Pedigree vs Blue Buffalo
Pedigree against Blue Buffalo, measured across 15 and 107 kibble recipes: 25.8% vs 30.9% protein on a dry matter basis, and 45% vs 36% starch.
How They Differ
- Blue Buffalo runs higher in protein: 30.9% against 25.8% on a dry matter basis, averaged across the kibble we review from each.
- Blue Buffalo is lower in starch, about 36% of the food as fed against 45%.
- Blue Buffalo is more calorie dense, 388 kcal per cup on average against 319, so its portions run smaller for the same dog.
- Blue Buffalo more often leads with meat, fish or egg as the first ingredient (100% of recipes against 0%).
Side by Side
| Measure | Pedigree | Blue Buffalo | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 15 | 107 | 1,601 in total |
| Protein, dry matter | 25.8%23.9% to 30.7% | 30.9%20.0% to 51.1% | 30.4% |
| Fat, dry matter | 11.8%8.0% to 13.6% | 15.5%10.0% to 22.2% | 16.0% |
| 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. | 45%39% to 50% | 36%14% to 49% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 319292 to 335 | 388323 to 479 | 398 |
| Meat, fish or egg listed first | 0% | 100% | |
| Grain-free recipes | 0% | 1% | |
| Most used proteins | Chicken 80%, Lamb 13%, Beef 7% | Chicken 70%, Fish 64%, Egg 46% | |
| Recipes with corn, wheat, soy | Corn 100%, Wheat 100%, Soy 100% | Corn 0%, Wheat 0%, Soy 0% | |
| By-products | 80% | 0% | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | 2Latest 20263 older in the archive | None2 older in the archive | |
| Made by | Mars | General Mills |
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. Protein and fat are on a dry matter basis, starch and calories 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.
Pedigree High Protein Beef and Lamb Flavor Dry Dog Food
Protein 31%
Fat 14%
Starch 39%
Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Large Breed Adult Red Meat Dry Dog Food
Protein 31%
Fat 14%
Starch 37%
Compare these two in full
Which Fits Your Dog
- For an active or working dog, or one that needs to hold muscle, Blue Buffalo puts more protein in each bowl.
- For a dog that gains weight easily, Pedigree is less calorie dense, so a normal-looking portion carries fewer calories.
- If you are cutting back on starch, Blue Buffalo starts lower.
- Blue Buffalo has fewer FDA recalls in our record over the last five years (0 against 2). Read the list below before counting it against Pedigree: most recalls cover a few lots, not a whole range.
- The brands overlap more than the averages suggest: Pedigree runs from 24% to 31% protein and Blue Buffalo from 20% to 51%, 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.
Pedigree
Pedigree. High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor Wet Dog Food
Pedigree. Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food
Archive: 3 older recalls
Pedigree. Expansion: Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition dry dog food (Walmart/Dollar General)
Pedigree. Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition dry dog food, specific lots
Pedigree. Dog Food
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
About the Brands
Pedigree
Pedigree is a mass-market dog food brand owned by Mars, Incorporated and sold in the US by Mars Petcare US, which is based in Franklin, Tennessee. It makes dry food, wet food and treats, and the company says its recipes are developed with science from the Waltham Petcare Science Institute. The brand is also known for backing the PEDIGREE Foundation, an independent nonprofit that supports shelter dog adoption.
Based in Franklin, Tennessee, since 1960. Every Pedigree food we review
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
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 10, 2026.
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