Brand Comparison · 2026

Acana vs Blue Buffalo

Acana (Champion Petfoods' more affordable line; same WSAVA gaps as Orijen) and Blue Buffalo (mid-premium kibble marketed on ingredient quality; partial WSAVA compliance) compared head-to-head on WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, AAFCO substantiation, monthly cost, and which dog each is best for in 2026. Both brands meet 2 of 5 WSAVA criteria. Blue Buffalo is roughly 26% less than Acana.

The verdict

Two boutique kibbles that both miss full compliance. Blue Buffalo meets 2 of the 5 WSAVA criteria and still uses some co-manufacturers, but offers ingredient transparency and General Mills' scale since 2018 at $50-90/month. Acana, Champion Petfoods' more affordable line, meets 2 of 5, owns its manufacturing, and builds recipes around regional sourcing at $70-120. Acana and Blue Buffalo both appear in the FDA's 2019 DCM update.

Both use formulation-only substantiation, so neither delivers feeding-trial proof. Pick Blue Buffalo if ingredient-list transparency is your top priority. Pick Acana if you value Champion's regional-ingredient philosophy and have a dog with no cardiac risk factors. For a brand meeting all 5 WSAVA criteria, look elsewhere.

Key differences at a glance

Different makers: Acana is Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods); Blue Buffalo is General Mills.
WSAVA manufacturer-quality: both meet 2 of 5 criteria.
Monthly cost: Blue Buffalo runs roughly 26% less than Acana for a typical 50 lb dog.
Heart-health context: both Acana and Blue Buffalo appear in the FDA's diet-related DCM investigation, which has not established that any food caused the disease.

Quick comparison

Dimension	Acana	Blue Buffalo
Parent company	Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods)	General Mills
Category	Boutique dry kibble	Boutique dry kibble
WSAVA criteria met	2 of 5	2 of 5
AAFCO substantiation	Formulation only	Formulation only
Full-time veterinary nutritionist	Yes	Yes
Credentialed formulator	Partial	Partial
AAFCO feeding trials	No	No
Owns manufacturing plants	Yes	Partial
Quality control program	Partial	Yes
Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog)	$70 – $120 / month	$50 – $90 / month

Mars Incorporated (Champion Petfoods)

Acana

Champion Petfoods' more affordable line; same WSAVA gaps as Orijen.

Strengths

Less expensive than Orijen with similar formulation philosophy
Owned manufacturing
Recipes built around regional ingredient sourcing

Watch-outs

Named in 67 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update, the most of any brand. The FDA did not establish that any food caused the disease
Formulation-only substantiation
No named board-certified veterinary nutritionist (Champion reports a full-time PhD animal nutritionist)

Best for: Owners who want Orijen's philosophy at a lower price and accept the trade-offs.

Avoid if: You want full WSAVA compliance or your dog has cardiac risk factors.

Visit Acana ↗

General Mills

Blue Buffalo

Mid-premium kibble marketed on ingredient quality; partial WSAVA compliance.

Strengths

Strong consumer-facing ingredient transparency
Wide retail availability and brand recognition
Acquired by General Mills (2018) added scale and QC discipline

Watch-outs

Formulation-only substantiation (no feeding trials)
Does not own all manufacturing: reports owning about 80% of its plants and still uses a co-manufacturer
Caught up in past lawsuits over advertising claims
Named in 31 reports in the FDA's 2019 DCM update. The FDA did not establish that any food caused the disease

Best for: Owners who prioritize ingredient-list transparency over WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria.

Avoid if: You specifically want a brand that meets all 5 WSAVA criteria.

Visit Blue Buffalo ↗

Which is better for your dog?

The right pick depends on your individual dog. Acana is the better choice when: Owners who want Orijen's philosophy at a lower price and accept the trade-offs. Blue Buffalo is the better choice when: Owners who prioritize ingredient-list transparency over WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria.

On cost, Blue Buffalo is roughly 26% less than Acana at the midpoint of typical premium spec for a 50 lb adult dog. On WSAVA manufacturer-quality criteria, both brands tie at 2 of 5.

Checking one brand rather than the pair? See is Acana WSAVA-approved or is Blue Buffalo WSAVA-approved.

Where to buy

Made your pick?

Check current pricing on whichever brand fits your dog. Prices and promotions change frequently, so it is worth comparing both before you commit to a bag or a subscription.

Shop Acana on Chewy →Shop Blue Buffalo on Chewy →

Disclosure: these are affiliate links and IntelliBowl may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission does not influence the comparison above. See our methodology.

Personalized recommendation

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Compare these brands against others

Methodology: WSAVA criteria reflect each brand's publicly documented manufacturer-quality practices as of October 2026, scored against the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee's 5-question rubric. AAFCO substantiation reflects the dominant method used across the brand's main retail product line. Monthly cost reflects typical US 2026 retail for a 50 lb adult dog at premium spec, before autoship discounts. Recommendations are editorial and not influenced by affiliate relationships. See our recommendation methodology for IntelliBowl's quiz-engine ranking logic.