Rating: 
Bil Jac raw frozen dog food receives the Advisor’s below-average rating of 2.5 stars.
The Bil Jac raw frozen dog food product line includes just 1 recipe, a recipe claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
Bil Jac Frozen
Raw Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Beef, meat by-products, cereal food fines, poultry, poultry meal, animal liver, fish meal, eggs, cane molasses, dried beet pulp, wheat germ meal, brewers dried yeast, phosphoric acid, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, riboflavin supplement, salt, niacin, biotin, choline chloride, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), dl-methionine, vitamin B12 supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, manganous oxide, inositol, ascorbic acid, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, zinc oxide, cobalt carbonate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 18% | 8% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 32% | 14% | 46% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 29% | 31% | 41% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second item lists meat by-products, slaughterhouse waste. This is what’s left of slaughtered animals after all the prime cuts have been removed.
In a nutshell, meat by-products are the unsavory leftovers of processing considered by many “unfit for human consumption”.
With the exception of hair, horns, teeth and hooves, this stuff can include heads, ovaries or developing fetuses.1
What’s worse, this particular item is anonymous. It doesn’t even specify the source animal. So, this meat can come from almost anywhere, even diseased or dying livestock.
Although meat by-products can be high in protein, we do not consider a generic ingredient like this a quality item.
The third ingredient lists cereal food fines. Cereal food fines are an inexpensive by-product of cereal grain processing.
This waste ingredient can possibly contain a measurable amount of sugar left over from the manufacture of breakfast cereals. Food fines are commonly associated with low quality dog foods.
The fourth ingredient lists poultry. Is this chicken, turkey, duck or what? Although poultry can be considered rich in essential amino acids, we would have preferred this item to have been more specifically identified.
The fifth item lists poultry meal. Poultry meal is a cooked down product of unspecified poultry. Since the term “poultry” fails to adequately identify the source animal, we rate this component slightly lower in quality than a single-species meal (like chicken meal).
Just the same, poultry meal is a meat concentrate containing nearly 300% more protein than fresh poultry.
The sixth item is animal liver. Normally, liver can be considered a quality component. However, in this case, the source of the liver is not identified. For this reason, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.
The seventh ingredient includes fish meal… another protein-rich meat concentrate.
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different types of fats, we would have preferred to have known the source species.
What’s more, the controversial chemical ethoxyquin is frequently used as a preservative in fish meals.
But because it’s usually added to the raw fish before processing, the chemical does not have to be reported to consumers.
We find no public assurances from the company this product is ethoxyquin-free.
Without knowing more, and based upon this fish meal’s location on the list of ingredients, we would expect to find at least a trace of ethoxyquin in this product.
The eighth ingredient lists eggs… a desirable addition. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The ninth ingredient mentions cane molasses. Although it’s rich in mineral nutrients, molasses is a less-refined form of sugar with a glycemic index similar to maple syrup. Like table sugar (and in larger amounts), molasses has the ability to raise a dog’s blood sugar.
The tenth ingredient lists beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
The next ingredient is wheat germ meal, a mixture of nutritious by-products of the wheat milling process. Containing at least 25% protein, this inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the protein content of this dog food.
Brewers dried yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can be considered a nutritious additive.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With one notable exception…
The minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Bil Jac Raw Frozen Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Bil Jac raw frozen looks to be a below-average dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 32%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 46%.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical raw dog food.
With meat dominating the ingredient list, we’re surprised to find the Guaranteed Analysis (published by Bil Jac) reflecting such a low protein and fat content.
What’s more, it’s surprising to find the use of animal meals in this “raw” recipe. Meat meals are typically found in dry kibbles and are rarely used in wet-type dog foods.
Even ignoring the slight plant-based protein-boosting effect of the wheat germ meal, this looks like the nutrient profile of a raw dog food containing a below-average amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Bil Jac raw frozen dog food is a meat-based product using a moderate amount of beef and meat by-products as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 2.5 stars.
Not recommended.
For even more raw diet suggestions, be sure to visit the Advisor’s Recommended Raw Dog Foods summary page.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
04/03/2011 Original review
04/03/2011 Last Update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.