Adult Savory Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog Food, 16-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Kibbles 'n Bits Adult Savory Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog Food is a dry food for adult dogs, flavored with bacon and steak.
There isn't much to highlight here. While the formula is likely complete for adult maintenance, the AAFCO statement itself isn't published by the retailer.
The deck includes BHA, corn syrup, animal digest, propylene glycol, and artificial colors. These are the synthetic preservatives, added sugars, unverified protein sources, humectants, and dyes our methodology penalizes most heavily.
Hard to recommend for any dog. The significant number of flagged ingredients is the main concern.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for active large sporting breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Irish Setters navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Beef and bone meal anchors position 3, with zero pulses in the top 15. In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022 (FDA, 2022) .
Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
Research informing this analysis
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Concerning grade. 0/100 (F) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. AAFCO compliance did the heavy lifting (+4 points): AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer. What capped it: the score can't exceed 39 because multiple FLAG-tier ingredients are stacked in the formula. Removing the cap alone wouldn't change the band. Controversial-ingredient penalty is the deeper issue.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
Contains bha. IARC Group 2B probable carcinogen; CA Prop 65 listed; FDA reassessment announced 2025. Natural alternatives (mixed tocopherols) widely available..
- Lowest DMB protein in Kibbles 'n Bits's lineup (23.2%)
- Lowest DMB fat in Kibbles 'n Bits's lineup (9.8%)
- Lowest crude fiber in Kibbles 'n Bits's lineup (4.9% DMB)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
SPORTMiX Essentials Adult Bacon Flavor Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
Scores 42 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Kibbles 'n Bits Bistro Oven Roasted Beef, Spring Vegetable & Apple Flavor Dry Dog Food, 45-lb bag
$0.60/lb vs your seed's $0.94/lb (36% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Controversial ingredients · 7
- bhaSynthetic preservative classified by the U.S. National Toxicology Program as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.' Many premium brands have removed it.
- corn syrupAdded sugar. No nutritional purpose in dog food; commonly added to semi-moist treats for palatability.
- animal digestChemically or enzymatically hydrolyzed animal tissue from unspecified species. Used as a flavor coating. Source quality cannot be verified.
- propylene glycolHumectant banned in cat food by the FDA due to Heinz body anemia. Still permitted in dog food but considered a low-quality ingredient.
- red 40Artificial color with no nutritional value. Linked to behavioral effects in children; relevance to dogs is unclear but the ingredient serves only marketing purposes.
- yellow 5Artificial color with no nutritional value. Some dogs show allergic-type reactions.
- yellow 6Artificial color with no nutritional value.
Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1graincorn
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.
Position 1 grain: primary carbohydrate base. This is a grain-inclusive formula with corn as the dominant carb.
- 2protein plantsoybean meal
Concentrated soy protein. Cheap plant protein that pads the label number, common in budget formulas.
Position 2: plant protein in the top 5. Stacked with animal protein, can inflate the crude protein number without matching the amino-acid quality of named animal sources.
- 3beef and bone meal
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4grainground wheat
Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5animal fat
Unnamed fat source. The species matters: 'chicken fat' or 'beef fat' is fine, but 'animal fat' tells you nothing about origin.
Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 5preservative syntheticbha 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. See why →
Synthetic preservative at position 5. Sniff flags this regardless of where it sits in the deck.
- 6othercorn syrup Flagged
Added sugar, usually for palatability or moisture. Dogs don't need added sugar. Common in semi-moist treats. See why →
- 7wheat middlings
Position 7: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 8water sufficient for processing
The regulatory phrase for cooking water in wet food. Has no nutritional implication, just labeling formality.
- 9protein animalanimal digest Flagged
A liquid flavoring made from hydrolyzed animal tissue, sprayed onto kibble for palatability. Common, not directly harmful, but vague about source.
Position 9: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 10otherpropylene 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. See why →
- 11mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 12hydrochloric acid
- 13mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 14caramel color
Artificial coloring made by heating sugars. Cosmetic. Some forms contain trace 4-MEI, a compound the IARC lists as possibly carcinogenic.
- 15protein animalbeef
Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.
Position 15: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 16sorbic acid
- 17supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 18vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 19vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 20vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 21vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 22vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 23vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 24vitaminvitamin d3 supplement
The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.
Showing first 25 of 57. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
21 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.