You’re perusing the nutrition label on your dog’s kibble bag. On the list of ingredients, you see “chicken meal” or “beef by-product”. 

This might leave you feeling confused. What is chicken meal in dog food? Are by-products better or worse than real meat?

You aren’t the only one who’s confused about meat meal in dog food. Don’t worry–we’re here to answer all your questions and help you find the right diet for your dog. 

What is meat meal in dog food?

Meat meal is not actual raw meat. Instead, this ingredient is made by grinding up low-quality meat cuttings, cooking them, removing the fat, and then grinding them again into a fine powder. The final product doesn’t look like meat at all, and the nutrient profile is pretty different, too.

Anything protein has the word “meal” after it is a meat meal. This includes chicken meal, lamb meal, beef meal, fish meal, and turkey meal. All of these can be found

What are meat by-products in dog food?

Some brands use meat by-products instead of meals, but it isn’t much of an improvement. What are meat by-products in dog food? It’s pretty much the leftover meat on an animal carcass. 

According to the USDA, animal by-products include everything that has been “rejected for human use”. This typically consists of an animal’s liver, lungs, head, brain, intestines, and giblets.

Meat by-products follow a similar rendering process as meals. The leftover animal parts are combined, cooked, and ground up a few times into a fine powder. The by-product meal is then added to dog food formulas as a cheap source of protein.

Another drawback of meat by-products is that they don’t have to name the animal it’s made from. Vaguely named ingredients like “meat by-product meal” may contain road kill, diseased livestock, or even dead zoo animals. 

Real Meat vs. Meat Meals/By-Products

Curious how meat meals and by-products compare to the real thing? The biggest difference is the nutrient profile, which states how many vitamins, minerals, and macros an ingredient has to offer. Let’s compare the nutrient profiles of real chicken meat versus chicken meal. 

Chicken meat has natural vitamin A, B vitamins, zinc, and iron. In chicken meal, these nutrients are lost in the rendering process. Many brands that use meat meal in dog food will add synthetic vitamins to make up for lost nutrients. But synthetic ingredients are significantly harder for your dog’s body to absorb and digest. 

So, is chicken meal good for dogs? It’s not toxic, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best option. If you want your dog to benefit from quality protein, real meat ingredients are the way to go. Avoid ingredients with the word “meal” or “by-product”. 

Dog Food Meat FAQ

What are the pros of using meat meals in dog food?

There are only two upsides to meat meals in dog food: cost and shelf-stability. Real animal meat is more expensive to store and process. Refrigeration is required to keep it cold until cooking time. It’s much cheaper for dog food brands to use meat by-products and meals because both have a longer shelf life. But these ingredients likely have a longer shelf life because there’s hardly any real meat. 

Are there any drawbacks to buying dog food without meat meal?

Cost is the only downside with buying dog food without meat meal. You are going to pay slightly more per meal, but it’s worth it for your pup to live a longer, healthier life. Substituting meat meals for real meat can even end up saving you money on vet bills. 

Do I have to buy fresh dog food if I want to give my dog real meat? 

Nope! You can find real meat in all types of dog foods; it’s just harder to find in kibble and canned food. Just ensure the nutrition label lists real meat before you swipe your card at checkout. 

Where can I find dog food without meat meal?

Sundays for Dogs is a great brand for real meat dog food. Each recipe is made with 80% or more real animal meat, organs, and ground bone. All Sundays’ dog food recipes are made entirely from human-grade, whole ingredients. Alongside real meat, you’ll find fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains.