Bil-Jac Information
Bil-Jac is one of the oldest dog food brands and was founded in 1947 in Ohio. It was founded by two brothers who had recently returned from World War II.
However, for much of Bil-Jac’s history, they did not produce traditional dry dog food or kibble. However, in the 1980s, after manufacturing processes had advanced, Bil-Jac felt confident providing dry food, and since then, they have not looked back.
To the best of our knowledge, all of Bil-Jac’s recipes are produced in Medina, Ohio, by the Kelly Foods Corporation.
Bil-Jac is widely available for purchase and is stocked at hundreds of pet food stores across the United States. They are also available online from websites such as Chewy, Amazon, and Petco.
Bil-Jac Product Range
Dog Food
Bil-Jac has a moderately sized range of dog food products. This range is a mix of dry dog food, wet dog food, and dog treats.
Despite the moderate size of their range, there are a number of niche recipes sold by Bil-Jac, including puppy food, large-breed dog food, small-breed dog food, and senior dog food.
Most Bil-Jac recipes are grain-inclusive, but there are a small number of grain-free recipes available.
Cat Food
At this time, Bil-Jac does not produce cat food in any variety.
Bil-Jac Nutrition
Bil-Jac dog food products provide mixed nutrition, but generally, they are above average.
The nutritional profiles of their recipes consist of an above-average proportion of protein and fat and a below-average proportion of carbohydrates.
Despite this, many of the recipes still have a significant proportion of carbohydrates.
Below is an example of the nutrition provided by a Bil-Jac dry dog food recipe.
Bil-Jac Ingredients
High-Quality Meat & Fish Ingredients
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Lamb
- Beef
Bil-Jac heavily relies on the use of Chicken in its recipes. Chicken is a staple of the industry and is used by almost all dog food brands.
It is chosen as it is one of the most cost-effective and nutritious meat ingredients available.
However, their wet dog food recipes do feature some other meat ingredients, such as Beef and Lamb.
All of the ingredients above can provide excellent nutrition for dogs that is high in protein and fat.
Other Notable Ingredients
Bil-Jac makes extensive use of Corn Meal in its recipes. Corn is an extremely controversial addition to pet food recipes, with many pet owners refusing to feed their pets that contain Corn.
Despite this, there are others who are strong supporters of its use, such as those that feed their pets food from brands like Purina Pro Plan.
Regardless of your opinion, Corn provides nutrition in the form of carbohydrates, protein, and select vitamins and minerals.
Some Bil-Jac recipes use Chicken By-Products. By-Products is a scary term that many dog owners do not understand.
It simply describes cuts of meat that would not traditionally be eaten by humans. While they may not be as appetizing or aesthetic, they can provide nutrition in the form of protein and fat.
Bil-Jac features several Pea By-products, including Pea Starch, Pea Flour, and Pea Fiber. Sadly, these are not positive additions to dog food.
They are often used in a technique known as Ingredient Splitting, which aims to deceive consumers.
Learn more about Ingredient Splitting in our article Ingredient Splitting in Pet Food Exposed.
In addition, learn more about these specific ingredients in our article Peas, Pea Protein, Pea Flour, and Pea Fiber in Dog Food.
Menhaden Fish Meal features in some Bil-Jac recipes. Menhaden Fish are not well known but are harvested from the oceans for their fish oil.
Once this fish oil has been removed, a nutritious fish meal remains, which is sold to pet food manufacturers as a fish-based source of protein and fat.
Read more about Menhaden Fish Meal in Menhaden Fish Meal in Dog Food.
Some Bil-Jac recipes make use of Oatmeal, which is a grain ingredient. Oatmeal is considered to be one of the best grain ingredients that can be used in dog food.
This is because it can offer additional nutrition beyond its fiber content, such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Dried Beet Pulp is a regular addition to many pet food recipes and is included as a source of soluble fiber.
Soluble fiber can be critical to some dogs to ensure they have regular digestion and stools. Outside of its fiber content, Beet Pulp provides little nutrition to dogs.
Read more about Beet Pulp in Dried Beet Pulp In Dog Food.
Brewers Yeast is found in dog food recipes, such as Bil-Jac, in tiny quantities. It is included as it can provide some beneficial vitamins and minerals.
An example of this would be the B Vitamins. Some believe these can provide dogs with tangible health benefits.
Learn more about Brewers Yeast in Brewers Yeast In Dog Food.
Flaxseed is well known as an excellent source of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which is why it is often included in pet food recipes.
These fatty acids can provide several health benefits, such as an improvement in the condition of a dog’s skin and coat.
Read more about Flaxseed and some of its other benefits in Flaxseed In Dog Food.
Bil-Jac Animal Testing
We have no information regarding what type of animal testing Bil-Jac participates in.
We are strong believers that invasive or laboratory testing of animals is a cruel and outdated practice. We hope it will see a significant decline in the future.
Bil-Jac Recalls
Sadly, based on our research (FDA, AVMA, DogFoodAdvisor), Bil-Jac has issued a recall in the past and does not have a recall-free history.
The below recall taints their near-perfect record and shows that there must have been lapses in their safety and quality processes.
August 2012 – Potential Mold Contamination
Bil-Jac issued a recall notice for a single batch of dry dog food due to several reports of mold in the bags.
The recall included a total of 1024 bags of dry dog food which is relatively small compared to recalls carried out by other brands.
The batch number in question was 1792-02, with an expiration date of December 27, 2013.
Mold is a common cause of recalls and is typically caused by above-intended levels of moisture within the packaging, which enables the mold to grow.
While it is still critical that Mold is avoided as it can harm pets, it is one of the less concerning recall causes.
However, since 2012, Bil-Jac has managed to maintain a recall-free record that shouldn’t be dismissed. we hope that they can continue this record in the coming years and continue to advance their safety and quality processes.
Regardless, we always encourage pet owners to be vigilant of any future recalls from Bil-Jac or any other pet food brand to ensure their pets remain healthy and safe.
Best of Bil-Jac
Adult Select Review
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Adult Select is Bil-Jac’s all-purpose adult dog food recipe. While it doesn’t specialize like other recipes, it provides excellent nutrition that is above average compared to most other dog food brands.
This above-average nutrition is thanks to a large portion of Chicken, Chicken By-Products, and Chicken By-Product Meal. This combination results in a large overall portion of Chicken.
The recipe uses a mix of Corn and Oatmeal to provide carbohydrates, fiber, and select vitamins and minerals.
Pate Platters With Duck & Pumpkin Review
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Wet dog food can be an excellent treat or regular addition to a dog’s diet. The above Pate Platters range from Bil-Jac is an excellent choice for this purpose.
The recipe’s core ingredient is Duck, which isn’t a common sight in dog food. Despite this, it is a high-quality source and offers similar nutrition to Chicken and Turkey but with a more appealing taste.
The recipe also includes a smaller portion of Chicken which, when combined with the Duck, produces a very satisfactory proportion of protein and fat.
Outside of the recipe’s poultry content, it contains a mix of Tapioca, Pumpkin, Green Beans, and Peas. Pumpkin is an excellent addition and can provide dietary fiber, carbohydrates, and select vitamins and minerals like Beta Carotene.
Bil-Jac Featured Articles
At this time, Bil-Jac has not been featured in any of our articles.
Bil-Jac Full Product Range
Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Puppy Select Formula
Small Breed Puppy
Large Breed Puppy
Adult Select
Small Breed Adult
Large Breed Adult
Grain Free Adult
Reduced Fat Formula
Senior Select Formula With Chicken And Oatmeal
Small Breed Senior
Sensitive Solutions
Picky No More Small Breed
Picky No More Medium Breed
Picky No More Large Breed
Wet Dog Food
Country Stew With Lamb & Beef
Chunky Stew With Chicken & Vegetables
Harvest Feast With Turkey & Sweet Potatoes In Gravy
Heart Stew With Beef & Barley
Pate Platters With Chicken & Cheese
Pate Platters With Chicken & Vegetables
Pate Platters With Duck & Pumpkin
Pate Platters With Beef & Sweet Potatoes
We feed our dog a premium quality dry dog food and a mix of wet bil jac frozen dog food. The only time we have ever had any spoilage was when we left a bag of frozen bil jac in the refrigerator while we were gone on a vacation for several weeks and the dog was at boarding with a new bag of Bil jac. Our dog has food available all day long and sometimes will eat twice in one day but most days he waits until evening to eat his dog food. But will accept snacks 24/7.
Bil Jac is one of the only dog foods she will eat but what surprise me was that my cat keep going over and eating it in addition to their food. Surprisingly though even though the puppy likes bil-jac food she doesn’t seem to care for the bil Jac dog biscuits which I find unusual.
Bil- Jac a favorite now – Except 😔
Ok oops was not able to continue. After long time and a few generations we have been on Fromm and loved. Until Covid hit , then food allergies began. Some severe in a new rescue , then another pack member. After some research we switched to Bil- Jac needing sesitive stomach with immune. My dogs love it !! Bounce and dance prior to eating 😊🥰🤭 but then learned of a preservative called BHA . Over time causes Cancer which Bil- Jac defintly contains. I wish you all would consider another type of healthy preservative. Researching for a comparison with out this preservative . Thank you ~ Lennox Farm 🐾
Does BilJac use jif peanut butter in their puppy treats? Are they recalling?
I noticed with the dry food the color is no longer brown, its more of a beige and my dogs dont like it.