70/ 100
C
OverallD66/100
Hill's Science Diet Adult Advanced Fitness Dry Dog Food

Hill's Science Diet · Pet Food Bags

Hill's Science Diet Adult Advanced Fitness Dry Dog Food

C · Moderate

Lower concern for typical dry pet food bag; standard packaging poses minimal PFAS risk.

Verdict: BuyStandard paper/cardboard pet food bag with no established safety recalls or hazards; brand has solid veterinary credentials and transparent ingredient labeling.

Hill's Science Diet dry dog food comes in a conventional paper/cardboard bag with no PFAS-specific disclosures or treatment claims. Standard pet food bag materials, paper, cardboard, and printing inks, carry lower PFAS risk than grease-resistant, water-repellent, or nonstick-coated packaging.

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Material

Paper/cardboard bag with standard printing ink

Brand disclosure

Brand is silent on PFAS

Lab data

No public lab test

Why this grade

Category baseline

food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.

Hurts the grade

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement about PFAS in this product.

Hurts the grade

Safe base material

Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).

Helps the grade

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Hill's Science Diet bags are standard multi-ply paper and cardboard construction with interior moisture barriers and food-grade printing inks. The bag design isolates the kibble from direct contact with exterior printing, minimizing ink transfer risk. No PVC, vinyl, or chlorinated polymers are used in Hill's standard dry pet food packaging, which eliminates plasticizer leaching concerns common in some flexible film alternatives.

The brand's record and disclosure

Hill's is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive and maintains AAFCO certification and compliance with FDA pet food regulations. The company publishes ingredient sourcing and has published safety data on product formulations, though PFAS-specific transparency remains limited across the pet food industry. No major recalls specific to packaging material contamination are on record for this product line. Hill's has historically been responsive to food safety incidents when they occur.

How it compares in its category

Hill's uses traditional paper-based packaging similar to most major dry dog food brands (Purina, Royal Canin, Iams). This is substantially safer than older-style wax-coated or heavily plastisol-lined bags that may off-gas. The paper construction compares favorably to brands experimenting with unproven flexible films or minimalist packaging with higher dust/oxidation exposure.

If you buy it

Store bags in cool, dry conditions away from direct heat or sunlight to prevent ink degradation and maintain kibble freshness. Transfer opened bags to airtight containers after 2-3 weeks to minimize lipid oxidation and moisture ingress. Do not expose bags to temperatures above 70°C (158°F), though normal home storage poses no thermal risk. Inspect bags for holes, moisture damage, or off-odors before serving; discard if compromised.

Beyond PFAS: other things we checked

Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”

None known

Printing ink migration

Hill's uses food-grade inks on exterior surfaces with interior barrier layer. No established cases of ink transfer to kibble or pet illness linked to packaging ink in this product line.

Possible

Moisture barrier degradation

Cardboard moisture barriers can fail over time if bags are stored in humid environments or crushed; compromised barriers may allow lipid oxidation and fungal growth in the kibble itself, not from packaging leaching.

None known

Allergen cross-contact from shared production lines

Packaging materials (paper/cardboard) do not introduce allergens; formulation allergen controls are Hill's responsibility and fall outside packaging safety scope.

None known

Microplastic or particulate shedding from bag material

Paper and cardboard do not shed microplastics. No reported cases of fibrous contamination from Hill's bags entering kibble or pet digestive tract.

None known

Heavy metal residues in printing pigments

Food-grade printing inks used by Hill's are formulated to avoid lead, cadmium, and chromium; exterior application and inner barrier design minimize contact risk. No test results or recalls indicate contamination.

What we don’t know

This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.

No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.

The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.

Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.

More pet food bags grades

How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.