Kibbles ‘n Bits is the fifth largest dog food brand in the United States and has been in operation since 1981. The brand is owned by the pet food company Del Monte Foods and manufactured in a plant in Lawrence, Kansas. Their company slogan is “joy in every bite” and they offer a variety of different products and product lines catered towards dogs with a variety of dietary preferences. The name “Kibbles ‘n Bits” references the brand’s status as the first dual-textured dog food, including both hard, crunchy kibble and softer, chewy bits in their dry dog food mixes. They claim that this will keep your dog satisfied and excited for every meal.
Types of Kibbles ‘n Bits Dog Food
Kibbles ‘n Bits currently offers nine different types of dry food products and five flavors of canned dog food. Most varieties are formulated with all breeds and ages in mind, but some are specifically for small dog breeds. If you are looking for more specifically formulated types of dog foods, you can check out our recommendations for small dogs, large dogs and senior dogs.
Dry Food Products:
- Original Savory Beef & Chicken
- Bistro Roasted Beef, Spring Vegetable, and Apple
- Small Breed Mini Bits Savory Beef & Chicken
- Bacon & Steak
- Meaty Middles Prime Rib
- Steak & Cheese
- Homestyle Grilled Beef & Vegetable
- Beefy Bits Savory Beef Flavor
Canned Wet Dog Food Products:
- Homestyle Tender Slices with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy
- American Grill Burger Dinner with Real Bacon & Cheese Bits in Gravy
- Bistro Tender Cuts with Real Beef & Vegetables in Gravy
- Bistro Tender Cuts with Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetables in Gravy
- Bistro Hearty Cuts with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy
Ingredients
Kibbles ‘n Bits and their parent company, Del Monte Foods, have a reputation for stacking their ingredient lists with more fillers, preservatives and by-products than any form of real, wholesome foods. In checking their ingredient lists, it was easy for us to verify that this reputation is founded in truth. Kibbles ‘n Bits includes a plethora of red flag ingredients for low-quality dog food. Instead of whole meat ingredients, they include “meat and bone meal”, which is defined as the leftovers of an animal carcass dried and ground up. This offers no details about the type of animal meat and nutritional quality of the product and is certainly not a good sign. In fact, corn and soybean meal are the first two ingredients in most of their products. These are both inexpensive and controversial ingredients offering a much lower nutrient density than animal proteins.
Kibbles ‘n Bits uses BHA to preserve their dog foods, which is thought to cause cancer and not included in most dog foods nowadays. Propylene glycol is also included in their recipes, which is a controversial food moisturizer that has been already banned by the FDA for use in making cat foods. Their formulas do not contain any probiotic ingredients, which help your pup digest their food. They do include minerals, but no chelated minerals. This makes them less bioavailable and is common in lower quality dog foods.
If your dog has any food allergies or sensitivities, it is best to steer clear of Kibbles ‘n Bits. Corn, wheat, and soy are all common allergens. Sugar, salt and artificial colorings can also cause issues for canines. In fact, even healthy dogs should probably avoid the brand to not risk developing any negative health impacts.
Kibbles ‘n Bits is a high-carb dog food, which is not inherently bad, but is bad when considering the low quality of the carbohydrates the brand uses. 55.4 percent of calories are derived from carbohydrates, while 22.8 percent are derived from fat and 21.8 percent are from protein. The fiber content is 4.9 percent, which is on par with the recommended value for dog foods.
Comparison to Other Leading Brands
Kibbles ‘n Bits is an affordable dog food brand. However, it is important to note that cheaper dog foods generally are made up of worse ingredients. We recommend considering price, quality, and health benefits to your pup when choosing a dog food brand. A 17-pound bag of their dry dog mixes is priced at around $10. Larger sizes are also offered at better value, as well as small sizes if you want to try out a new flavor or formula. Their canned dog food is priced at around $16 for a case of 12 13.2-oz cans.
If you’re not impressed by Kibbles ‘n Bits ingredient lists and are willing to spend a bit more, Diamond and Blue Buffalo are good brands to look into. You can also check out our other recommendations for organic and grain free dog foods.
Recall History
It may be surprising to hear that Kibbles n’ Bits has never been recalled. While they are a controversial brand, they still prioritize safety in their manufacturing process and are a part of a large pet food manufacturer with a history of developing top-notch safety practices.
Coupons and Discounts
Kibbles ‘n Bits is a widespread brand and can be most easily found in big-box stores such as Target, Walmart and Safeway. Chain pet food stores will also usually offer the brand, though many independent pet food stores refuse to carry it because of its bad reputation. You can also purchase the brand from online pet food retailers such as Chewy and Amazon, which often offer the best deals and free shipping. While you cannot buy their products directly through their website, you can sign up for their mailing list to be the first to know about coupons and other promotions.
Kibbles ‘n Bits Review Conclusion
We give Kibbles ‘n Bits a final rating of “bad”. Don’t be fooled by pictures of juicy steaks and happy dogs on their packaging – this brand is crammed full of cheap filler ingredients and nothing your dog requires to stay healthy.
If you are still looking for more options, check out our other favorite dog food brands that really stood out across all categories.
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