Blue Buffalo vs Taste of the Wild
Blue Buffalo against Taste of the Wild, measured across 108 and 16 kibble recipes: 27.7% vs 28.8% protein and 36% vs 35% starch, as fed.
How They Differ
- Protein is close: 27.7% for Blue Buffalo and 28.8% for Taste of the Wild as fed.
- Starch is similar, about 36% for Blue Buffalo and 35% for Taste of the Wild as fed.
- Taste of the Wild leans grain-free: 75% of its kibble recipes against 1%.
Side by Side
Protein and fat:
| Measure | Blue Buffalo | Taste of the Wild | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 108 | 16 | 1,742 in total |
| Protein, as fed | 27.7%18.0% to 46.0% | 28.8%25.0% to 32.0% | 27.2% |
| Fat, as fed | 13.9%9.0% to 20.0% | 16.1%15.0% to 18.0% | 14.4% |
| Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. | 36%14% to 49% | 35%30% to 41% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 387323 to 479 | 412360 to 445 | 398 |
| Meat, fish or egg listed first | 100% | 100% | |
| Grain-free recipes | 1% | 75% | |
| Most used proteins | Chicken 70%, Fish 65%, Egg 45% | Fish 63%, Egg 56%, Lamb 44% | |
| Recipes with corn, wheat, soy | Corn 0%, Wheat 0%, Soy 0% | Corn 0%, Wheat 0%, Soy 0% | |
| By-products | 0% | 0% | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None2 older in the archive | None1 older in the archive | |
| Made by | General Mills | Diamond Pet Foods |
Brand figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that brand, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Freeze-dried, frozen, wet food and toppers are left out so the numbers compare like with like, and so are prescription diets, which are fed for a medical condition on a vet's advice. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead, which takes the water out so foods of different moisture compare evenly. Why we use as fed.
The Closest Matching Recipes
Brand averages hide the recipe you would actually buy. These are the pairs that come closest on protein, fat and starch, preferring recipes built on the same main protein, which is where a like-for-like choice gets made.
Blue Life Protection Formula Toy Breed Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Protein 26%
Fat 15%
Starch 39%
Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Canine Recipe with Roasted Lamb Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Protein 25%
Fat 15%
Starch 39%
Compare these two in full
Which Fits Your Dog
- If your vet has suggested a grain-inclusive diet, Blue Buffalo has more of those recipes to choose from.
- The brands overlap more than the averages suggest: Blue Buffalo runs from 18% to 46% protein as fed and Taste of the Wild from 25% to 32%, so the right recipe matters more than the name on the bag.
Recall History
FDA recall notices from the last five years that name the brand or its maker. Older notices sit in each brand's archive below: still on the record, but not counted, since a recall that old says more about how a company used to run than how it runs now.
Blue Buffalo
No FDA recalls in our record for Blue Buffalo in the last five years.
Archive: 2 older recalls
BLUE Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Recipe. Dog food
Blue Wilderness. Cub Size - Wild Chews
Taste of the Wild
No FDA recalls in our record for Taste of the Wild in the last five years.
Archive: 1 older recall
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul; Country Value; Diamond; Diamond Naturals; Premium Edge; Professional; 4Health; Taste of the Wild; Kirkland Signature. Expansion to batches of nine brands of dry dog and cat food made at Gaston, SC plant Dec 9 2011 - Apr 7 2012
About the Brands
Blue Buffalo
Blue is the pet food brand of the Blue Buffalo Company, which has been owned by General Mills since 2018. Its dog food lines include Life Protection Formula, Wilderness, Basics, Freedom and the fresh Love Made Fresh range. The company says its recipes start with real meat and exclude corn, wheat, soy and poultry by-product meals.
Based in Wilton, CT, since 2003. Every Blue Buffalo food we review
Taste of the Wild
Taste of the Wild is a dry and wet dog and cat food brand owned by Diamond Pet Foods, the trade name of Schell & Kampeter, Inc. of Meta, Missouri. The brand says its recipes are based on a pet's ancestral diet and it is known for less common proteins such as bison, venison, wild boar and trout. Its lines include the original grain-free recipes, Ancient Grains, and PREY limited ingredient recipes.
Based in Meta, Missouri, since 2007. Every Taste of the Wild food we review
More Brand Comparisons
How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brands' own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. Figures refreshed October 20, 2026.
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