> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.accentuate.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.accentuate.io/use-case-guides/pet-products/ingredients.md).

# Ingredients

The full ingredient list is not marketing — it is the receipt.

<br>

OVERVIEW &#x20;

The Ingredients field stores the complete or key ingredient list for food, treat, and supplement products. It is the most granular nutritional data point in the catalog. Unlike Dietary Needs (formulation attributes) and Health Support (functional outcomes), Ingredients is the raw factual list.

Ingredient data serves multiple audiences: owners checking for allergens, customers comparing protein sources, search engines matching "no chicken dog food" queries, and AI systems generating personalized food recommendations. It is the field most commonly found missing — and the one whose absence costs the most conversions.

&#x20;

BUSINESS VALUE &#x20;

Why this field matters

* Allergen filtering requires ingredient-level data — dietary\_needs alone is not specific enough
* Protein source ("salmon", "duck", "venison") is a primary filter term for allergy diets
* Ingredient transparency is the top trust signal for premium and natural pet food brands
* Regulatory compliance in some markets requires accessible ingredient disclosure in digital commerce
* AI-powered diet planners and subscription services need ingredient data to avoid conflicts

<br>

&#x20;ACF SETUP &#x20;

How to configure this field in Accentuate Custom Fields

<br>

| ℹ️  Choose Shopify >> List if you need to search/filter by individual ingredient. Choose ACF Multi-line text if you are storing the packaging copy verbatim for display only. Both approaches are valid; choose based on your filtering needs. |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

&#x20;

STEP-BY-STEP IN ACF &#x20;

1. In ACF, open Templates tab and select the Product scope
2. Click "Add new field"
3. Label: "Ingredients" — Key auto-fills as "ingredients"
4. Namespace: leave as "accentuate"
5. Field type: Shopify >> Single-line text (List) for structured storage
6. Enable "Allow multiple selections" — each ingredient is one entry
7. Click Done, then Save
8. Open a food or treat product, paste the ingredient list (one per field entry), and verify display

| 🔧  Shopify admin (optional pinning): Pin in Shopify admin: Settings → Custom data → Products. Namespace: "accentuate", Key: "ingredients", Type: Single-line text (List). If using ACF Multi-line text instead, do NOT create a Shopify definition — ACF multi-line is unstructured and they must not clash. |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| 🔁  Repeatability: Shopify >> List type handles multiple entries natively. ACF Multi-line text is single-value by nature — use List type if you need individual ingredient filtering. |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

REFERENCE VALUES &#x20;

Example values — adapt to your catalog

| Value                | When to use                                                              |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Chicken              | Most common protein; first allergen to eliminate on restricted diets     |
| Salmon               | Novel protein and natural omega-3 source; popular in grain-free formulas |
| Duck                 | Novel protein for elimination diets; less common allergen                |
| Sweet potato         | Grain-free carbohydrate; fiber and beta-carotene source                  |
| Peas / Lentils       | Plant protein and fiber; common in grain-free formulas                   |
| Brown rice           | Easily digestible grain; common in sensitive stomach formulas            |
| Chicory root         | Prebiotic fiber; digestive health support                                |
| Flaxseed             | Plant-based omega-3; coat and skin support                               |
| Vitamin E supplement | Antioxidant; immune and skin health                                      |
| Glucosamine HCl      | Joint cartilage support; common in senior and active dog formulas        |

BEST PRACTICES &#x20;

* Copy the ingredient list exactly from the product label — do not paraphrase
* Update the ingredients field every time a supplier changes the formula
* For grooming products, flag ingredients toxic to specific species (e.g. tea tree oil for cats)
* If using List type, each ingredient = one entry; do not comma-separate in a single entry
* Link ingredients to dietary\_needs values — if "chicken" is present, "chicken-free" claim must go

&#x20; COMMON MISTAKES — AVOID THESE &#x20;

* Paraphrasing: "Contains fish" instead of "Atlantic salmon, salmon meal, herring oil"
* Not updating after a formula change — safety and legal exposure
* Mixing ingredient list with nutritional analysis (protein %, fat %) — that is a separate field
* Omitting this field for treats — treats are a common allergen exposure vector
* Creating a Shopify definition while using ACF Multi-line text type — these will clash

<br>

&#x20;IN CONTEXT — EXAMPLE PRODUCT &#x20;

| 🧪 Duck & Green Lentil Dog Treats — Limited Ingredient                     |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Pet type:   Dog                                                            |
| Dietary needs:   Limited ingredient, Grain-free, Hypoallergenic            |
| Ingredients:   Duck, Green lentils, Tapioca starch, Dried rosemary extract |
| Health support:   Digestive health, Skin & coat                            |
| Safety notes:   Free from wheat, corn, soy, dairy, and chicken             |

<br>

Developer Implementation

| Liquid note: List type — use .value to get the array. Loop to display each ingredient. For multi-line text type, access directly without .value. |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |

<br>

Liquid — Storefront Rendering

```
  {% comment %}
  Ingredients — Shopify >> List type
  Each ingredient is a separate array element
{% endcomment %}


{% assign ingredients = product.metafields.accentuate.ingredients.value %}


{% if ingredients != blank %}
  <div class="ingredients-panel">
    <h4>Ingredients</h4>
    <p>
      {%- for item in ingredients -%}
        {{- item -}}{% unless forloop.last %}, {% endunless %}
      {%- endfor -%}
    </p>
  </div>
{% endif %}
```

<br>

| 💡 Pro tip: Build a client-side allergen checker. Store ingredients as a Shopify >> List. Use JavaScript to read the metafield JSON from the storefront API, compare against user-inputted allergens, and highlight matching products — or filter them out. Zero backend changes, pure metafield power. |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

&#x20;

SEE ALSO — RELATED FIELDS &#x20;

* Dietary needs — the classification layer built on top of the ingredient list
* Health support — functional outcomes driven by specific active ingredients
* Safety notes — ingredient-level hazards (e.g. xylitol, tea tree oil) belong in safety notes too

| 📚  Full ACF documentation: help.accentuate.io                                    |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Metafield definitions → Fields & Sections → Field data type → Shopify field types |

<br>


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