What Are The Animal By-Products In Pet Food?

So….What Exactly Are Animal By-Products?

Animal by-products are the parts left after the skeletal muscle meat, intended for human consumption, has been removed. These include the head, hooves or feet, internal organs and non edible parts.

Some by-products are desirable, such as liver, kidney, heart, spleen and pancreas, if they are sourced from grass fed/grass finished or free range animals that were not fed GMO feeds. Other by-products have little biological nutritional value, such as beaks, feathers and hooves.

How the animals are processed also has an impact on the quality of the meat. Animals that were in crowded stressful conditions will have high cortisol levels that saturate the meat and negatively affect the individual consuming that meat. 

Some processing facilities dealing with by-products may not handle the products in sanitary conditions or properly refrigerate them, making them unfit for human consumption — yet they can be used in pet food.(1)

CONSUMERS MAY BE UNAWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF SOME ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS AND RENDERED FOODS:

Animal By-Products used in pet foods can include: 

Organs: Such as liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas and heart. (These are vitally important for pets to consume, and these need to come from free range or grass fed/grass finished animals humanely processed with minimal stress.)

• Other Parts: Includes blood, fat, head, neck, feet, and other non-muscle tissues.
• Beaks: Often from poultry.
• Feathers: From poultry
• Feet: Commonly from poultry, used in certain formulations.
• Intestines: Sometimes included, are parts of the animal’s digestive tract.
• Bone Meal: Made from ground bones, may include scraps and remnants from animal processing.
• Fish meal: Ground fish used as a protein source.

What are Animal By-Product Meals

Based on their source, by-products fall into two categories:

• Named by-product meals (e.g., Chicken by-product meal, Turkey by-product meal, Fish by-products meal)
• Generic by-product meals (e.g., Meat meal, Animal by-product meal)

Named by-product meals tell you the source of the protein. Generic  “meat meal” or “animal by-product meal do not name the source,” it could be roadkill, dead zoo animals or diseased livestock.

Even if the by-product is specifically named, you still don’t know the quality of the ingredients or how they were processed. For instance, named by-products can still come from sources that may have been exposed to harmful substances or contaminants. Additionally, there’s a significant risk that the ingredients could be derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).(3)

Potential Allergens: Pets may have allergies or sensitivities to certain protein by-products. The true underlying cause of the “allergy or sensitivity” is actually Leaky Gut Syndrome (For more on leaky gut click here). Until the root cause is identified and resolved, pets may have a response to allergens from beef, chicken, lamb, or dairy, along with wheat and soy (which are products pets should not consume). Pets may develop reactions over time to ingredients they’ve previously eaten without issue, which can lead to skin and gastrointestinal symptoms. Unclear labeling can make it difficult for pet parents to identify and avoid known allergens.  

The Concerns About Highly Processed Foods And By-Products!!!

• Source and Quality: The quality of pet food hinges on the sourcing of its ingredients. High-quality pet food should come from reputable farms that prioritize animal welfare, sustainability, and ethical practices. Animals raised in humane conditions, eating a species appropriate non GMO diet typically have better nutritional profiles. In contrast, low-quality sources may involve animals raised in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, resulting in the meat being nutrient depleted and high in cortisol, the stress hormone. Feeding pets meat from non-grass-fed, conventionally raised animals exposes them to the same toxins the animal they are eating was fed.  Research shows that stressed animals exhibit higher cortisol levels, which can deplete muscle glycogen, slow lactic acid production, and result in meat with higher PH. This leads to what’s known as Dark, Firm, Dry (DFD) meat, which is less tender and can negatively affect the nutritional value of meat provided to pets. (4)
• Acrylamides and Advanced Glycation End-products (AGE’s). Research highlights that nutrient degradation happens through processes such as the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars that not only reduces lysine availability (an essential amino acid) but also results in the formation of harmful by-products, like acrylamides and advanced glycation end-products. These compounds create inflammation and oxidative stress, particularly detrimental for animals when present in their day to day diets.(5)
• Processing: The method of processing is crucial for preserving nutrient quality. Ingredients that are minimally processed, fresh frozen, low temperature dehydration (under 105 degrees fahrenheit) or freeze-dried maintain their enzymes and vitamin quality.