong food.
Our three dogs have been extremely sick the past two weeks, since we started feeding them the Member’s Mark Grain Free Turkey & Vegetable Stew. I wish we would have caught on early that it was the food. That is all they were eating. I am trying to contact the company that makes it but cannot find an email address or website.
my dogs have been super sick which isn’t not like them. Bad diarrhea and weakness in the limbs to where i’ve had to carry them outside to use the bathroom. We have never fed our dogs this before, but gave it a chance since sams stopped selling the brand we had been using for the last 7 +years.
both my dogs have gotten sick from grain free members mark dry food chicken n vegetable recipe and I only put a handful in with there other food half and half introduction like your suppose to? last night they started throwing up then again today not given them anymore that’s for sure. She just sick again OMG! I just called samsclub and told them about it! they are suppose to call me back quality team,
We had two dogs get diarrhea after eating members mark grain free treats, peanut butter flavor. Not a lot of treats either, small chunks as they’re small dogs, and only a few times. Loose stools and obviously in some distress. We are throwing them out.
Any updates, the same thing happened to my dog and we went to the emergency dog vet and my pug died.
Took tainted frothy foul smelling wet food cans back to Sams Club several times. Bought by the case in late 2019 and early 2020. Contacted Sams Club numerous times and ZERO RESPONSE. They werent receiving the shipments from Canada to YSA due to a trade issue in later 2020. When Biden was elected and took office, the shipments started coming again from Canada. Now there are sicknesses again from the Turkey and Vegetable cans. Heavy diarrhea. Sams Club has not responded to me on these issies as they should have. I think a public release if info concerning dog owners being made aware of some issues some purchasers are experiencing and the CONCERN FOR THE HEALTH OF DOGS is necessary.
So sad hearing so many bad reviews. I have used Members Mark brand Dog food exclusively the last 6 years and my dogs have thrived on it. Iv never had a single issue with dry or cans
I have been using members mark for years with my dogs and no problems. So sad to hear about other animals having issues tho.
Just had a dental treat given to daughters service dog and within 30 min she started vomiting.
I have used the “turkey stew” canned dog food for 5 dogs for a couple of years now. Last December 2020 it disappeared off of the shelf and the only thing offered in replacement was Ceasars which is exhorbitant in cost! a couple months later the Members Mark brand came back. My dogs were happy again, and so was I at the savings! Good for a few months, but now it has disappeared off of the shelves again with no explanation. The choices of replacement now are Ceasars, or a high protein canned food. I tried the high protein but it is too rich for some of my dogs stomachs, besides being more expensive. I need affordable solutions!
One of the worst dog foods you can buy. Just look up the ratings, 2nd to last mark. Gave our dogs all kinds of health issues. Rashes, skin iratations, ear infections, vet bills. Do not buy Sam’s club dog food made in China. Shame on Sam’s club!!
I’ve used this food for years my dog loves it and never has had problems. I tried a different brand and ended up in the vet office with metal shavings or bristles in my dogs stomach. I was glad to find sams food again because he loves it and I don’t have any problems with him. I guess I’m going to have to transition him to something else but everything else is bad. Hope they get it figured out and back on the shelf.