About The Company
Kibbles´nBits dog food is manufactured by Del Monte, which is the fifth largest producer of dog food in the U.S. The brand was created in 1981 and Wikipedia reports that at that time was the first “dual-textured” dog food, with both hard, crunchy kibble and softer, chewy bits. H.J. Heinz Company took over the company in 1995 and it was later sold to Del Monte. Today they offer a range of dry and wet food lines marketing themselves as “joy in every bite.” Their factory in Lawrence, Kansas produces 497 million pounds of Kibbles and Bits Dog Food per year.
Dry Food
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C | ||
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B- |
Canned Food
Food | Quality | Our Rating |
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B- |
Rating
Kibbles and Bits Dog Food Reviews
Is Kibbles and Bits Good Food For Dogs?
Looking at the packaging of the Kibbles and Bits dry food range I am almost licking my pips along with the dog! The picture shows delicious slices of roast beef and a bowl full of vegetables which I would happily gobble up myself. I am promised that tender meaty bits combine with crunchy kibble to create a one of a kind taste sensation.
This is all sounding good so far! Then I look at their website and read their marketing spiel; “Thoughtfully prepared with the tastes of roasted beef and harvest vegetables,” Now Alarm bells start to ring in my head!” What do they mean by “tastes of”?
Another packet of their dry dog food is called “American Grill, Grilled steak flavor.” Why do they say “flavor?” What is the actual meat content? When a pet food is sold in this way it should send out a warning signal.
According to the guidelines of the FDA, if a food claims to be beef or chicken, then it is required to contain at least 95 percent meat, (this actually equates to 70% after the water is taken out). If it is labeled as “Beef Flavor,” we are in a different ballpark! With this labeling, the meat content only needs to be 25% and with the water taken out it could mean the actual content could be as little as 10%.
Pros
- Good Value for money: The American Grill dry food retails at $10.49 for a 15lb bag. Compare this to a bag of Taste of the Wild Dog Food which contains all natural ingredients which costs $48.99 for the same quantity.
- Del Monte has a very good manufacturing reputation. The Kibbles and Bits brand has been around for a long time and it is very popular with lots of dog owners.
- Kibble and Bits reviews from owners suggest dogs seem to enjoy eating them. Most owner testimonials are positive apart from those owners who have actually read the ingredient list!
- None of their food has ever been recalled which suggests no dogs have actually got sick from it. This is because larger manufacturers often have better manufacturing practices than the smaller brands which have better ingredients.
- The protein in Kibbles and Bits Savory Beef & Chicken Flavor dog food, is 19% and therefore falls within the percentage level provided by the government which is 18%. The fat level also falls within the boundaries of the government’s recommendations.
Cons
- Use of filler ingredients like corn will be bad for dogs with allergies and contains little nutritional value for a canine.
- The use of the term “flavor” in the marketing of their dry food, means that there is an indeterminate meat content which could be as low as 10%.
- There is no mention of what animal the meat content comes from in their dry food, so it could be from an animal carcass of little nutritional value. The only meat mentioned is bone meal which is a low-quality ingredient.
- The Kibbles and bits dry dog food reviews from other dog nutritionists that you will find online are all negative and do not make happy reading. Click on this link to see what I mean!
Kibbles and Bits Reviews of Ingredients
Kibbles And Bits Food Dog Food Ingredient Analysis:
Based on Kibble and Bits American Grill USA Beef Steak Flavor.
Their website states that this recipe is:
- Thoughtfully prepared combining crunchy kibbles and tender meaty bit
- Steak-shaped pieces taste and look like they're right off the grill
- Each serving has 100% complete and balanced nutrition for your dog
The food does indeed look tasty however I fear this is more designed to appeal to the human buyers, rather than be beneficial to our furry pals who eat it. It contains several dyes and colorings which will make the food look good to us, but a dog does not really care what their food looks like, so they are an unnecessary additive.
They say they combine a crunchy taste with a tender meaty bit which sounds appetizing and would be great if it did actually contain meat, but the ingredients show it does not. I would conclude that it is not providing a balanced diet.
Finally, the food contains hydrochloric acid and other acids to help your dog break down the food which shouldn’t be necessary in a better-quality food.
Ingredients Check:
Ground Yellow Corn = Corn is an inexpensive and controversial ingredient among dog nutritionists because it is a filler and of no real biological value to a dog.
Soybean Meal = Although it contains 48% protein it has a lower nutritional value than actual meat and can boost the protein content of a dog product at the expense of meat. It is also a cheap ingredient more commonly found in farm animal feed.
Beef and Bone Meal = This is a dry rendered product and can include bone and other tissue. Bone has a lower nutritional value than other meats but at least it contains 300% more protein than normal meat. But it is not in my option a quality ingredient.
Ground Whole Wheat = This ingredient is another controversial addition, considered by many animal nutritionists to have the same issue as corn.
Animal Fat = Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this item could come from almost anywhere: roadkill, spoiled supermarket meat, dead, diseased or dying cattle. I would like to know where the meat comes from before giving it to my pet.
Corn Syrup = A glucose rich highly calorific ingredient of questionable benefit to the diet of your dog.
Wheat Middlings = This is not good news, these can be essentially floor sweepings, it is an ingredient more associated with low-quality dog food.
I now turn to their wet food, which their website claims are:
- Made with real meat and poultry
- 23 essential vitamins and minerals
- High-quality protein to help support strong muscles
The Ingredient list contains, chicken, chicken liver and beef, which is slightly more heartening, however, the crude protein contents are listed at 8% compared to 19% in the dry food so I question how much actual meat there is in the food. If I look at the nutritional content 82% is listed as moisture so I would always recommend dry food as having more quality content than wet food.
Kibbles and Bits Recall History 2016
I could find no evidence of any Kibble and Bits wet or dry food being recalled at any time.
Final Thoughts On Kibbles And Bits Reviews
Is Kibbles and Bits A Good Dog Food?
A review website recently surveyed dog owners and reported that 70% did not know what the dog food they purchased contained. Given this, most dog owners would probably be happy with this food because of its fantastic packaging. This food would not kill your pet, and the quality of the production probably means you dog won't get sick eating it.
I do sympathize with purchasers who are misled by their packaging which is very deceptive, how can they call a food oven roasted beef flavor, when there is no sign in the ingredients of any beef apart from bone meal? They use animal digest as the source of the roasted flavor which is not the same thing at all!
All Kibbles and Bits products are perfectly legal and monitored by the FDA and by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Operatives) who oversee pet food labeling. They are no more misleading than a lot of human products which are marketed. However, good dog owners should educate themselves and be aware what the foods they serve to their 4 legged friends actually contain.