Does Blue Buffalo have fillers

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The next ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fifth item is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.

The next ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The seventh ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The eighth ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The ninth ingredient is tomato pomace which can be a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, theres probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

After the natural flavor, we find peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Blue Buffalo Life Protection product.

With nine notable exceptions

First, this food includes pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.

Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

Next, we find alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.

We also note the use of alfalfa nutrient concentrate, a vitamin and mineral-rich extract made from alfalfa.

Even though it contains over 50% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

In addition, pea fiber is a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

Next, garlic can be a controversial item. Although many favor the ingredient for its claimed health benefits, garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.¹

So, one must weigh the potential benefits of feeding garlic against its proven tendency to cause subclinical damage to the red blood cells of the animal.

Additionally, dried yeast can be a controversial item. Dried yeast contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

Whats more, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something weve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.

This recipe also includes sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

Taurine is also found in this product. Taurine is an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 50%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 51% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

Which means this Blue Buffalo product line contains

Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, pea products, alfalfa products and dried yeast, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Who makes Blue Buffalo and where is it made?

Blue Buffalo is owned by U.S. food company, General Mills. All of the brands dog food products are produced in the United States.

Blue Buffalo owns and operates 2 manufacturing facilities. One is located in Joplin, Missouri and the other in Richmond, Indiana. The company also outsources a number of its other products to co-packers that are also located in America.

Blue Buffalo Cat Food Review

Weve taken a close look at Blue Buffalo and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, product variety, price, ingredient quality, customer experience, and recall history.

The Cats.com StandardRating Blue Buffalo on What Matters

Weve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Heres how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.

Ratings

• Species-Appropriateness 6/10
• Ingredient Quality 6/10
• Product Variety 8/10
• Price 8/10
• Customer Experience 6/10
• Recall History 3/10

Overall Score: 6.17/10

Overall, we give Blue Buffalo a C grade. It receives high marks for affordability and offers decent product variety, but many of the recipes arent species-appropriate and customer experience varies greatly. The brand has also had a significant number of recalls.

Blue Buffalo Cat Food Video Review

About Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo was created in 2002 by Bill Bishop. After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1961, Bishop began a long career in advertising and consumer products. Bishop is behind advertising and marketing programs for big names like Tropicana, Perrier, Nabisco, and American Express. He was the co-founder of SoBe and served as its COO until its sale to Pepsi in 2001.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Bishop brought his marketing acumen to a new projectBlue Buffalo. Named after Bishops 9-year-old Airedale terrier, Blue, the company was poised to go big on the burgeoning natural pet food market.

After sixteen successful years in the business, the company was sold to General Mills for $8 billion. Today, its Americas leading natural pet food company.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

Blue Buffalo works with a wide variety of pet food manufacturers and suppliers. According to a brand profile published by the Whole Dog Journal in 2012, these were Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, ANI/Vita-Line Products, CJ Foods, ProPet, Triple T Foods, and Tuffys Pet Foods.

In addition to these partners, Blue Buffalo also manufactures some of its own products. It appears that the company operates manufacturing facilities in Joplin, Missouri and Richmond, Indiana. While we dont have exact details on Blue Buffalos manufacturing, it appears their products are made in the U.S.

Blue Buffalo doesnt provide specific information about the sourcing of their ingredients either. This may be because they work with a wide variety of suppliers. Wed love to have more information in this area, but transparency about manufacturing and ingredient sourcing just isnt part of Blue Buffalos brand.

Recall History

Evaluating a brands recall history can provide insight into the quality and safety of their products. Unfortunately, Blue Buffalo has been recalled several times since its creation in 2002.

Heres a summary of the companys recall history:

2017

Starting with a packaging problem affecting a number of Blue Buffalo dog food cups, 2017 involved three unique recalls. Shortly after the packaging problem in February, Blue recalled several cans of Homestyle Recipe dog food due to possible aluminum contamination. In March of 2017, Blue Buffalo dog food was recalled due to potentially high levels of beef thyroid hormone.

2016

Blue Buffalo announced a limited recall of dog food due to excessive moisture levels and the consequent potential for mold contamination.

2015

Blue Buffalo had two recalls in 2015. The first involved a limited number of Blue Kitty Yums cat treats. The treats were found to contain propylene glycol, which is prohibited by FDA guidelines.

In autumn of 2015, the company recalled a single lot of chewing bones due to potential salmonella contamination.

2010

Blue Buffalo recalled several products due to what they described as a sequencing error, which may have led to food contaminated with excess levels of vitamin D.

2007

Blue Buffalo was involved in the nationwide melamine recalls. The FDA confirmed the presence of melamine in rice protein concentrate in Blue Buffalo foods.

This prompted a recall of all their canned dog food, all cans of their Spa Select canned cat food, all dog treats, and Blue Buffalo Spa Select Kitten dry food. After discovering that the manufacturer had allowed melamine contamination, Blue Buffalo severed their relationship with American Nutrition, Inc.

In addition to recalls, Blue Buffalo has been at the center of multiple controversies and lawsuits.

In 2014, Purina accused Blue Buffalo of false advertising when Blues products tested positive for animal by-products, ingredients that Blue Buffalo claims are never present in any of their foods.

In response to this accusation, Blue Buffalo insisted that their ingredient supplier was at fault. Note that the ingredient supplier involved was Wilbur-Ellis, which was one of companies that imported melamine-tainted protein associated with the 2007 pet food recalls.

Blue Buffalo was also involved in a class-action lawsuit revolving around potentially toxic levels of lead in the brands foods. The lawsuit started when a dog named Coco died from kidney failure apparently caused by chronic lead poisoning. The case file states that the plaintiff sent Blue dog food to an independent lab for testing and confirmed that several varieties of the food contained excessive levels of lead. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed.

In June of 2019, the FDA named Blue Buffalo among 16 pet food brands that may be linked to an increased risk of DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs and cats.

During the FDAs investigation of a potential link between grain-free diets and an increased risk of DCM in dogsand some catsthe agency named 16 brands most commonly fed to pets who developed heart issues between 2014 and 2019. Blue Buffalo was the sixth brand on the list and associated with 31 reports of heart disease in that 5-year period.

Its important to note that this was not a recall and the FDAs investigation remains inconclusive.

What Kinds of Cat Food Does Blue Buffalo Offer?

All of Blue Buffalos follow a natural blueprint, but that doesnt mean there isnt plenty of variety. Blue Buffalo has six different cat food and kitten food lines.

For dry cat food, there are the original BLUE, BLUE Freedom (which is a line of grain-free products), BLUE Basics limited-ingredient foods, meat-rich BLUE Wilderness, and BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet, which is only available through veterinarians. Blue Buffalos newest dry food line for cats is Blue True Solutions which is designed to address specific health needs.

Blue Buffalos wet cat foods are available in the same six product lines, including traditional cat foods, veterinary diets, and the new Blue True Solutions line of health-specific products.

What Do Customers Think of Blue Buffalo Cat Food?

To get an idea of what real customers are saying about Blue Buffalo, here are a few reviews selected from several popular recipes listed on Amazon and Chewy.

Positive Reviews

My 6-year-old kitty loves this food. He cant get enough of it. He was on Science Diet A/D food for a while when I first adopted him because he wouldnt eat anything else. This food was a great next step for him, since it has a similar texture and some similar ingredients. CatDog, reviewing Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Adult Canned Cat Food

I started feeding Blue when my oldest cat developed diabetes. He has been on this food for 8 years and my vet says I dont know what youre doing but whatever it is keep doing because he is doing great. All my cats are on this. Quacker, reviewing Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Dry Cat Food

Negative Reviews

My older cat has grain allergies. The vet said this must have grain in it since she was sick while trying to eat it. The name is deceiving. Im disappointed. My kitten loves Blue Buffalo Debbi, reviewing Freedom Indoor Adult Pate

I got this food thinking that I was treating my cat but instead, I was just treating Blue Buffalos marketing department. Blue Buffalo has a host of problems associated with it and the vets I spoke to told me to avoid this stuff like wildfire. They had seen countless cats come in with urinary and kidney problems who were being fed Blue Buffalo. MarketingGotMe, reviewing Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Dry Food

Blue Buffalo Cat Food Top 3 Recipes Reviewed

All nutritional percentages in this table and hereafter are taken from the manufacturers guaranteed analysis. Exact nutritional percentages are not available. All calculated values are determined using these minimum and maximum published values and may differ from actual values. Blue Buffalo is the ultimate authority on their products, so please contact the company for more nutritional information.

#1 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Food

Like all products in the Wilderness line, this food is grain-free and promises to deliver increased levels of high-quality protein.

What is important to note with this recipe, however, is that the name states its made with chicken. The word with in pet product names usually implies that the formula isnt primarily made from that ingredient, even if its the first one on the list.

The recipe starts with deboned chicken as the first ingredient, followed by chicken meal. Along with pea protein, these serve as the foods primary protein sources. Menhaden fish meal and dried egg product appear later on the ingredient list.

Instead of grains like corn, rice, or wheat, the food contains peas and tapioca starch as its primary binding agents. Though these ingredients tend to look more appealing than grains, none of them are particularly nourishing for cats. They drive up the foods carbohydrate content and the protein is generally less digestible than protein from animal sources.

The food is enhanced with what Blue Buffalo calls LifeSource Bits. These are pieces of kibble containing concentrated antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Additionally, the food contains a smattering of nutraceuticals, with probiotics, turmeric, and berries appearing near the end of the ingredient list.

Overall, this food has slightly below-average carbohydrate content when compared to other dry foods, moderate protein content, and moderate fat.

As an economical dry food, this recipe is one of the better ones you can buy. It doesnt contain any animal by-products or vaguely named ingredients. Its free of artificial colors or potentially harmful preservatives. And it contains several species of probiotic bacteria, promising to support better digestive health.

But its not great.

Pea protein takes up some significant real estate near the beginning of the ingredient list, indicating that this foods protein may be more plant-derived than meat-based. The food is significantly starchier than it should be, raising your cats blood sugar and potentially contributing to diabetes over time.

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch, Peas, Menhaden Fish Meal (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg Product, Pea Fiber, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Calcium Chloride, Potassium Sulfate, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Direct Dehydrated Alfalfa Pellets, Potatoes, Dried Chicory Root, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Vegetable Juice for color, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Blueberries, Cranberries, Barley Grass, Parsley, Turmeric, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Copper Amino Acid Chelate, L-Carnitine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), L-Lysine, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Dried Yeast, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Oil of Rosemary.

Ingredients We Liked: Deboned Chicken

Ingredients We Didnt Like: Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch, Potatoes, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal

Crude Protein: 40%

Crude Fat: 18%

Crude Fiber: 4%

Moisture: 9%

Protein: 43.96%

Fat: 19.78%

Fiber: 4.4%

Carbs: 31.87%

Protein: 35.49%

Fat: 38.78%

Carbs: 25.73%

Pros

• Relatively low carbohydrate content compared to other dry foods
• Cats seem to like the chicken flavor
• No by-product meals or vaguely named food products

Cons

• Contains a concentrated source of plant protein
• Excessive carbohydrate content for carnivores
• Doesnt contain the moisture your cat needs

How Much Does Blue Buffalo Cat Food Cost?

Compared to other brands positioned as super-premium and natural, Blue Buffalo is relatively inexpensive. For example, if you have a 10-lb cat who needs about 200 calories per day, Blue Buffalo Freedom canned food will cost you around$2.82 per day.

That makes it just a little bit more expensive than budget brands like Friskies and Fancy Feast.

Overall, Is Blue Buffalo a Good Choice?

Blue Buffalo cat food is popular and well-loved, but its far from perfect nutritionally or in terms of quality. Where they really excel is in price and variety.

Most Blue Buffalo cat foods contain considerable amounts of plant matter. Worse than the brands reliance on plant-heavy recipes, Blue Buffalo has been recalled multiple times during the last decade. These incidents suggest deficits in quality control and transparency from Blues suppliers and manufacturing partners.

Blue Buffalo, therefore, isnt one of our favorite cat food brands to recommend to pet owners. If youre going to feed your cat Blue Buffalo, we recommend choosing a canned food formula that is rich in animal protein and moisture with limited added carbohydrate content.

Where Is Blue Buffalo Cat Food Sold?

Blue Buffalo is available almost anywhere you can buy cat food. Youll find it in grocery stores, pet specialty retailers, and more. Online, its available on Amazon, Chewy, and other web retailers.

Also Read:The 10 Best Cat Foods