The scores
Authority Adult Chicken & Rice: B (78/100) — Chicken and chicken meal lead, with brown rice, ground rice, and oatmeal as grains. Fish oil adds omega-3s. Clean and simple, sold exclusively at PetSmart.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Chicken & Brown Rice: B (78/100) — Deboned chicken leads, with chicken meal, brown rice, and oatmeal. Includes cranberries, blueberries, LifeSource Bits, and chelated minerals.
How the ingredients compare
Authority: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Ground Rice, Oatmeal
Blue Buffalo: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Peas
The first three ingredients are nearly identical — both lead with whole chicken and chicken meal, then hit brown rice. Authority fills positions 4 and 5 with ground rice and oatmeal (both grains). Blue Buffalo uses oatmeal and peas. The structural similarity is striking — these formulas are built on the same foundation. The differences are in the extras and the details.
Where Blue Buffalo pulls ahead
Superfood extras: Cranberries, blueberries, sweet potatoes, and barley grass provide antioxidants, vitamins, and phytonutrients that Authority's minimal formula lacks entirely. These are small amounts, but they add genuine nutritional value beyond the base protein-and-grain formula.
LifeSource Bits: Blue Buffalo's signature cold-formed kibble pieces contain a concentrated blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals processed at lower temperatures to preserve nutrient potency. It's a unique delivery system that no other mainstream brand offers.
Chelated minerals: Blue Buffalo uses zinc proteinate and iron amino acid chelate — mineral forms that are more bioavailable than standard mineral salts. Authority uses standard mineral forms, meaning your dog absorbs a lower percentage of each serving's mineral content.
Brand investment: Blue Buffalo invests heavily in quality control, third-party testing, and nutritional research. As a publicly-traded company (now owned by General Mills), they have more resources for formula development than PetSmart's private-label supplier. Shop on Amazon →
Where Authority holds its own
Fish oil: This is Authority's secret weapon. Fish oil provides EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids — the marine-sourced forms that are directly bioavailable for skin, coat, joint, and brain health. Blue Buffalo uses flaxseed for omega-3s, which provides plant-based ALA that dogs must convert to EPA/DHA (an inefficient process). For omega-3 delivery, Authority's approach is actually superior.
Price: As PetSmart's house brand, Authority typically costs 20-30% less per pound than Blue Buffalo while delivering a formula that's only 2 points behind. That price-to-quality ratio is Authority's strongest argument — you're getting 97% of the nutritional quality for significantly less money.
Simpler formula: Authority's shorter ingredient list means fewer potential allergens and less complexity. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, a simpler formula with fewer ingredients can actually be an advantage. Blue Buffalo's longer ingredient list includes more potential trigger points.
No peas: Authority avoids peas entirely, while Blue Buffalo includes them at position #5. For owners concerned about the FDA's investigation into legume-heavy diets and DCM, Authority's pure grain-and-protein formula eliminates that question. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Same score, different approaches. Blue Buffalo packs in more extras — superfoods, chelated minerals, LifeSource Bits. Authority fights back with fish oil omega-3s that are more bioavailable than Blue Buffalo's flaxseed, a simpler formula with fewer potential allergens, and a lower price. For most PetSmart shoppers, Authority is the smarter buy — you're getting the same B/78 score at a house-brand price, with better omega-3 delivery. If you want the most ingredient-rich formula regardless of cost, Blue Buffalo has more in the bag. But at the same score, saving 25% on Authority is the rational call.