We know you want only what’s best for your furry family members, especially when it comes to their diets.
Because there is an overwhelming amount of choice, the best place to start is among reputable brands. In this article, we will compare and highlight the critical differences between Taste of the Wild vs. Blue Buffalo.
Background Check
If you wish to make a thorough comparison, it helps to start with the background of each brand.
Taste of the Wild
Before anything else, kudos to the brand’s packaging because it successfully evoked hunting scenes in my mind! The message is clear: the manufacturer aims to emulate what our canine and feline companions would have eaten in the wild.
Taste of the Wild is a US-based pet food manufacturer owned by Schell and Kampeter family. The company debuted in 2007 to meet the market’s increasing demand for grain-free pet food rich in flavor and nutrients.
Since then, the brand came up with many recipes with different targets. There are formulas designed for puppies/kittens, adults, seniors, as well as breed-specific foods to cater to the needs of a particular breed.
Blue Buffalo
Bill and Jackie Bishop had an Airedale Terrier whose health problems necessitated a type of diet you rarely find in stores. Thus, the couple were inspired to start their own line of pet food in 2003.
Developed by animal nutritionists and holistic veterinarians, you can rest assured it is made with the best interest of your pets.
The company has grown tremendously since its debut. They now offer pet foods for every life stage with varying wet and dry options.
Taste of the Wild Dog Food vs. Blue Buffalo: Ingredients Comparison
The reason why we looked into a product’s top five ingredients is that they comprise most of the food.
Top 5 Ingredients
Blue Buffalo has a line of dry dog food, which also has its roots in the evolutionary diet of canines.
For comparison, we shall focus on the Blue Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet Adult Dog Food with Chicken and LifeSource Bits®. As the name suggests, it features fresh deboned chicken, chicken meal*, potato starch, turkey meal, and peas. The line also has other variants where duck and salmon are the primary sources of protein. This recipe is 100% grain-free, but some Blue Buffalo products include whole grains.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Roasted Bison & Venison, on the other hand, has buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, and peas as its top five ingredients. Roasted bison and venison only came as the 9th and 10th ingredient, respectively, which gave us the impression that they were added solely for flavor and aroma.
Nevertheless, we like that Taste of the Would use different protein sources. There are smoked salmon, roasted fowl, roasted lamb, and wild boar options for your pooch. Not only will this delight pet parents with finicky eaters, but it will benefit dogs with sensitivities as well. All of its product lines are grain-free to boot.
Although Blue Buffalo seems to have an edge in the ring with its patented LifeSource Bits®, Taste of the Wild takes pride in the fact that it’s the only pet food manufacturing company to use purified water throughout the entire production.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie – Roasted Bison & Venison | Blue Wilderness Evolutionary Diet - Chicken | |
|---|---|---|
| First Five Ingredients | Buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, potato starch, turkey meal, peas |
| Grain-Free |  | |
| Antioxidants | | Yes – LifeSource Bits® |
| Chelated Minerals | | |
| Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fatty Acids | | |
| AAFCO-Approved | | |
| Hormone & Antibiotic-free Meats | |  |
| Ethoxyquin-free | | Unspecified |
| Crude Protein | 31.9 % | 34 % |
| Crude Fat | 18 % | 15 % |
| Crude Fiber | 4.9 % | 6 % |
The AAFCO has mandated every pet food manufacturer to label their products with a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content, covering minimum percentages of crude protein, crude fat, and crude fiber.
To sustain life, dogs need 22 amino acids. Twelve of these are synthesized naturally, while the remainder is acquired from a protein source. Fats are also vital to your canine’s diet, as it promotes the healthy development and bodily functions of your dog, such as producing prostaglandins to fight inflammation.
- meat meal – rendered meat and skin dried and ground up
Controversial Ingredients
Both Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo use the following ingredients in many of their products:
- Canola oil
- Pea protein
- Tomato pomace
Blue Buffalo has also used several other controversial ingredients, causing many consumers skeptics. These ingredients are the following:
- Garlic
- Caramel
- Caramel color
- Dried tomato pomace
- Pea protein concentrate
- Powdered cellulose
Unfortunately for Blue Buffalo, they have also been reported for using harmful ingredients linked to negative health effects, such as:
- Menadione
- Sodium bisulfate complex
Taste of the Wild Dog Food vs. Blue Buffalo: Product Safety
Although all food brands are subject to recall once in a while, you should doubt about the quality and safety of a particular brand if it experiences frequent recalls.
The following is a quick overview of the recall history for the Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo.
Taste of the Wild Recall History
- May 5, 2012 – salmonella risk
Blue Buffalo Recall History
- Nov. 25, 2015 – salmonella
- Nov. 6, 2015 – presence of propylene glycol
- May 31, 2016 – mold
- March 18, 2017 – elevated beef thyroid hormone
- Feb. 14, 2017 – presence of aluminum
- March 3, 2017 – foil seal packaging problem
- Oct. 8, 2010 – toxic levels of vitamin D
- April 19, 2007 – melamine
- April 26, 2007 – melamine
Taste of the Wild vs Blue Buffalo: What to Choose?
Taking a closer look at the product offerings is also among the best ways to compare these two brands. This area is where the Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo vary greatly.
Taste of the Wild | Blue Buffalo | |
|---|---|---|
| Dry dog food | 9 recipes | 85 recipes |
| Wet dog food | 5 recipes | 99 recipes |
| Dog treats | n/a | 42 treats |
Taste of the Wild Product Lines
- Taste of the Wild – The original lineup featuring premium protein sources supplemented with grain-free carbohydrates and healthy fats.
- PREY Limited Ingredient – A recent addition to the Taste of the Wild lineup, in which there are only four main ingredients (or less) used to prevent food allergies and promote digestibility.
Model | Dog Recipe | Proteins | Food Form | Recommended For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Pacific Stream | Smoked Salmon | Dry, Wet | Puppy, Adult, Senior | Check Price |
 | High Prairie | Bison & Roasted Venison | Dry, Wet | Puppy, Adult, Senior | Check Price |
 | Wetlands | Roasted Fowl | Dry, Wet | Adult, Senior | Check Price |
 | Sierra Mountain | Roasted Lamb | Dry, Wet | All life stages | Check Price |
 | Southwest Canyon | Wild Boar | Dry, Wet | All life stages | Check Price |
 | Pine Forest | Venison | Dry | All life stages | Check Price |
Blue Buffalo Product Lines
- Blue Life Protection Formula – This product line is made with the finest ingredients, such as whole meat, fresh fruits, and garden vegetables.
- Blue Basics – Designed for dogs with sensitivities, it is an exclusive line of products befitting those who react negatively toward common food allergens.
- Blue Freedom Grain-Free – This line of products is free from grains and gluten, but is loaded with LifeSource Bits®.
- Blue Wilderness – Similar to Taste of the Wild, it mimics the natural evolutionary diet of wild canines. The products within this lineup are high in protein, but are entirely grain-free.
- Blue Natural Veterinary Diet – This line of products is designed for dogs with renal, mobility, and weight problems.
Model | Best of Blue BP | Real Meat is the 1st | Formulas containing NO | Formulas for Unique Needs | Recommended For | Treat Options | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Grain Free & Gluten Free Dog Food | | | Breed Size | Puppy, Adult, Senior | | Check Price |
 | Grain Free & Gluten Free Dog Food | | | Breed Size, Weight Management | Puppy, Adult, Senior | | Check Price |
 | Superior Nutrition, Ultimate Protection | | | Breed Size, Weight Management, Small Bite | Puppy, Adult, Senior | | Check Price |
 | High Protein, Grain Free Dog Food | | | Breed Size, Weight Management | Puppy, Adult, Senior | | Check Price |
 | Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food | | | Breed Size, Weight Management | Puppy, Adult, Senior | | Check Price |
 | High Protein, Grain Free Dog Food | | | All life stages | All life stages | | Check Price |
Most Popular Recipes
Aside from the Taste of the Wild High Prairie with Roasted Bison & Venison recipe, the brand also has two other best-selling products:
- Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream with Smoked Salmon – The primary protein source of this recipe is real smoked salmon, which is a very high-quality ingredient rich in omega fatty acids. Among its primary ingredients also include ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes, and peas. The recipe is also supplemented with fruits and vegetables. Because the recipe is grain-free, it helps dogs with their allergies.
- Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain with Roasted Lamb – This recipe features roasted lamb and egg for protein, combined with sweet potatoes and peas for carbs. Made only with real meat and fresh produce, it offers a sensational taste that your canines can’t resist!
The Blue Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet Adult Dog Food with Chicken and LifeSource Bits® is perhaps the greatest competition to Taste of the Wild, but there are other products worth trying and these include:
- Blue Life Protection Formula for Adults with Chicken & Brown Rice – This recipe features scrummy, protein-rich deboned chicken to promote healthy muscle development. It also contains whole grains for energy, as well as chelated minerals and antioxidants to boost your dog’s immune system.
- Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Diet with Turkey & Potato – This product contains turkey as its only protein source. Likewise, it does not include grains, but uses digestible carbohydrates such as potatoes and peas.
Taste of the Wild Cat Food vs. Blue Buffalo Cat Food Overview
Taste of the Wild
Taste of the Wild also formulates their cat feeds based on the ancestral diet of wild felines, which is fueled by high amounts of protein through unique sources of meat.
Its formula aims to boost your cat’s overall activity levels and sustain natural protein balance.
Taste of the Wild has two recipes, and these are the following:
- Canyon River Feline Recipe (available in wet and dry formulas) – Made with an array of fish, its formula abounds in digestible proteins and omega fatty acids. The feed also features a low-carb formula. Its top five ingredients are trout, ocean fish meal, sweet potato, potato, and pea protein.
- Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe (available in wet and dry formulas) – This product is Taste of the Wild’s best-selling cat food. It fuels your little feline with high amounts of protein and essential minerals. The feed also contains species-specific probiotics to promote digestion and gut integrity. Its top five ingredients are chicken meal, peas, sweet potatoes, chicken fat, and pea protein.
Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo offers a multitude of treats, dry kibble, and moist canned food for cats of all breeds and stages of life.
Because there are too many to mention, let us shorten our list with three of the most popular Blue cat food products:
- Blue Weight Control – This product is specially formulated to help chubby kitties achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Its primary ingredients include deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, and oatmeal.
- Blue Healthy Living – This tasty cat food is an excellent all-around meal for a majority of healthy, active cats. Its recipe starts with deboned chicken as its primary source of protein. As for carbohydrates, it contains brown rice, barley, and oatmeal.
- Blue Indoor Hairball Control – If your whiskered friend keeps coughing unsightly hairballs, this product is the way to go! It features a unique formula to help fight inflammation and eliminate hairballs effectively. The main ingredients are deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, and pea protein.
When it comes to variety and special formulations, you can expect less with Taste of the Wild cat food vs. Blue Buffalo cat food lineups.
But if you are looking for a more affordable option for a healthy cat, your kitty would love to get into its wild side with Taste of the Wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the recipes fortified with probiotics?
Do the recipes contain antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables?
Wrapping Up
Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo are two high-quality options that will give pets flavors straight from nature!
The fierce competitors are fighting toe-to-toe, but Taste of the Wild delivered a few jabs to its competitor with the following:
- We can buy Taste of the Wild kibble in 5-, 15-, and 30-pound bags.
- Taste of the Wild is more affordable.
- Instead of grains, all Taste of the Wild recipes contain digestible carbs, such as sweet potatoes and lentils.
- Many of their recipes contain smoked or roasted meat, which satisfies our dogs’ palate.
- Taste of the Wild has fewer recalls, which gives us peace of mind.
But at the end of the day, we can’t decide for you. Although canines share the same basic nutritional requirements, each dog is an individual.
The recipe that suits our dogs may not be the right choice for your canine companion.
Hopefully, this article comparison can somehow help you make an informed decision!
