For those who are not really familiar with the Beneful dog food brand, it is actually a product line of Nestle Purina PetCare. The name “Purina” should already raise some issues about its quality. Surprisingly, however, the brand is actually doing well in the market compared to the other pet food products of its parent company. Could it be that Nestle Purina PetCare has finally found a way to rebuild its reputation as a credible and trustworthy maker of high-quality pet food?

Throughout this Beneful dog food review, we’ll scrutinize every ingredient that the company puts into its formulas and determine whether the Purina Beneful truly deserves a place in your pet’s tummy.

Beneful Dog Food Review

1 Purina Beneful Originals With Real Beef Dry Dog Food

Purina Beneful Originals With Real Beef Dry Dog Food
Key features:
  • Allergens: Beef, corn, barley, rice, wheat, soy, chicken, oat, egg, salt (irritant),
  • First 5 Ingredients: Beef, whole grain corn, rice, barley, whole grain wheat
  • Primary Proteins:
  • Calories: 347 kcal per cup
  • Flavor: Beef
  • Type: Dry
  • Life Stage: Adult

This Beneful Original features the goodness of real beef as its principal ingredient, giving your pet the right amounts of animal proteins that it needs for optimum muscle tissue growth and development. It also contains corn gluten meal, soybean meal, and whole-grain wheat so pet parents who are wary about causing gluten allergies in their pets will be duly informed.

This Purina Beneful dry dog food capitalizes on the use of farm-raised cattle as the primary source of the proteins that it puts into each kibble. This provides a good source of essential amino acids that your pet will surely benefit from. Antioxidants from fruits, grains, and vegetables included in the blend provide additional health benefits for your growing pet.

Ingredients:

Beef, Whole Grain Corn, Barley, Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal , Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Oat Meal, Egg And Chicken Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Dried Spinach, Dried Peas, Dried Carrots, Iron Oxide Color, MINERALS [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Biotin (Vitamin B-7)], Choline Chloride, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride. R409020.

What others say about it:
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Had a tough time finding the right food for our recently adopted Shiba Inu, but she’s gobbling this up. And the ingredients are all recognizable! Very healthy great tasting food.

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2 Purina Beneful Grain Free Dry Dog Food

Purina Beneful Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Key features:
  • Allergens: Chicken, beef, soy, salt (irritant),
  • First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, cassava root flour, pea starch, chicken meal, soybean germ meal
  • Primary Proteins: Chicken
  • Calories: 349 kcal per cup
  • Flavor: Chicken
  • Type: Dry
  • Life Stage: Adult

Owners who are worried that their pets may have gluten allergies can rest assured that this grain-free dog food formulation by Purina Beneful is just right for the job. It doesn’t contain any of the irritable grains that are considered the culprit for gluten allergy reactions in dogs like wheat and corn. What your dog will be feasting on is the awesome taste of farm-raised chicken which should provide a totally different dining experience for your pet.

The addition of cassava root flour and pea starch gives your pet the energy that it needs, although increasing the proportion of animal proteins should readily address the energy requirements of any dog. Nevertheless, Purina Beneful grain-free is still a wise choice for those looking for an allergy-free formula.

Ingredients:

Chicken, Pea Starch, Cassava Root Flour, Chicken Meal, Soybean Germ Meal, Soybean Meal, Canola Meal, Beef Fat Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Soybean Oil, Salt, Blueberries, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Spinach, Potassium Chloride, Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Biotin (Vitamin B-7)]. D409617.

What others say about it:
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This is probably a great food. I just happen to have the 2 most picky eaters. I have tried so many different kinds of dog food. They are spoiled. At this time the will only eat Natures recipe. I appreciate when you give me refunds on what they won’t eat , but you don’t have to.

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3 Purina Beneful IncrediBites Variety Pack Dog Food

Purina Beneful IncrediBites Variety Pack Dog Food
Key features:
  • Allergens: Beef, chicken, wheat, rice, corn, soy,
  • First 5 Ingredients: Real Beef: Beef broth, beef, wheat gluten, liver, meat by-products. Real chicken: Broth (chicken), chicken, wheat gluten, meat by-products, liver. Real Salmon: Broth (chicken), chicken, wheat gluten, liver, salmon.
  • Primary Proteins: Beef, Chicken, Salmon
  • Calories: Beef and Salmon: 86 kcal per can Chicken: 87 kcal per can
  • Flavor: Beef, Chicken, Salmon
  • Type: Wet/Canned
  • Life Stage: Adult

Giving the IncrediBites Beneful variety pack is like giving your pet 3 different sumptuous meals that it can devour in one go or divided as a food topper for its favorite kibble. The variety pack comes in Beef, Chicken, and Salmon variants, each blended with tomatoes, carrots, and wild rice. The Real Salmon variant is like giving your pet a taste of the bounties of the Pacific Northwest while either Chicken or Beef variants should keep your pet’s palate really interested in the amazing taste that it gets.

Each can of this Purina Beneful product is guaranteed to deliver the right amounts of nutrients necessary for the optimum development of dogs. Your dog will love the meaty, bite-sized chunks of meat and veggies that are slathered in an extra-thick, yummy sauce.

Note to Owners: Allergens are noted within the key features. Always check the individual labels when purchasing a variety pack.

Ingredients:

With Real Beef: Beef Broth, Beef, Wheat Gluten, Liver, Meat By-Products, Tomatoes, Carrots, Wild Rice, Corn Starch-Modified, Soy Flour, MINERALS [Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7)]. D407420.

What others say about it:
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My lab/akita mix has tried all the toppers for his dry food! He liked a few of the others, but absolutely loves this one. I use half a can for his dry food 2x a day. Price point is good too!

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4 Purina Beneful IncrediBites For Small Dogs Dog Food

Purina Beneful IncrediBites For Small Dogs Dog Food
Key features:
  • Allergens: Beef, corn, barley, soy, wheat, chicken, egg, oat, salt (irritant)
  • First 5 Ingredients: Beef, whole grain corn, barley, soybean meal, whole grain wheat
  • Primary Proteins: Beef
  • Calories: 366 kcal per cup
  • Flavor: Beef
  • Type: Dry
  • Life Stage: Adult

The Beneful IncrediBites dry dog food variant provides all the essential amino acids that dogs need, thanks to the use of farm-raised cattle as the source of its animal protein. Corn, wheat, rice, and barley are added to provide the energy that physically active dogs need. It also has the right amounts of vitamins and minerals for supporting a variety of physiologic processes including healthier digestion, nervous integration, cardiovascular functioning, and immunologic readiness.

This is one dog food you would definitely want to give to your pet especially if it is the hyperactive type. The taste of beef plus peas and carrots should really pump up your pet’s appetite so it will get all of the nutrients that this IncrediBites provide.

Ingredients:

Beef, Whole Grain Corn, Barley, Soybean Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Chicken By-product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols, Rice, Egg And Chicken Flavor, Oat Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Flavor, Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Dried Carrots, Dried Peas, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Iron Oxide (Color), Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Biotin (Vitamin B-7)], Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], L-lysine Monohydrochloride. K408520.

What others say about it:
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I use this food as snacks for my dog! He loves it and it’s a healthy, lower calorie treat. Chewy provides it at an economical size bag and the shipping and delivery are excellent. I buy everything for my dog through Chewy.

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5 Purina Beneful Prepared Meals Variety Pack Dog Food

Purina Beneful Prepared Meals Variety Pack Dog Food
Key features:
  • Allergens: Beef, chicken, wheat, rice, barley, corn, soy,
  • First 5 Ingredients: Beef: Beef broth, beef, wheat gluten, peas, carrots, liver. Chicken: Broth (Chicken), chicken, wheat gluten, liver, meat by-products. Rice and Lamb: Water, wheat gluten, liver, meat by-products, white rice.
  • Primary Proteins: Beef, chicken, lamb
  • Calories: Beef: 268 kcal per tub. Chicken: 261 kcal per tub. Rice and Lamb: 264 kcal per tub.
  • Flavor: Beef, chicken, lamb
  • Type: Wet/ tubbed
  • Life Stage: Adult

The Prepared Meals line of Purina Beneful Dog Food can be considered as the brand’s own take on home-cooked food that is specially formulated by professionals for all dogs. There are 3 flavors in this Beneful wet dog food variety pack: Beef Stew, Chicken Stew, and Rice & Lamb Stew. It’s like giving your beloved pet three main courses, each with its own distinct taste and is characterized by the use of chunky, meaty bite-sized pieces that will surely have your dog gobble up its meal in no time.

Add to this the savory gravy that can serve as a moistening agent for your pet’s kibble and you know that the tasty meal is just half the story. The other half will be the completeness of the nutrients that your pet will get with every bite and slurp of its Purina Beneful Prepared Meals diet.

Note to Owners: Allergens are noted within the key features. Always check the individual labels when purchasing a variety pack.

Ingredients:

Savory Rice & Lamb Stew: Water, Wheat Gluten, Liver, Meat By-Products, White Rice, Lamb, Peas, Carrots, Chicken, Wild Rice, Corn Starch-Modified, Tricalcium Phosphate, Soy Flour, MINERALS [Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7)], Choline Chloride. E406520.

What others say about it:
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My dogs really like this food we switched from racheal ray because it was out of stock a large percentage of the time. usually when you change my dog’s food it gives them diarrhea but this food did not. They really like it and it’s reasonably priced

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6 Purina Beneful High Protein Dry Dog Food

Purina Beneful High Protein Dry Dog Food
Key features:
  • Allergens: Chicken, beef, corn, wheat, barley, salt (irritant), oats, soy, brewers rice (irritant)
  • First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, whole-grain corn, whole grain wheat, corn gluten meal, beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols
  • Primary Proteins: Chicken, Beef
  • Calories: 345 kcal per cup
  • Flavor: High protein chicken and beef
  • Type: Dry
  • Life Stage: Adult

Unlike other dry dog foods, this option contains a high amount of protein to help your dog develop their muscles as well as maintain a healthy heart. Beneful’s high protein recipe also includes a number of antioxidants, vitamins, and accents of fruits and vegetables to support your dog’s immune system and overall health.

Using a delicious mix of crunchy bits and tender shreds, this beef and chicken flavor formula will leave your pooch satisfied after every meal and leaves out any harmful artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors.

Ingredients:

Beef, Whole Grain Corn, Barley, Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal , Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Oat Meal, Egg And Chicken Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Dried Spinach, Dried Peas, Dried Carrots, Iron Oxide Color, MINERALS [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Biotin (Vitamin B-7)], Choline Chloride, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride. R409020

What others say about it:
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After switching to grain free food for my two 25 and 30 lb Cocker Spaniels, I wasn’t having much luck finding a brand they both seemed to enjoy (of course my male will eat nearly anything). They both really love the Purina grain free brand so far, though! I’ve been feeding them this food since September-ish and I’ve noticed they are shedding less, and their stools have become more regular. One 12.5 lb bag lasts them 3-4 weeks I used to buy this from my local grocery store for about $6 more. Purchase this from Amazon, you’ll save money and it arrives perfectly fine in a box within 2 days (with Prime of course).

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7 Purina Beneful Healthy Weight with Real Chicken Adult Dry Dog Food

Purina Beneful Healthy Weight with Real Chicken Adult Dry Dog Food
Key features:
  • Allergens: Chicken, egg, soy, corn, rice, wheat, barley, oats, salt (irritant),
  • First 5 Ingredients: Real chicken, whole-grain corn, chicken by-product meal, barley, whole-grain wheat
  • Primary Proteins: Chicken,
  • Calories: 307 kcal per cup
  • Flavor: Chicken
  • Type: Dry
  • Life Stage: Adult

If your best fur friend needs a little helping shedding a few pounds or simply needs to keep on top of their existing trim and lean frame, Beneful has the ideal dry food to help dog owners achieve their goals. Each cup serves 26 grams of protein, uses real USA-raised chicken, and contains a calorie smart formula to ensure your dog has a balanced and nutritious diet.

Using the helpful chart on the food’s label, you will easily be able to determine the exact amount to feed your pup to achieve results. You can also be satisfied knowing that there is also a great mix of 23 vitamins and minerals that will care for your pup inside and out.

Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Soybean Hulls*, Barley, Whole Grain Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Rice, Poultry By-Product Meal, Glycerin, Egg And Chicken Flavor, Beef Fat Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Poultry And Pork Digest, Oat Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Dried Apples, Dried Carrots, Dried Green Beans, Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Iron Oxide (Color), MINERALS [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite (Vitamin K), Biotin, Folic Acid], L-Lysine Monohydrochloride. J-4091. *12%-a Source of Fiber.

What others say about it:
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We started feeding our Golden Retriever this Beneful flavor when we couldn’t get to Costco for her regular food (Nature’s Own), only to find out she likes this brand a lot better. I am not up on all the nutritional requirements, but I did look online and everything seems to be in the mix so we are going to stick with this.

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8 Beneful Medleys Wet Dog Food Variety Pack

Beneful Medleys Wet Dog Food Variety Pack
Key features:
  • Allergens: Chicken, beef, wheat, soy, salt (irritant), rice, corn, eggs,
  • First 5 Ingredients: Mediterranean Style: Water, liver, chicken, wheat gluten, lamb. Tuscan Style: Beef broth, beef, liver, wheat gluten, carrots. Romana Style: Broth (chicken), chicken, liver, wheat gluten, meat by-products
  • Primary Proteins: Lamb, beef, chicken
  • Calories: Est. 71 kcal per tin.
  • Flavor: Lamb, beef, chicken
  • Type: Wet/Canned
  • Life Stage: Adult

If you want to mix up your pup’s meals, why not try this Mediterranean, Tuscan, and Romana-style alternative? Beneful Medleys offer pet parents a pack containing three delicious and nutritious wet dog foods to appease their canine’s appetite. Each tin is packed with real vegetables and farm-raised beef, lamb, or chicken so you are guaranteed to be giving your pup a flavorsome meal.

A great thing about this product is that each tin can either be used as a singular meal or a tasty topper for your dog’s kibble. Beneful ensures to serve pet owners with nothing but high-quality pet food for their beloved companions and this option is no different. Every tin provides a balanced level of vitamins and minerals to protect and support your dog’s overall health including joints, skin, coat, and immune system.

Note to Owners: Allergens are noted within the key features. Always check the individual labels when purchasing a variety pack.

Ingredients:

Romana Style: Chicken Broth, Chicken, Liver, Wheat Gluten, Meat By-Products, Carrots, Pasta (Wheat Flour, Egg Whites), Corn Starch-Modified, Spinach, Soy Flour, Salt, Minerals [Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7)]. C-4081. Mediterranean Style: Water, Liver, Chicken, Wheat Gluten, Lamb, Tomatoes, Brown Rice, Meat By-Products, Corn Starch-Modified, Spinach, Soy Flour, Salt, Minerals [Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7)]. C-4080. Tuscan Style: Beef Broth, Beef, Liver, Wheat Gluten, Carrots, Tomatoes, Rice, Meat By-Products, Corn Starch-Modified, Soy Flour, Salt, Minerals [Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7)]. C-4082

What others say about it:
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Very good dog food for my older small dog. He’s 15 years old, I feed him this since he doesn’t have much teeth yet. I put it over small bits dry food. The juices from this softens up the dry food so that he gets a good balance of each. It also doesn’t have an awful smell, doesn’t make me gag like most wet food does when I open it. Comes out of the can without having to use a spoon.

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9 Beneful Simple Goodness Adult Dry Dog Food

Beneful Simple Goodness Adult Dry Dog Food
Key features:
  • Allergens: Chicken, barley, soy, wheat, beef, salt (irritant)
  • First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, malted barley extract, soy flour, soy grits, wheat flour
  • Primary Proteins: Chicken
  • Calories: 365 kcal per cup
  • Flavor: Chicken
  • Type: Dry
  • Life Stage: Adult

This formula is made up of tender meaty morsels packed with real farm-raised chicken and no chicken by-product meal or artificial colors or flavors. This Beneful dog food chicken formula is another option that serves as a stand-alone meal, delicious dog food topper, or can even be given as dog treats. Either way, when your companion sees you take a pouch out of the cupboard – they’ll come running.

No matter how you choose to serve it, this wholesome recipe provides your dog with balanced nutrition and supplies enough vitamins and minerals to keep them in good health and top shape.

Ingredients:

Chicken, Malted Barley Extract, Soy Flour, Soy Grits, Water, Wheat Flour, Beef Fat Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Glycerin, Phosphoric Acid, Dried Peas, Dried Carrots, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Sorbic Acid (A Preservative), Calcium Propionate (A Preservative), Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Dl-Methionine, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K)], Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Choline Chloride, Natural Flavors, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid. 4098-A.

What others say about it:
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My dog loves this stuff, and I love that it’s a healthy semi-moist food (which is hard to find on the market). I was feeding her Purina Moist & Meaty before, which is full of grains and fillers. This is a step up from that, with real peas and carrots and less by-products/grains. It makes me feel a lot better about having to feed her semi-moist food because she’s so picky. My only complaint is that the pouches do not equal one cup. My dog gets half a cup in the morning and half in the evening, but when I halve them out I always have to supplement the rest of the cup with dry food.

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Is Beneful a Good Dog Food?

This is the question which we certainly tend to answer here. Although first, you must ask yourself whether the choices above have ticked the appropriate boxes so that they will satisfy your dog’s taste buds and, more importantly, meet their nutritional needs. Other dog food reviews tend to blur the lines in order to push the products onto their reader. However, we intend to answer these questions honestly to promise you that we’ve done our research and can provide reliable information.

A Short History of The Beneful Company

Beneful is a product line under Nestle Purina PetCare based in St. Louis, Missouri. Beneful is produced alongside other notable product lines of the company like Pro Plan, Dog Chow, Friskies, and ONE. The brand is the largest pet food company in the US and is the second worldwide.

As a brand, Beneful is relatively new having been introduced in 2001. The product line was conceptualized to appeal to pet parents who are looking for a different kind of dog food than what they are already accustomed to. The first product resembled stew and actually contained real beef pieces.

The product line was embroiled in a class-action lawsuit in 2015. The complaint cited the presence of toxic ingredients, particularly mycotoxins, in a number of Beneful dog food products. Purina countered by saying that the ingredients are all duly-approved by the FDA.

In March 2016, the company voluntarily recalled affected lots of its Pro Plan and Beneful product lines because of insufficient amounts of minerals and vitamins

Take a look at our Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Review.

Where is Beneful Dog Food Made?

99% of Purina’s dog foods are made in their own facilities and factories in the USA. This way, Purina can carefully monitor the manufacturing of all its products and guarantee a safe dog food choice for its customers.

Where do they Source their Ingredients from?

Unlike other dog food brands, Purina primarily sources its ingredients from reliable providers here in the US. Purina also promises that 100% of its ingredients are traced back from trusted suppliers to bring peace of mind to customers.

Product Lines – Differences and Which One You Should Choose

Purina Beneful dog food comes in varieties so it’s always worth taking a look at your options before you make a final decision. Some of these options are available as singular products or can be found in a multipack to save you money.

Beneful Wet Food

  • Purina Beneful Chopped Blends (available in multipacks)
  • Incredibites Pate (available in a variety-flavor pack)
  • Incredibites For Small Dogs (available in a multipack)
  • Medleys (Available in a multipack)
  • Prepared Meals (Available in a variety-flavor pack)
  • Superfood Blend (Available in a variety-flavor pack)

Beneful Dry Dog Food

  • Grain-free
  • Healthy weight
  • Healthy Puppy
  • High-Protein
  • Incredibites For Small Dogs
  • Beneful Dry Dog Food Originals
  • Playful Life
  • Prime
  • Protein Rich
  • Superfood Blend

As you can see, Purina Beneful dog food comes in a variety of choices and even has options for puppies and smaller dog breeds too.

Let’s Take A Closer Look At The Ingredients

The true measure of a dog food brand’s effectiveness as a provider of high-quality dog food can be measured through the ingredients it uses. In this Beneful dog food review, we’re going to carefully analyze the ingredient mix of the brand as far as the 5 products that we’ve featured are concerned.

  • Below average to average proteins

Based on the 3 dry dog food variants and the 2 variety packs of Beneful wet food in this review, we determined the protein content for the dry dog food was 24.67% while the wet variety had 10.33%. When the moisture content of the said products was taken into consideration, we came up with the following dry matter percentage of protein: 28.35% for dry dog food and 44.9% for the wet food variant.

While it is easy to say that 45% is high, it should be noted that other brands of wet food can have a protein content of as much as 55% for the wet version. For the dry version, most high-end, high-quality protein-rich dog foods come with at least 35% of dry matter equivalent. This puts the Beneful brand well behind these protein-rich dog food products.

A point we’d like to raise is that there are many questionable animal products on the ingredient list. We’ve noted the use of the term “meat byproducts” or “liver”. We’re not sure what animal they took the byproducts or the liver from. This runs against every rule that veterinary nutritionists espouse when listing ingredients. The ingredients should always be clearly identified.

The good news is that Beneful uses farm-raised animals in their formulations. We just don’t get why they don’t want to just write ‘chicken liver’ or ‘beef liver’ if that is where they sourced the liver from.

  • Low to below-average fats

As far as the fat content is concerned, Nestle Purina’s Beneful brand comes with rather pleasing results. Its dry variants have an estimated dry matter fat content of 14.7% which is still a bit lower than other brands nearing the 20s. Its wet variant, however, is what is really surprising since it is only about a few percentage points from the minimum recommended fat intake for dogs by AAFCO. We computed the wet varieties of Beneful dog food to have a dry matter fat content of only 9.78%.

Not everything is good news, however. We couldn’t find any information about DHA and EPA in the products that we’ve reviewed. We did manage to note the presence of linoleic acid in a few products, but this is basically an omega-6 fatty acid. We’re more concerned about omega-3s especially when it comes to immune, nervous, cardiovascular, and integumentary system health.

  • Average to above-average carbohydrates

While both NRC and AAFCO don’t provide guidelines about the correct proportion of carbs in dog food, we can only make an estimated guess based on the prevailing convention that the dog’s diet should consist primarily of proteins. When the protein and fat contents were computed in both the dry and wet versions of Beneful we arrived at the following results: 56.95% carbohydrates for the dry and 45.32% for the wet.

We’ve seen dog food products that fare way better with the dry dog food formulation containing no more than 40% carbs while the wet food variety is in the lower 30s. The implication is that, while Beneful promises to utilize premium animal ingredients in its formulas, it is nowhere near the expected proportion of animal proteins. One can safely say that Beneful retains the characteristic of its parent company – using more carbohydrates as fillers instead of using more premium quality animal ingredients. This is where most of the corn and wheat that are present in many formulations come in.

  • Micronutrients

Beneful meets NRC and AAFCO recommendations for micronutrients, although we’d like to point out that we sorely miss the probiotics, chondroitin, and glucosamine in other brands. While these are not recognized by AAFCO and NRC as essential nutrients, they can help in promoting healthier digestion, immunity, and joints.

Other Ingredients:

One of the products in this review mentioned “artificial and natural flavors” as well as “added color”. We are not absolutely certain just what kind of “artificial” flavoring was used or what variant of “added color” was used in the formulation. Suffice it to say that these ‘ingredients’ are even listed underscores the brand’s continuing disregard for pet food product safety conventions.

Dog Food Recall History

Unfortunately, Beneful has voluntarily recalled selected wet foods in the past due to products not containing the recommended level of minerals and vitamins. This was discovered via Purina’s own testing regime to which they made the decision to recall the products.

Prices

Providing accurate prices for the Beneful range can be difficult. Prices can fluctuate depending on the product line, subscriptions, and deals provided by the individual websites. However, we can provide an average price

Beneful Originals With Real Beef Dry Dog Food (28lbs) – $25-$32

Beneful Grain-Free Dry Dog Food (23 lbs) – $24-$35

Beneful Incredibites Variety Pack Dog Foods (3oz can, case of 12) – $8-$12

Beneful Incredibites For Small Dogs Dog Food (14lbs) – $14.99-$20

Beneful Prepared Meals Variety Pack Dog Foods (10oz, case of 12) – $20 -$25

Beneful Adult Dry Dog Food (26lbs) – $38-$40

Beneful Healthy Weight Chicken Adult Dry Dog Foods (6.5lbs) – $10-$21

Beneful Medleys Wet Food Variety Pack (5.45lbs) – $8-$20

Beneful Simple Goodness Adult Dry Dog Foods – $17-$20

Where Can I Buy Beneful Dog Food?

Fortunately, you won’t have to look far to purchase Beneful dog food as our above products contain the necessary links to sources selling the dog foods. Browse the dog food reviews above to access Amazon, Chewy, and Petsmart.

In a Nutshell, is Beneful a Good Choice?

If you don’t mind feeding your pet wheat, corn, and soy or any of the ingredients many pet parents are quite wary of, then Beneful should be a great choice. Its use of farm-raised animals is always a welcome development from a company that is generally known for putting more fillers into their formulas rather than real meats.

Pet parents who want a reduced-fat alternative to their current dog food, the wet food formula of Beneful is a great choice since it has one of the lowest dry matter fat content one can get from the market. However, just don’t go asking about the levels of EPA or DHA from these products as there are none.

Individuals who would like to give their pets moderate amounts of calories and proteins just enough to meet their daily metabolic requirements can rest assured that Beneful will deliver such requirements to them. The calorie content of Beneful dog food is one of the lowest among the countless dog food brands. This should be perfect for dogs that are prone to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems