Rating: 
Bil Jac Reduced Fat dog food receives the Advisor’s below-average rating of 1.5 stars.
The Bil Jac product line includes one reduced fat kibble, a “lite” product designed to aid in canine weight management.
Since we couldn’t locate an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for this product on the Bil Jac website, we’re unable to report life stage recommendations.
Bil Jac Reduced Fat
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken by-products (organs only, source of arginine), corn meal, chicken, dried beet pulp, brewers dried yeast, oatmeal, flaxseed, dl-methionine, l-lysine, sodium propionate (a preservative), vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, riboflavin supplement, niacin, biotin, choline chloride, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), ascorbic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, manganous oxide, inositol, BHA (a preservative), ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, zinc oxide, cobalt carbonate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.7%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first item in this dog food is chicken by-products, what’s left of a slaughtered chicken after all the good cuts have been removed.
In most cases, chicken by-products are considered those unsavory leftovers of slaughter deemed “unfit for human consumption”.
However, here the manufacturer specifies “organ meat only”, which makes this item somewhat more desirable and better thought of as chicken giblets.
Just the same, raw meat contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller portion of the overall content of the finished product.
Which brings us to corn meal, the next and (more likely) the dominant ingredient in this dog food.
Corn meal is a coarsely ground flour made from dried corn. corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.
The third item lists chicken, another “raw” meat ingredient. This is probably a better quality component than chicken by-products.
However, once again, this item is inclusive of water and is subject to the same drying effects of cooking previously mentioned.
The fourth item lists dried 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.
Normally, we find the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts to be entirely acceptable. However, at position number four on the list, this item not only dilutes the calories but also serves as a means for moderating the meat content as a percentage of the total recipe, too.
The fifth ingredient mentions brewers dried yeast. Brewers 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.
The sixth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, fiber and is also (unlike many other grains) gluten-free.
The seventh ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
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 three notable exceptions…
First, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly microorganisms applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
Next, 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.
And lastly, to make matters worse, this food is preserved with BHA (a suspected cancer-causing agent).
Bil Jac Reduced Fat Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Bil Jac Reduced Fat Dog Food looks to be a below-average kibble.
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 19%, a fat level of 11% and estimated carbohydrates of about 61%.
Very low protein. Low fat. And very high carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
This Bil Jac Reduced Fat dog food isn’t just “lite” on calories. It’s also appears to be light on meat, too.
This fact, combined with the use of the controversial preservative, BHA, work together to earn this product a lower rating.
On a more positive note…
Compared to the high-heat extrusion systems used to make most kibbles, it’s appropriate to acknowledge Bil Jac’s low-temperature vacuum drying process, a process claimed to protect many of the recipe’s nutrients from damage.
Bottom line?
Bil Jac Reduced Fat is a grain-based dry dog food using only a limited amount of chicken by-products and chicken meat as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 1.5 stars.
Not recommended.
Those looking for a better kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Bil Jac Dog Food.
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 a specific health benefit 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.
Other spellings: Biljac
Notes and Updates
02/20/2010 Original review
07/10/2010 Review updated
09/25/2010 Review updated (new recipe)
12/17/2010 Review updated
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.