Hill's Science Diet · Pet Food Bags
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food
Lower concern for PFAS, standard dry pet food packaging without known grease-resistant treatment, but no brand disclosure available.
Hill's Science Diet dry dog food comes in standard composite pet food packaging (kraft paper + plastic laminate). This category rarely uses PFAS-based grease barriers compared to takeout containers or treated apparel. Hill's makes no public PFAS claims or disclosures. No independent lab data exists for this specific product line.
Shop Hill's Science Diet on Amazon →Material
kraft paper/plastic composite bag (typical dry pet food packaging)
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.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Hill's Science Diet bags are kraft paper composite structures (kraft paper exterior + plastic film interior) designed to preserve dry kibble and block oxygen/moisture. The plastic layer is typically polyethylene or polypropylene, chosen for their food-contact stability and low leaching risk at room temperature. No evidence suggests this specific formulation uses PVC or vinyl chloride, which would pose leaching concerns. The bag's job is containment only; the dog never contacts the inner plastic directly.
The brand's record and disclosure
Hill's Science Diet is owned by Colgate-Palmolive and has a longstanding veterinary endorsement history, including use in clinical settings for prescription diets. The brand maintains an FDA compliant facility and product recalls for this line are extremely rare compared to the broader pet food market. Hill's does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or mitigation strategies for packaging, which is typical silence in the pet food industry; this does not indicate use of grease-resistant fluorochemicals in dry food bags. The company has faced recalls for contamination (salmonella, aflatoxin) but these trace to ingredient sourcing, not packaging chemistry.
How it compares in its category
Dry pet food bags across premium and mass-market brands use nearly identical kraft-plastic composite construction, making Hill's packaging unremarkable in this category. Grain-free and fresh-food alternatives sometimes use thicker barrier films that theoretically increase plastic contact risk, though evidence of harm from typical polyethylene bags is absent. Hill's positioning as a veterinary-formulated brand is a practical advantage for trust, even though packaging material safety is equivalent to competitors like Purina Pro Plan or Royal Canin. No evidence suggests kraft-composite bags pose a hazard that would differentiate Hill's negatively from alternatives.
If you buy it
Store unopened bags in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, which can degrade the exterior kraft layer and reduce barrier effectiveness; this extends shelf life beyond the printed date. Once opened, transfer kibble to an airtight food-storage container within one week to prevent oxidation and rancidity, both of which are quality issues rather than toxicity risks. Do not expose opened bags to heat or humidity, as moisture can promote mold growth in the kibble itself (not the bag). The bag is not intended for reuse for human food or long-term storage; discard after contents are emptied.
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.”
Plastic leachates (polyethylene/polypropylene interior film)
Pet food bags use food-grade polyethylene or polypropylene that do not leach BPA, BPS, or phthalates under normal storage conditions. The dog ingests kibble, not plastic; indirect contact through kibble surface is negligible and not documented as a pathway for harm.
Ink/adhesive migration from kraft paper exterior
FDA-approved food packaging inks and adhesives are used on Hill's bags and do not migrate inward into the product chamber under normal storage. No established recalls or reports link bag printing to kibble contamination.
Mold or bacterial growth in bag seals after opening
Once a bag is opened, the kraft-plastic seal loses integrity and exposure to humidity can promote surface mold on kibble, particularly in warm climates. This is a quality/freshness issue rather than a chemical safety hazard, mitigated by transferring to airtight containers within one week.
Oxygen permeation and rancidity (oxidized fats)
Kraft-plastic bags provide good but not perfect oxygen barrier; kibble containing fats can oxidize over extended storage, producing off-flavors and potential loss of nutritional value. The bag's barrier degrades with time and exposure to light, reducing shelf life beyond 12-18 months of room-temperature storage.
Ingredient-level contaminants (salmonella, aflatoxin, heavy metals)
Hill's has issued recalls for bacterial contamination and mycotoxins in kibble, though these trace to raw ingredients, not packaging chemistry. This is a manufacturing and sourcing issue distinct from packaging safety; Hill's recall rate remains low compared to many competitors.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 60% 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.