How Blue Buffalo Pet Foods Helps Us to Feed Them Like Family

Since Blue Buffalo pet foods started in 2003 in Wilton, Connecticut, they have always used high-quality natural ingredients with real meat first. Their formulas never include any corn, wheat, soy, or poultry by-product meals. This has been their way of fulfilling a promise to "Blue," a terrier who was the inspiration for the company. 

The Story of Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo began with a treasured pet of the Bishop family - "Blue" - an Airedale Terrier. Blue battled cancer three times during his lifetime. During these struggles, Blue's family learned that what dogs and cats eat has an impact on their health. This was the spark in the Bishop family's drive towards helping companion animals live their best, healthiest lives. The Blue Buffalo company was born as a promise to Blue to help other pets through quality nutrition.

Love them like family. Feed them like family.®

When the family promised their boy Blue that they would create the healthiest food possible, the company made that same promise to you and your pets. Their team of veterinarians and animal nutritionists carefully selects only the highest quality natural ingredients for every recipe they make. Their True BLUE Promise assures that real meat is the first ingredient of their dog and cat formulas with NO poultry by-product meals, NO corn, wheat, or soy, and NO artificial flavors or preservatives. The result is a portfolio of foods and treats that they would have been proud to feed Blue and they hope you’ll feel proud to feed your four-legged family members, too.

Now Blue Buffalo is the fastest-growing major pet food company in the United States making natural foods and treats for dogs and cats.

LifeSource Bits™ - A Novel Addition With Superb Nutritional Benefits

When looking at Blue Buffalo kibble, you may notice a different appearance than other brands. These darker nuggets, called LifeSource Bits™, are concentrated morsels of nutrition that BLUE adds to dry dog and cat food formulas that are cold-processed to retain all of the nutritional goodness of the ingredients that are often lost with high temperatures. The ingredients include a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals carefully selected by veterinarians and animal nutritionists that help support:

• Immune system health
• Life stage requirements
• Healthy oxidative balance

Where are Blue Buffalo pet foods and treats manufactured?

All Blue Buffalo products are manufactured in the United States. Many of their ingredients, such as most grains and meats, like chicken, beef and turkey come from the United States. Lamb and venison can be free-range from the United States or New Zealand. Rabbit is sourced from Europe, and trout can come from the United States or Canada. Where possible, Blue's suppliers are instructed to source their ingredients from the United States.

Blue Buffalo's Rigorous Quality Checks

Not only does Blue Buffalo use the highest quality natural ingredients in their pet foods, but they also have a 6-point quality check to ensure your pets stay healthy with safe, nutritious food.

1. Source verification. Checking the sources of the ingredients and making sure they have safety programs and processes and verify that the ingredients meet Blue's standards.
2. Transit verification. Double-checking the nutritional value before the ingredients come into the plant to ensure the quality of the ingredients has remained intact during transit.
3. Batch monitoring. As ingredients start being combined, they conduct ongoing monitoring measures to ensure BLUE formulas are made correctly.
4. In-process analysis. Routine samples are taken along with maintenance and sterilization of food preparation equipment.
5. Package evaluation. After packages are filled, they use metal detectors/X-rays as an extra step to ensure food safety
6. Finished product assessment. After the products are packaged, plant teams conduct final, formal product reviews to make sure everything they make meets their quality and safety standards.

Which Blue Buffalo formula is right for my pet?

Blue Buffalo is the nation's leading natural pet food company, providing natural foods and treats for dogs and cats and offers a variety of recipes to meet the needs of every life stage, preference, and for many health concerns. They offer dry kibble formulas, canned wet pet foods, as well as delicious treats. Their foods are divided into the following series:

• BLUE Life Protection Formula™- Available for dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens in both wet and dry pet foods, the Life Protection series was developed in partnership with a top holistic veterinarian and animal nutritionists using quality proteins like real chicken, lamb, and fish. BLUE Life Protection Formula features a grain-inclusive recipe and is the top-selling line of natural pet foods in the USA. 
• BLUE Wilderness™- Available for dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens in both wet and dry pet foods, the BLUE Wilderness formulas were inspired by the diets of our pets' ancestors - a protein-rich, grain-free food that contains more of the delicious meat that pets crave. 
• BLUE Basics™ - BLUE Basics formula is a limited-ingredient, nutritionally complete diet that starts with a single animal protein source that’s not commonly used in pet foods, like turkey or salmon. It’s also made with no chicken or beef, and no corn, wheat, soy, dairy, or eggs, ingredients that are often associated with adverse food reactions in dogs and cats. 
• BLUE Freedom™ - The BLUE Freedom line features grain-free recipes with more common proteins including chicken, beef, and lamb for dogs and cats of all ages and breed sizes. The BLUE Freedom line is nutritionally complete with a slightly lower protein ratio than the Wilderness Formulas. 
• BLUE True Solutions™ diets provide natural nutrition with clinically proven ingredients to help support your dog’s or cat’s specific health needs with digestive care, skin and coat care, and weight control formulas. There is also a mobility care formula for dogs.  

BLUE Gives Back 

Paying tribute to its founding mission, the company, through the Blue Buffalo Foundation, is a leading sponsor of pet cancer awareness and of critical research studies of pet cancer, including causes, treatments, and the role of nutrition, at leading veterinary medical schools and clinics across the United States.