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Kibbles 'n Bits Adult High Protein Triple Steak Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag
Kibbles 'n Bits

Adult High Protein Triple Steak Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $0.96/lb

Kibbles 'n Bits Adult High Protein Triple Steak Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 5/100 (F) with Fair evidence. 10 controversial ingredients flagged. Score capped at 39 due to 6 FLAG ingredients.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF

Score capped at 39 due to 6 FLAG ingredients.

CAP why?

Score capped at 64 due to 4 WATCH ingredients.

CAP why?

Contains bha. IARC Group 2B probable carcinogen; CA Prop 65 listed; FDA reassessment announced 2025. Natural alternatives (mixed tocopherols) widely available..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 7

  • bha
    Synthetic preservative classified by the U.S. National Toxicology Program as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.' Many premium brands have removed it.
  • bht
    Synthetic preservative; commonly paired with BHA. Linked to organ toxicity in long-term animal studies.
  • corn syrup
    Added sugar. No nutritional purpose in dog food; commonly added to semi-moist treats for palatability.
  • propylene glycol
    Humectant banned in cat food by the FDA due to Heinz body anemia. Still permitted in dog food but considered a low-quality ingredient.
  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.
  • red 40
    Artificial color with no nutritional value. Linked to behavioral effects in children; relevance to dogs is unclear but the ingredient serves only marketing purposes.
  • yellow 5
    Artificial color with no nutritional value. Some dogs show allergic-type reactions.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 28% ⓘ
Protein
23%
min (as fed)
Fat
8%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4%
max (as fed)
Moisture
18%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

50 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    soybean meal

    Concentrated soy protein. Cheap plant protein that pads the label number, common in budget formulas.

  2. 2
    corn

    Whole corn is more nutritious than it gets credit for, with decent amino acids and steady carbs. The bigger concern is when corn dominates the top of the ingredient list at the expense of named meat.

  3. 3
    beef & bone meal
  4. 4
    wheat

    Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.

  5. 5
    animal fat

    Unnamed fat source. The species matters: 'chicken fat' or 'beef fat' is fine, but 'animal fat' tells you nothing about origin.

  6. 5
    bha Flagged

    Synthetic preservative. Listed as a possible human carcinogen by the IARC. Banned from human food in Japan and parts of the EU, still permitted in US pet food.

  7. 5
    bht Flagged

    Synthetic preservative, sibling of BHA. Banned from human food in several countries over concerns about long-term safety. Used because it's cheap.

  8. 6
    wheat middlings
  9. 7
    corn syrup Flagged

    Added sugar, usually for palatability or moisture. Dogs don't need added sugar. Common in semi-moist treats.

  10. 8
    beef

    Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.

  11. 9
    water

    Just water. Counted on the label of any wet or fresh food. The number tells you the moisture content.

  12. 10
    propylene glycol Flagged

    Used as a humectant in soft-moist foods. The FDA prohibits it in cat food over toxicity concerns. Permitted in dog food but worth avoiding.

  13. 11
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  14. 12
    hydrochloric acid
  15. 13
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  16. 14
    caramel color

    Artificial coloring made by heating sugars. Cosmetic. Some forms contain trace 4-MEI, a compound the IARC lists as possibly carcinogenic.

  17. 15
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  18. 16
    sorbic acid
  19. 17
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  20. 18
    niacin supplement

    B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.

  21. 19
    d - calcium pantothenate
  22. 20
    vitamin a supplement

    Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.

  23. 21
    riboflavin supplement

    B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.

  24. 22
    vitamin b12 supplement

    Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.

  25. 23
    thiamine mononitrate

    B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.

Showing first 25 of 50. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

20 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.