Dante Carrillo
Hill's Science Diet is a brand of cat and dog food marketed by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. The company was founded in 1907 by Burton Hill and started as Hill Rendering Works, which provided rendering services to Shawnee County, Kansas. The company's name changed to Hill Packing Company in the 1930s, and it began producing dog food. In 1939, Dr. Mark Morris Sr., a veterinarian, developed the first Hill's Prescription Diet pet food to help a blind man's ailing guide dog. In 1948, Dr. Morris contacted the Hill Packing Company to produce Canine k/d, which became the world's first veterinarian-prepared food for managing a canine disease. In 1968, the food line was made available through veterinarians and pet professionals as Hill's Science Diet. Today, Hill's Pet Nutrition is a leader in pet nutrition and has provided over $300 million in science-led nutrition to pets in need.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1939 |
| Founder | Dr. Mark Morris Sr. |
| Headquarters | Topeka, Kansas |
| Parent company | Colgate-Palmolive |
| No. of pet food products | 50+ Science Diet brand pet foods and 60+ Prescription Diet brand pet foods |
| No. of pets at the Global Pet Nutrition Center | 900 |
| No. of pets helped find a new home | 15 million |
| Amount of money provided in science-led nutrition to pets in need | $300 million |
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What You'll Learn
Hill's Science Diet was launched in 1968
In 1948, Dr. Morris Sr. partnered with the Hill Packing Company (previously known as Hill Rendering Works) to produce Canine k/d, which became the world's first veterinarian-prepared food for managing a canine disease. The company was licensed to produce Dr. Morris Sr.'s pet food formulas, and the food was canned and sold under the name Canine k/d.
Dr. Mark Morris Jr., the son of Dr. Mark Morris Sr., continued his father's work in pet nutrition. In the 1960s, he developed Science Diet, a brand of cat and dog food. In 1968, the food line was made available through veterinarians and pet professionals as Hill's Science Diet. The brand has since expanded to include more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods and over 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods formulated for various life stages and special needs in healthy pets.
Hill's Science Diet has a Global Pet Nutrition Center, where over 900 cats and dogs participate in the creation of new pet food products. About half of the pets are involved in taste tests, while the other half helps the research team with long-term observations such as protein content, digestibility, antioxidant content, and overall nutritional sufficiency. The research team uses these observations to create a scientific profile for each pet food formulation.
Over the years, Hill's Science Diet has undergone several recalls due to issues such as salmonella contamination, elevated levels of vitamin D, and the inclusion of melamine-tainted wheat gluten. Despite these setbacks, Hill's Science Diet continues to be recommended by veterinarians, who recognise the company's commitment to research and innovation in pet nutrition.
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The brand was developed by Mark L. Morris Jr
The Hill's Science Diet brand has been around since 1939, when a blind man named Morris Frank asked his vet to help his ailing guide dog. After looking into potential triggers, it was clear that the problem was a result of poor nutrition. Dr. Mark Morris Sr. quickly started working on a new dog food formula that would provide the appropriate amount of nutrients and vitamins necessary to keep Mr. Frank’s guide dog happy and healthy.
In 1948, Mark L. Morris contacted the Hill Packing Company to produce Canine k/d, which became the world's first veterinarian-prepared food for the management of a canine disease. The Hill Packing Company became the licensed producer of Canine k/d.
In 1968, the food line was made available through veterinarians and pet professionals as Hill's Science Diet. The line has continued to expand and today includes more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods and more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods formulated for many life stages and special needs in healthy pets.
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., trading as Hill's, is an American pet food company that produces dog and cat foods. It is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive. Hill's Pet Nutrition was founded in 1907 by Burton Hill and started operating as Hill Rendering Works. The company provided rendering services to Shawnee County, Kansas, and had a contract with Topeka, Kansas, to dispose of dead and lame animals. By the 1930s, the name had changed to Hill Packing Company, which included a milling division, Hill Milling Company. At this time, the company produced farm animal feed, dog food, and horse meat for human consumption.
Today, Hill's has provided more than $300 million in science-led nutrition to pets in need. The company has also helped over 15 million pets find a new home through its Food, Shelter & Love program.
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The Hill family business dates back to 1907
By the 1930s, the business had evolved and the name was changed to Hill Packing Company, which included a milling division, Hill Milling Company. At this time, the company expanded its product offerings to include farm animal feed, dog food, and horse meat for human consumption. The horse meat was even exported to markets in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands.
In the 1940s, Dr. Mark Morris Sr., a veterinarian, pioneered the field of veterinary clinical nutrition. He was asked to create a specialised diet for Buddy, a female German Shepherd with kidney disease who was one of America's first guide dogs. This marked the beginning of Hill's Science Diet, as Dr. Morris Sr. worked to formulate therapeutic dog food that provided optimal nutrition for companion animals.
In 1948, Dr. Morris Sr. contracted with Hill Packing Company, then led by Burton Hill's son, Burton Hill Jr., to produce Canine k/d, which became the world's first veterinarian-prepared food for the management of a canine disease. This collaboration laid the foundation for the Hill's Science Diet brand, which was officially launched in 1968 and made available through veterinarians and pet professionals. The brand has since expanded to include a wide range of Science Diet and Prescription Diet brand pet foods, with a strong focus on science-led nutrition and innovation.
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The company has been involved in several product recalls
Hill's Science Diet, an American pet food company, has been around since 1939. It was founded by a blind man named Morris Frank and his vet, Dr. Mark Morris Sr. Morris Frank's guide dog was ailing, and it was discovered that the cause was poor nutrition. Dr. Morris then set about creating a new dog food formula that would provide the necessary nutrients and vitamins to keep Morris Frank's guide dog healthy.
2007 recall
In March 2007, Hill's Science Diet recalled all its Savory Cuts canned cat foods due to the presence of melamine. The recall included the following products:
- Hill's Science Diet Ocean Fish Dinner in Sauce Savory Cuts Kitten
- Hill's Science Diet Ocean Fish Dinner in Sauce Savory Cuts Adult
- Hill's Science Diet Chicken Dinner in Gravy Savory Cuts Adult
- Hill's Science Diet Beef Dinner in Gravy Savory Cuts Adult
2014 recall
In June 2014, Hill's Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food was recalled due to potential salmonella contamination. The recalled product had a "best by" date and production code of #08 2015 M094 and was distributed in California, Hawaii, and Nevada in 15.5 lb. bags.
2015 recall
In November 2015, there was a market withdrawal of Hill's Prescription Diet canned dog food due to unknown issues, possibly related to labelling.
2019 recall
In January 2019, Hill's Science Diet issued a recall for more than 20 types of canned dog food due to potentially toxic levels of vitamin D. The recall was expanded in March and May of 2019 to include additional lots and varieties of canned dog food. The recalled products were distributed through retail pet stores and veterinary clinics nationwide, and the company urged customers to discontinue feeding the affected products to their pets.
The 2019 recall had a profound impact, with reports of hundreds or even thousands of pets becoming seriously ill or dying from consuming the affected products. This incident highlighted the critical importance of stringent quality control and transparency in the pet food industry. It also resulted in significant legal action, with a consolidated lawsuit involving approximately 300 plaintiffs filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City.
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Hill's Science Diet is recommended by veterinarians
Hill's Science Diet is a well-known brand of cat and dog food that has been around for decades. The history of Hill's Science Diet began in 1939 when a blind man named Morris Frank sought veterinary help for his ailing guide dog. It was found that the dog's health issues were due to poor nutrition. This prompted Dr Mark Morris Sr, a veterinarian, to develop a new dog food formula that would provide the necessary nutrients and vitamins to keep Mr Frank's guide dog healthy.
In 1948, Dr Morris Sr contracted with the Hill Packing Company, creating the dog food brand Hill's Science Diet. The company has since evolved and expanded its product offerings, with its Science Diet line becoming available through veterinarians and pet professionals in 1968. Today, Hill's Science Diet offers over 50 Science Diet brand pet foods and more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods formulated for various life stages and special needs in healthy pets.
The company has been trusted by millions of pet owners since its inception, and veterinarians continue to recommend and feed their own pets Hill's products. Hill's Science Diet has also been at the forefront of breakthroughs in pet nutrition, such as developing nutritional options for ageing pets and addressing specific health concerns like weight issues and heart disease. Their Prescription Diet line was the world's first veterinarian-prepared food for managing a canine disease, and their commitment to science-led nutrition has resulted in providing over $300 million worth of nutrition to pets in need.
While Hill's Science Diet has issued several recalls over the years due to issues like vitamin D toxicity and salmonella contamination, the brand remains trusted by veterinarians and pet owners alike. The company's ongoing dedication to research and development, as well as its strong presence in the veterinary community, contribute to its reputation as a recommended brand in the field of pet nutrition.
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Frequently asked questions
Hill's Science Diet has been around since 1968 when it was made available through veterinarians and pet professionals. The brand was developed in the 1960s by Mark L. Morris Jr., who was the son of veterinarian Dr. Mark Morris Sr.
Hill's Science Diet is a brand of cat and dog foods marketed by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. The company was founded in 1907 by Burton Hill and started operating as Hill Rendering Works, providing rendering services to Shawnee County, Kansas.
The history of Hill's Science Diet began in 1939 when a blind man named Morris Frank asked his vet to help his ailing guide dog. Dr. Mark Morris Sr. quickly started working on a new dog food formula that would provide the necessary nutrients and vitamins to keep Mr. Frank's guide dog healthy. In 1948, Mark L. Morris contacted the Hill Packing Company to produce Canine k/d, making the company the licensed producer of the food.
