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Kibbles 'n Bits Dog Food Ingredients

According to our research, Kibbles 'n Bits manufactures 16 dog food recipes using 97 unique ingredients. To evaluate the quality of ingredients used by Kibbles 'n Bits, we've studied all 97 ingredients. In this article, we'll share our findings on Kibbles 'n Bits ingredients.

Dog Food Recipes16
Unique Ingredients97
Artificial Colors8
Animal By-Products1
Anonymous Meats5
Controversial16
Harmful12

First 5 Ingredients

Dog food ingredients in the United States are listed in descending order of pre-cooked weight. The first 5 ingredients typically constitute a significant portion of the recipe.

For Kibbles 'n Bits, these are the most common ingredients found within the first 5 dog food ingredients.

  1. corn
  2. soybean meal
  3. beef and bone meal
  4. ground wheat
  5. animal fat (preserved with BHA)

As you can see, the most common first ingredient in Kibbles 'n Bits is corn. The most common 2nd ingredient is soybean meal, followed by beef and bone meal, ground wheat, and animal fat (preserved with BHA).

Artificial Food Coloring Dyes

Our records indicate that Kibbles 'n Bits does use artificial food coloring dyes. More specifically, we've identified 8 artificial food dyes used by Kibbles 'n Bits.

Although these food dyes are classified as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA, we recommend avoiding them when possible.

According to the Center For Research In The Public Interest (CSPI), there are many potential health risks associated with the consumption of artificial food coloring dyes.

Given that most pets consume the same products for prolonged periods of time, these concerns should be taken seriously. In general, we recommend pet owners avoid feeding products which contain artificial food coloring dyes.

For more information regarding the CSPI's findings, read our artificial food coloring article.

red 40
10 Recipes
yellow 6
10 Recipes
yellow 6 lake
5 Recipes
yellow 5
10 Recipes
red 3
1 Recipes

Red 3 is an artificial dye which the FDA has confirmed can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

The following recipes contain red 3:

red 40 lake
5 Recipes

Red 40 lake is a non-soluble form of red 40, an artificial dye. Studies have shown that red 40 may accelerate the appearance of immune-system tumors in mice, cause allergy-like reactions, and trigger hyperactivity in children.

The following recipes contain red 40 lake:

blue 1
7 Recipes
blue 2 lake
5 Recipes

Animal By-Products

Kibbles 'n Bits does indeed use animal by-products. More specifically, 1 animal by-product ingredient was found during our analysis of Kibbles 'n Bits dog food ingredients.

According to AAFCO, by-products are defined as the non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. In other words, animal by-products are the leftover ingredients that humans typically do not consume (lung, heart, tongue, stomach, intestine, blood, etc).

Many consumers have equated animal by-products with slaughterhouse waste. Animal by-products are still very controversial. Most premium brands have abandoned them in favor of specific named organ ingredients (duck liver, chicken heart, etc).

If you must feed a product with animal by-products, ensure that the specific animal source is specified. In other words, avoid ingredients such as meat by-products or poultry by-products.

meat by-products
6 Recipes

By-products are defined by AAFCO as the "non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals." Thus, meat by-products contain nearly all parts of the animal which are typically not consumed by humans. These parts include the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, stomach, blood, intestine, bone, etc.

This ingredient is marked controversial because the meat source is not identified. Anonymous ingredients such as meat by-products are typically very low quality additions. The most unpleasing property of this ingredient is that the animal source can contain any mammal, even dogs & cats.

The following recipes contain meat by-products:

Anonymous Meat Ingredients

Anonymous meats are animal-based ingredients which do not provide the source animal's name. These ingredients are controversial because they can come from almost any animal.

In addition, anonymous animal-based ingredients are very inexpensive and often the lowest quality meats that are still allowed to be used in pet food.

In general, we do not recommend feeding any products which contain anonymous meats. When in doubt, always contact the brand's customer service desk for further clarification.

Unfortunately, we've identified 5 anonymous meat ingredients used by Kibbles 'n Bits.

animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)
1 Recipes

Animal fat is a by-product of tissue rendering. The source animal is not specific and therefore we cannot be certain that the source does not include diseased animals or even euthanized dogs and cats.

The following recipes contain animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols):

meat by-products
6 Recipes

By-products are defined by AAFCO as the "non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals." Thus, meat by-products contain nearly all parts of the animal which are typically not consumed by humans. These parts include the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, stomach, blood, intestine, bone, etc.

This ingredient is marked controversial because the meat source is not identified. Anonymous ingredients such as meat by-products are typically very low quality additions. The most unpleasing property of this ingredient is that the animal source can contain any mammal, even dogs & cats.

The following recipes contain meat by-products:

animal digest
10 Recipes
animal fat (preserved with BHA/BHT)
3 Recipes

Animal fat is a by-product of tissue rendering. The source animal is not specific and therefore we cannot be certain that the source does not include diseased animals or even euthanized dogs and cats. What's more, this ingredient is preserved with BHA/BHT, both artificial preservatives and possible carcinogens according to the World Health Organization.

The following recipes contain animal fat (preserved with BHA/BHT):

animal fat (preserved with BHA)
10 Recipes

Controversial Ingredients

In most cases, ingredients which are given the controversial classification can be substituted with higher-quality alternatives. You should evaluate each controversial ingredient independently to see if there is truly a valid cause for concern.

Keep in mind, certain sacrifices often must be made to produce dog foods at a reasonable price. In general, the more expensive the product, the fewer controversial ingredients you'll find.

In our analysis, we've identified 16 controversial ingredients inside Kibbles 'n Bits products. These controversial ingredients are listed below. Click on each ingredient for more information.

iron oxide
4 Recipes

Iron oxide is an FDA approved natural food coloring agent. It's commonly found in rusting metal and provides a reddish-brown color.

We believe food colorants are unnecessary ingredients in dog food. Other than potential harm, food colorants do not provide any nutritional value. These type of ingredients are used only to make the food look appealing to humans.

The following recipes contain iron oxide:

soybean flour
5 Recipes

Soybean flour contains more than 50% protein. Therefore, soybean can significantly boost the protein content of the product. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.

The following recipes contain soybean flour:

soybean protein concentrate
5 Recipes

Soybean protein concentrate is produced by removing the water soluble carbohydrates from soybeans. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.

The following recipes contain soybean protein concentrate:

wheat middlings
10 Recipes
animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)
1 Recipes

Animal fat is a by-product of tissue rendering. The source animal is not specific and therefore we cannot be certain that the source does not include diseased animals or even euthanized dogs and cats.

The following recipes contain animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols):

corn syrup
10 Recipes
corn
10 Recipes

Corn is a cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in dog food.

Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.

Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, we'll discuss a few of the opposing arguments.

In regards to digestibility, the claims of "highly digestible" are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by dogs to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.

Finally, we'll discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in dog food should certainly warrant further questioning.

The following recipes contain corn:

ground wheat
9 Recipes
whole wheat
1 Recipes

Whole wheat is one type of whole grain and contains the entire grain of wheat (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Wheat is regarded as an inexpensive and low-quality filler in pet food. However, wheat does provide plant-based protein and makes pet food more affordable for consumers. It's important to note that plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.

The following recipes contain whole wheat:

caramel color
15 Recipes
liver
1 Recipes

Liver is a controversial ingredient because the source animal is not specified. Anonymous animal ingredients are typically very low quality and may contain almost any animal, including dogs and cats!

The following recipes contain liver:

meat by-products
6 Recipes

By-products are defined by AAFCO as the "non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals." Thus, meat by-products contain nearly all parts of the animal which are typically not consumed by humans. These parts include the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, stomach, blood, intestine, bone, etc.

This ingredient is marked controversial because the meat source is not identified. Anonymous ingredients such as meat by-products are typically very low quality additions. The most unpleasing property of this ingredient is that the animal source can contain any mammal, even dogs & cats.

The following recipes contain meat by-products:

animal digest
10 Recipes
garlic extract
3 Recipes

Garlic extract in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.

The following recipes contain garlic extract:

hydrolyzed corn gluten
2 Recipes
hydrolyzed wheat gluten
2 Recipes

Potentially Harmful Ingredients

Harmful ingredients are those which have been linked to adverse health effects. In general, we do not recommend feeding any product which contains any harmful ingredients.

There are certain situations where these ingredients may be necessary. We always recommend contacting Kibbles 'n Bits for further clarification regarding any harmful or controversial ingredient.

We have identified 12 harmful ingredients used in certain Kibbles 'n Bits recipes. To learn more, click on the ingredient's name.

red 40
10 Recipes
yellow 6
10 Recipes
yellow 6 lake
5 Recipes
BHA
10 Recipes
yellow 5
10 Recipes
propylene glycol
10 Recipes
red 3
1 Recipes

Red 3 is an artificial dye which the FDA has confirmed can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

The following recipes contain red 3:

red 40 lake
5 Recipes

Red 40 lake is a non-soluble form of red 40, an artificial dye. Studies have shown that red 40 may accelerate the appearance of immune-system tumors in mice, cause allergy-like reactions, and trigger hyperactivity in children.

The following recipes contain red 40 lake:

blue 1
7 Recipes
animal fat (preserved with BHA/BHT)
3 Recipes

Animal fat is a by-product of tissue rendering. The source animal is not specific and therefore we cannot be certain that the source does not include diseased animals or even euthanized dogs and cats. What's more, this ingredient is preserved with BHA/BHT, both artificial preservatives and possible carcinogens according to the World Health Organization.

The following recipes contain animal fat (preserved with BHA/BHT):

animal fat (preserved with BHA)
10 Recipes
blue 2 lake
5 Recipes

Kibbles 'n Bits Dog Food Ingredient Lists

Kibbles 'n Bits

Beefy Bits
Savory Beef Flavor
Kibbles 'n Bits
Beefy Bits Savory Beef Flavor
First Five Ingredients
corn
soybean meal
beef and bone meal
ground wheat
animal fat

Kibbles 'n Bits

Chef's Choice Homestyle
Grilled Beef & Vegetable Flavors
Kibbles 'n Bits
Chef's Choice Homestyle Grilled Beef & Vegetable Flavors
First Five Ingredients
corn
soybean meal
beef and bone meal
ground wheat
animal fat

Kibbles 'n Bits

Crunchy Kibble 'N Meaty Bits
Bacon & Steak Flavor
Kibbles 'n Bits
Crunchy Kibble 'N Meaty Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor
First Five Ingredients
corn
soybean meal
beef and bone meal
ground wheat
animal fat

Kibbles 'n Bits

Crunchy Kibble 'N Meaty Bits
Steak & Cheese Flavor
Kibbles 'n Bits
Crunchy Kibble 'N Meaty Bits Steak & Cheese Flavor
First Five Ingredients
corn
soybean meal
beef and bone meal
ground wheat
animal fat

Kibbles 'n Bits

Meaty Middles
Prime Rib Flavor
Kibbles 'n Bits
Meaty Middles Prime Rib Flavor
First Five Ingredients
corn
soybean meal
beef and bone meal
animal fat
wheat middlings

Kibbles 'n Bits

Mini Bits
Savory Bacon & Steak Flavor
Kibbles 'n Bits
Mini Bits Savory Bacon & Steak Flavor
First Five Ingredients
corn
soybean meal
beef and bone meal
ground wheat
animal fat

Kibbles 'n Bits

Mini Bits
Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors
Kibbles 'n Bits
Mini Bits Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors
First Five Ingredients
corn
soybean meal
beef and bone meal
ground wheat
animal fat

Kibbles 'n Bits

Bistro Mini Bits
Oven Roasted Beef, Spring Vegetable & Apple Flavors
Kibbles 'n Bits
Bistro Mini Bits Oven Roasted Beef, Spring Vegetable & Apple Flavors
First Five Ingredients
corn
soybean meal
beef and bone meal
ground wheat
wheat middlings

Kibbles 'n Bits

Chef's Choice Bistro
Oven Roasted Beef Flavor
Kibbles 'n Bits
Chef's Choice Bistro Oven Roasted Beef Flavor
First Five Ingredients
corn
soybean meal
beef and bone meal
ground wheat
animal fat

Kibbles 'n Bits

Original
Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors
Kibbles 'n Bits
Original Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors
First Five Ingredients
corn
soybean meal
beef and bone meal
whole wheat
animal fat

Kibbles 'n Bits

American Grill
Burger Dinner With Real Bacon & Cheese Bits In Gravy
Kibbles 'n Bits
American Grill Burger Dinner With Real Bacon & Cheese Bits In Gravy
First Five Ingredients
water sufficient for processing
chicken
beef
meat by-products
wheat flour

Kibbles 'n Bits

Bistro
Hearty Cuts With Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables In Gravy
Kibbles 'n Bits
Bistro Hearty Cuts With Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables In Gravy
First Five Ingredients
water sufficient for processing
beef
chicken
liver
wheat flour

Kibbles 'n Bits

Bistro
Tender Cuts With Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetables In Gravy
Kibbles 'n Bits
Bistro Tender Cuts With Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetables In Gravy
First Five Ingredients
water sufficient for processing
meat by-products
turkey
soybean flour
modified corn starch

Kibbles 'n Bits

Bistro
Tender Cuts With Real Beef & Vegetables In Gravy
Kibbles 'n Bits
Bistro Tender Cuts With Real Beef & Vegetables In Gravy
First Five Ingredients
water sufficient for processing
meat by-products
beef
chicken
wheat flour

Kibbles 'n Bits

Homestyle
Tender Slices With Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables In Gravy
Kibbles 'n Bits
Homestyle Tender Slices With Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables In Gravy
First Five Ingredients
water sufficient for processing
meat by-products
beef
chicken
wheat flour

Kibbles 'n Bits

Homestyle
Meatballs & Pasta Dinner With Real Beef & Pasta In Tomato Sauce
Kibbles 'n Bits
Homestyle Meatballs & Pasta Dinner With Real Beef & Pasta In Tomato Sauce
First Five Ingredients
water sufficient for processing
chicken
meat by-products
beef
wheat flour