Buying dog food for your companion can be a tough task, especially with dozens of brands lining the shelves. There are new brands are emerging each year, but most people stick to the kinds that they’ve grown up with. While some have stuck to their original recipes, others have improved their standards to meet the requirements customers demand.
We choose two brands that have been around for a while to see how they did against each other. Purina Beneful and Bil-Jac have been around for some time, though Purina is the name most people will recognize. Here’s our in-depth comparison of Purina Beneful and Bil-Jac.
A Sneak Peek at the Winner: Purina Beneful
Purina Beneful uses real meat and flavorful ingredients to make one of the most popular dog food brands around. While Bil-Jac has some decent recipes, it falls short in multiple categories compared to Beneful. We recommend trying the Purina Beneful Originals and Beneful High Protein, especially if your dog is active.
The Winner of Our Comparison:
About Purina
Purina’s History
Though Purina was not officially formed until 2001, Purina’s origins go much farther than that. What started as a small animal feed business in 1894 named the Robinson-Danforth company slowly grew into a booming business called the Ralston Purina company in 1901.
Eventually, Ralston Purina was purchased by Nestle, combining with their current cat products to become one of the largest animal food companies at that time. After the merger, the Purina Pro Plan dog food selection was created to give dogs a nutritious, balanced diet.
Purina as a Company
Purina and its origins have been around for a while, so they have been involved in multiple areas. In 2011, Nestle Purina sponsored the Westminster Dog Show, one of the largest dog shows around.
Nestle Purina also won an award in 2011 for its organized manufacturing productions and waste reduction called the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Legal Issues & Controversy
Purina sued Blue Buffalo in 2014, regarding their advertisements about their ingredients. Blue Buffalo claimed to have no by-products, but Purina’s lab testing said otherwise. Blue Buffalo counter-sued with the same claim, with both lawsuits eventually settling.
Purina was sued in 2015 after a consumer’s dog had gotten sick from their food. This was due to the additive propylene glycol, which has little to no information on its impact on canine health. After a second lawsuit in 2017 for false advertising, the company has not had any lawsuits since.
- A long history of making animal products
- Purchased by Nestle
- Sponsored the Westminster Dog Show
- Won award for manufacturing practices
- Has been sued by consumers
- Used questionable ingredients in the past
About Bil-Jac
Bil-Jac’s History
After creating dog recipes for malnourished dogs in need, Bill and Jack Kelly discovered their passion for animals and nutrition. They founded Bil-Jac in 1947, with a frozen dog food product as their first product.
By the 80s, Bil-Jac launched its firsts dry dog food called Adult Select. Today, the company has added multiple dog food products, including several dry food recipes. Though they’re not the most popular brand, they have maintained their place on the shelves of major dog supply stores.
Bil-Jac as a Company
Bil-Jac was started as a family company and has continued to be a family-run business. They try to maintain the same compassion and recipes as the original founders, passing down the business with each generation.
Legal Issues & Controversy
Although the company has been around for a while, there is only one lawsuit they were ever involved in. in 2014, Mars Inc. sued Bil-Jac over packaging that looked too similar to their own, but the case was dropped.
Recall History of Purina and Bil-Jac
- 2016: Purina Pro Plan Savor (wet food) was recalled due to low nutritional value
- 2013: Purina ONE dog food was voluntarily recalled due to potential contamination with salmonella
- 2012: Purina Veterinary Diets OM Weight Management was recalled because of the low taurine levels
- 2011: Purina cat food (unknown varieties) were recalled for suspected salmonella contamination
- 2012: Certain bags of Bil-Jac dry dog food were recalled for possible mold growth and contamination
The 3 Most Popular Purina Beneful Dog Food Recipes
1. Purina Beneful Originals (Beef)
- Four (4) 3.5 lb. Bags - Purina Beneful Dry Dog Food, Originals With Real Beef
- Real farm-raised beef is the #1 ingredient
Purina Beneful Originals is a popular dog food brand with real beef, vegetables, and whole grains recipe. It’s made with 23 essential nutrients your dog needs for a balanced diet, with real meat as the first ingredient. Purina Beneful is not too expensive for the quality, especially compared to other popular brands. However, it contains corn and soy, which are found in most average quality dog foods.
- Beef, vegetables, and whole grains recipe
- Made with 23 essential nutrients
- Affordable for the quality
- Made with corn and soy
2. Purina Beneful High Protein (Chicken and Beef)
- One (1) 26 pound Bag - Purina Beneful natural, high protein dry dog Food, High protein with a blend...
- Natural formula with added vitamins and minerals
Purina Beneful High Protein recipe is perfect for athletic and working dogs. The high protein content with vitamins and minerals gives your dog the support and energy needed for those long days outdoors. This recipe is made up of tender pieces and crunchy kibble for more flavor and textures. Similar to the other Beneful recipes, it contains filler ingredients that have no nutritional value.
- Supports athletic dogs
- High protein content recipe
- Tender and crunchy textures
- Contains filler ingredients
3. Purina Beneful Healthy Weight (Chicken)
- One (1) 6.3 lb. Bag - Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food, Healthy Weight With Real Chicken
- Real U.S. farm-raised chicken is the #1 ingredient
Purina Beneful Healthy Weight is a reduced calorie recipe for dogs that may need a little extra help in the weight department. It’s made with real chicken, so the flavor isn’t sacrificed for weight management. Like other Beneful recipes, it’s also fortified with the essential vitamins and nutrients required for a complete diet. Unfortunately, it’s made with corn, soy, and wheat that can cause allergic reactions and other health concerns.
- Reduced calorie recipe
- Made with real chicken
- Fortified for a complete diet
- Made with corn, soy, and wheat
Three Most Popular Bil-Jac Dog Food Recipes
1. Bil-Jac Adult Select Formula (Chicken)
- MADE WITH REAL CHICKEN: Bil-Jac dry dog food is always made with real chicken as the 1st ingredient....
- NUTRI-LOCK SLOW COOK: Bil Jac dry food is slow cooked at controlled temperatures under a proprietary...
Bil-Jac Adult Select Formula dog food is made with farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient. This recipe is made with balanced proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, to give your dog full support and nutrition. It also has naturally sourced Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for hearth and coat health. On paper, it seems like highly nutritious dog food, but it’s loaded with multiple by-products and preservatives.
- Farm-raised chicken is the first ingredient
- Balanced protein, fat, and carbohydrate recipe
- Contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
- Multiple by-products and preservatives
2. Bil-Jac Picky No More (Chicken Liver)
- Fresh, farm-raised chicken is the very first in ingredient in this super-premium Food; 6-pound bag...
- Irresistible flavor of lip-smacking chicken Liver is sure to entice even the most persnickety eater
Bil-Jac Picky No More is designed specifically for dogs that turn their noses to everything. The real chicken liver is rich and packed with taste so picky dogs will approve of it. It’s made with the same recipe as the original Adult Select, fortified for a complete diet. It does contain preservatives (BHA) and corn products like the other Bil-Jac recipes. However, this can be a good choice if you are running out of food options for your picky dog.
- Specifically for picky dogs
- Real chicken liver for flavor
- A balanced diet like the original flavor
- Contains BHA and corn
3. Bil-Jac Reduced Fat (Chicken)
- With 30% less fat than Bil-Jac Adult select, Bil-Jac reduced fat dog Food can help manage your...
- Dogs love the fresh chicken taste of Bil-Jac reduced fat formula
Bil-Jac Reduced Fat dog food is similar to the original Adult Select, but with less fat content for help with managing weight. It has a fiber blend to help aid in digestion, so it’s good for dogs that get nauseous from regular dog foods. However, the first ingredient is chicken by-products and not whole chicken, so this recipe is not as nutritious as the others. It also contains corn and preservatives, which are found in below-average dog food.
- Less fat content than original
- Fiber blend to help digestion
- Chicken by-product is the first ingredient
- Contains preservatives and corn
Purina Beneful vs. Bil-Jac Comparison
At first glance Purina Beneful and Bil-Jac seem even in quality and other factors, but there is a clear winner after an in-depth look. We compared both brands in variety, flavor, ingredients, and value. Here are the results:
Variety: Purina Beneful
Purina Beneful and Bil-Jac both have a decent variety to choose from, but Beneful has more choices and recipes. Beneful has more options for dogs with allergies, as well as more age-specific recipes.
Flavor: Bil-Jac
Both brands have flavorful recipes, but Bil-Jac edges out Beneful with their Picky No More recipe. It’s not the most nutritious in comparison to Beneful, but it’s an option that even picky eaters find hard to pass up.
Ingredients: Purina Beneful
When it comes to ingredients, both Beneful and Bil-Jac should reconsider using filler ingredients. However, Beneful recipes simply have less junk and higher-quality ingredients. Bil-Jac also uses BHA, a preservative with controversial use in food products.
Value: Purina Beneful
Purina Beneful and Bil-Jac have a price difference, with Purina Beneful being the less expensive of the two. When it comes to value for your money, Beneful is the winner because it’s more affordable for higher-quality ingredients.
Conclusion
After comparing both brands of dry dog food, the winner is Purina Beneful. It’s simply made with a better quality of ingredients and nutrients. If your dog is a picky eater, Bil-Jac Picky No More might be an option for you. Otherwise, we choose Purina Beneful out of these two brands.
Hopefully, we have helped you find the right dog food. Both dog foods have their good and bad features but may not be right for your dog. If you’re unsure, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation before starting a new diet.
