Hill's Science Diet · Pet Food Bags
Hill's Science Diet Adult Small Bites Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food
Lower concern for PFAS; standard dry pet food packaging with no known PFAS-linked treatments.
Hill's Science Diet uses conventional paper-based packaging for dry kibble, with no known water-resistant or grease-resistant coatings that typically carry PFAS risk. The brand makes no PFAS claims.
Shop Hill's Science Diet on Amazon →Material
Paper/kraft bag, adhesive, 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.
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 use kraft paper (recycled or virgin cellulose fiber) as the primary barrier, lined with a plastic film layer (typically polyethylene or polypropylene) to protect contents from moisture and oxygen. The adhesive sealing the seams is a food-contact approved formulation, and the printed label uses food-safe inks. This material stack is industry standard for dry pet food and designed to minimize direct contact between kibble and outer contaminants.
The brand's record and disclosure
Hill's Science Diet (owned by Colgate-Palmolive) has no published transparency reports on bag material sourcing or PFAS testing. The brand maintains no formal disclosure of packaging chemical composition beyond regulatory compliance claims. No major safety recalls linked to packaging chemistry have been publicly documented for this product line. Hill's does not advertise organic, PFC-free, or compostable packaging certifications.
How it compares in its category
Kraft + plastic-lined bags are the industry norm for dry pet food. Some premium brands (Orijen, Acana) use similar structures; some budget brands use thinner plastic without kraft reinforcement. Resealable zip closures on Hill's bags are standard and reduce air exposure better than fold-and-clip alternatives. No significant performance difference exists between this bag and competitors in moisture barrier or structural integrity.
If you buy it
Store bags in cool, dry conditions away from direct heat or sunlight to prevent polymer degradation and ink migration. Keep bags sealed after opening to maintain food freshness and prevent insect entry. Do not expose bags to temperatures above 70C (158F) or near stoves, as heat can compromise the plastic liner and potentially increase microscopic leaching. Discard bags if visible damage, punctures, or mold appear; replace annually even if sealed and intact, as adhesive bonds weaken over time.
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.”
Ink migration into kibble
Exterior inks on pet food bags are food-contact approved but can migrate marginally under humidity or heat stress. Hill's uses standard food-grade inks with no published data on migration rates; risk is low under normal storage but increases with thermal exposure or bag age beyond 18 months.
Adhesive leachates from seams
Food-contact adhesives used in kraft bag sealing are regulated by FDA and designed for zero migration; no recalls or complaints specific to Hill's bags document leaching into kibble. Risk is theoretical only under extreme temperature or mechanical stress.
Plastic film degradation and microplastics
The polyethylene or polypropylene liner can fragment microscopically if bags are punctured, flexed repeatedly, or exposed to heat/sunlight over extended storage. Fragments could theoretically enter kibble; Hill's does not publish polymer type or UV stabilizer data, so degradation timeline is unknown.
Mold or bacterial growth on bag exterior
Kraft paper is hygroscopic and can support mold growth if stored in humid environments (above 65% relative humidity). This does not contaminate kibble inside sealed bags but signals poor storage conditions that may compromise bag integrity over time.
Heavy metals in printed label inks
Pet food bag inks are FDA regulated for lead and cadmium limits; Hill's provides no third-party testing data, but no recalls for toxic ink exposure exist in the product history. Risk is minimal given regulatory oversight, though direct chewing of labels should be discouraged.
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.