Kibbles and Bits Reviews
When buying dog food most dog owners want to make sure that the product is both safe and healthy for their dog. However, it also helps to find dog food that is affordable and convenient to purchase as well.
In this dog food review, we will be taking a closer look at the pet food brand Kibbles n Bits. This includes taking a closer look at where their pet food is made, the quality of their ingredients, and their recall history.
In addition to this, we will also be explaining where you can purchase Kibbles n Bits dog food and what some good alternatives to Kibbles n Bits dog food are. Let’s jump right into it!
About Kibbles n Bits
The Kibbles n Bits dog food brand is currently owned by Del Monte, which is one of the largest food manufacturers in the world for both human foods and pet food alike.
Today Kibbles n Bits mostly makes dry dog food, which includes both crunchy kibble and soft chewy pieces of food. At the time of this brand’s creation in the early 1980s, this was a revolutionary concept. This means that you could not find another dog food quite like this one at the time.
Now Kibbles n Bits mainly sets its dog food apart by claiming that it is tasty, affordable, and very easy to find. Their food’s tasty flavor, affordability, and convenience make Kibbles n Bits a popular choice to this day.
Kibbles n Bits History
Kibbles n Bits has a fairly long history, and they have been owned by multiple companies over the last 40 years. The Kibbles n Bits dog food brand was created in 1981, and at that time the brand acted as a sole company. At the time their dog food was considered to be revolutionary, as it was the only dog food around that included both crunchy kibble and soft bits of food.
Later on the Kibbles n Bits dog food brand was purchased by the HJ Heinze company in 1995, and then it was later sold again to the company Del Monte. This is who owns and manufactures Kibbles n Bits dog food today.
Where Is Kibbles n Bits Dog Foods Made?
Kibbles n Bits dog food is made by the Del Monte company, who manufactures many different types of food for both humans and dogs. Today the Kibbles n Bits pet food manufacturers produce all of their dog food in their manufacturing facilities in Lawrence, Kansas.
Although the dog food itself is made within the United States, Del Monte states that its ingredients are brought in from around the world. This means that the ingredients within the Kibbles n Bits dog foods often come from other parts of the globe. However, it is all put together and made into dog food in the U.S..
Kibbles n Bits Dog Food Cost
Kibbles n Bits dog food is actually one of the most affordable dog foods around. This is very good for dog owners on a budget and those needing to feed many dogs at one time such as animal shelters.
Kibbles n Bits Ingredient Quality
Although the ingredients used in Kibbles n Bits dog food may not be of organic quality, it is still very comparable to other dog foods at the same value. Here is a closer look at the ingredients used in Kibbles n Bits dog food.
Whole Ingredients
Of course, there will need to be some whole ingredients in dog and cat food alike. Here are all of the whole ingredients that are commonly used by Kibbles n Bits in their dog food.
- Corn
- Soybean Meal
- Beef and Bone Meal
- Whole Wheat
- Animal Fat (preserved with BHA)
- Corn Syrup
- Wheat Middlings
- Peas
- Water Sufficient For Processing
- Ground Wheat
- Carrots
- Green Beans
As you can see, the whole ingredients on this list are generally not considered to be the healthiest. This is especially true when you consider that there are no real meats included as a protein source. Although beef and bone meal does provide your dog with protein, it is definitely not nearly as good as real meats like chicken or lamb.
On this ingredient list, there are actually many controversial items. In fact, water, peas, carrots, and green beans are the only above ingredient that is not considered to be controversial items. This is because all of these foods are generally considered to be fillers that provide a dog with little nutrients.
Although things like corn syrup, wheat middlings, and animal fat are sometimes considered to be unhealthy ingredients, these things are alright in moderation. In addition to this, these ingredients are often found in other dog food recipes of similar value to Kibbles n Bits.
Nutritional Supplements
Like most other dog food brands, Kibbles n Bits includes some nutritional supplements in their dog food. This is a common practice, and it ensures that your dog is getting all of the vitamins and minerals that they need in their diet. Here are all of the nutritional supplements that Kibbles n Bits include in their dog food.
- Potassium Chloride
- Choline Chloride
- Sodium Carbonate
- Ferrous Sulfate
- Zinc Oxide
- Manganese Oxide
- Copper Sulfate
- Calcium Iodate
- Sodium Selenite
- Vitamin E Supplement
- Niacin Supplement
- D-Calcium Pantothenate
- Vitamin A Supplement
- Riboflavin Supplement
- Thiamine Mononitrate
- Vitamin D3 Supplement
- Vitamin B12 Supplement
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Folic Acid
- Biotin
- DL Methionine
- Calcium Sulfate
Out of the above ingredients, the only item considered to be widely controversial is sodium selenite. This is because it is not as good of a source of selenium as other more natural sources of this mineral.
However, the presence of sodium selenite is actually one of the most common dog food ingredients out there, and you do not necessarily need to disregard a dog food just because of its presence. In addition to this, it is actually good to see that Kibbles n Bits includes these vitamin and mineral supplements in their formulas.
Other Additives, Flavors, and Food Colorings
In addition to whole ingredients and nutritional supplements, Kibbles n Bits also has some other additives in their dog food. These additives mainly act as flavorings, preservatives, and food colorings to make the food look more visually appealing. Here are some of the other things that Kibbles n Bits put in their dog food.
- Salt
- Animal Digest
- Propylene Glycol
- Hydrochloric Acid
- Caramel Coloring
- Sorbic Acid
- Wheat Flour
- Titanium Dioxide
- Yellow 5
- Yellow 6
- Red 40
- Blue 1
- BHA
Unfortunately, many of the items on the list above are also considered to be controversial in the pet industry. This is especially true when it comes to Kibble n Bits’ choices of food colorings and preservatives.
Many of these artificial food colorings and preservatives are seen as controversial because they contain known carcinogens. Unfortunately, this also means that some of these ingredients such as caramel coloring have been potentially linked to the development of cancer in animals.
However, the research on this topic is still ongoing, which means that there is no concrete evidence explicitly stating that these ingredients are definitely harmful. Rather that they may be harmful to pets.
Top Kibbles n Bits Product Lines
Kibbles n Bits has two main products on their product line. This includes their original dry dog food recipe and their small breed mini bits formula. In addition to this, Kibbles n Bits offers wet food as well. Here we will look at these two products more closely and explain a little bit more about them.
1. Original Dry Dog Food
Like most other dog food brands, Kibbles n Bits has an original dog food recipe. This is a dry dog food that features the brand’s famous soft pieces as well as dry kibble. Here are the formulas of their original kibble that are currently offered.
- Kibbles n Bits Original Savory Beef & Chicken Dry Dog Food
- Kibbles n Bits Bistro Oven Roasted Beef Dry Dog Food
- Kibbles n Bits Oven Roasted Beef & Vegetables Dry Dog Food
- Kibbles n Bits Homestyle Roasted Chicken & Vegetables Dry Dog Food
- Kibbles n Bits Bistro Grilled Chicken With Spring Vegetables Dry Dog Food
- Kibbles n Bits Bacon & Steak Dry Dog Food
- Kibbles n Bits Meaty Middles Prime Rib Dry Dog Food
Many of these dog foods have very similar formulas with different flavorings. Variations of beef and chicken flavor are among the most popular.
In addition to this, most of these foods contain both hard and soft pieces. The only exception to this is the Kibbles n Bits Meaty Middles, and this is because the soft and hard pieces are combined. This creates a kibble that is hard on the outside and soft on the inside.
Related: Can Dogs Eat Rotisserie Chicken?
2. Small Breed Mini Bits
Kibbles n Bits also make dog food for small breeds. This is the Mini Bits products on Kibbles n Bits’ product line. Here are the two different formulas that are offered for the Mini Bits small breed dog food.
Unfortunately, there are not nearly as many options for the Mini Bits foods as there are for Kibbles n Bits dry dog food. However, many of the same ingredients are used in both the small breed and original dog food formulas. The only difference between these two products is that Mini Bits is made with small dog breeds in mind, while the other dry dog foods do not.
3. Kibbles n Bits Wet Food
In addition to dry dog food, this brand also has a few wet dog food items in its product line. These include two different canned food variety packs.
- Kibbles n Bits Chef’s Choice Beef & Meatballs Variety Pack
- Kibble n Bits Chef’s Choice Beef & Bacon Variety Pack
Unlike the dry dog food from Kibbles n Bits, their canned food does contain some more real meats like chicken and beef. However, it is still a more affordable and low quality wet dog food option when compared to other dog food brands.
Alternatives To Kibbles n Bits
If you are looking for some alternative pet brands to Kibbles n Bits then you are in luck! There are three dog food companies that are fairly similar to Kibbles n Bits in some way. Here we will get into each of these different dog foods and be explaining how they are similar and different from Kibbles n Bits. Here are some alternatives to this dog food company.
1. Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo is a brand that is somewhat similar to Kibbles n Bits in that it is widely available for purchase in the United States anywhere that dog food is sold. This means that you can get Blue Buffalo dog foods from places like Walmart and Target as well as pet store chains like Petco, PetSmart, and Pet Supplies Plus.
In addition to this, you can also purchase Blue Buffalo products from online retailers like Amazon and Chewy as well. However, Blue Buffalo is a bit different from Kibbles n Bits in a couple of ways as well.
For one thing, Blue Buffalo has a way larger product line than Kibbles n Bits does. Blue Buffalo contains some different ingredients as well, and these ingredients can vary depending on the Blue Buffalo product.
2. Diamond Naturals
Another dog food brand that is fairly similar to Kibbles n Bits when it comes to their price range is Diamond Naturals. This is one of the best affordable dog foods when it comes to their ingredient quality. This means that even though Diamond Naturals is only a bit more expensive, their ingredients are of much better quality than Kibbles n Bits.
3. Iams
Iams is possibly the most comparable dog food brand to Kibbles n Bits. They are pretty similar in price, availability, and ingredient quality.
Where To Buy Kibbles n Bits Pet Food
You can buy Kibbles n Bits dog food in most places where dog food is sold. This includes some large chain stores like Petco and Walmart as well as some large online retailers like Amazon.
Has Kibbles n Bits Ever Been Recalled?
As of now, there has been no official recalls for any product that is made by Kibbles n Bits. This is a good thing, and not every dog food brand can say that they have never been recalled.
Wrapping Up Kibbles n Bits Dog Food Review
After taking a look at the whole big picture of this Kibbles n Bits dog food review, it is safe to say that it isn’t necessarily the best dog food out there. However, giving this to your dog in a pinch is not likely to hurt them.
Although this dog food may not have the absolute best ingredients, it is definitely an alright option for pet owners on a tight budget.
