Meat By-Product Meal
Definition
Meat by-product meal or MBPM is one of the most commonly used animal derived rendered ingredients in commercial canine diets. In feed regulations, meat by-product meal is defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) as the dry rendered product from mammal tissues, excluding hair, hooves, horns, horns, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents. It is frequently confused with single species meat meals (chicken meal, beef meal, etc.) which are made from tissues of a single species. MBPM is made from tissues of unidentified species of animals and therefore is unsuitable for the dog with a single protein allergy as there is no way of knowing the source of the ingredients. MBPM typically contains 45–55% crude protein and is listed as an acceptable ingredient in the FSSAI Standard 2.2.10 for animal and poultry feed.
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Expanded Body
Meat by-product meal is a low cost ingredient which is commonly used in medium quality to economy quality dog foods. Many of the Indian health food stores are also stocking this ingredient. According to AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) in their 2023 Official Publication, the definition of meat by-product meal is as follows: The term meat by-product meal refers to a meal which consists of the remaining parts of slaughtered animals after all the major meat cuts have been removed. These by-products include organs such as lungs, spleen, kidneys, bone, blood, and other tissues which are of lesser value and are therefore not typically used as ingredients in whole meat products. It is often stated that the ‘meat’ in this ingredient can include beef, pork, lamb and even poultry and that it can be a combination of the above. Unfortunately however, the labeling of the finished dog food does not have to state what types of ‘meat’ are included in this ingredient. This makes the ingredient unsuitable for the dog with a single protein food allergy (e.g. chicken, beef etc.).
Higher quality canine feed are made with what we refer to as ‘named’ protein sources (chicken meal, beef meal, lamb meal, etc.). These named protein sources are defined by the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) and clearly list the sole species source. Named protein sources provide 55-70% crude protein (on a dry matter basis) as opposed to 45-55% provided by unnamed meat by-product sources. As well, there is better ingredient traceability with ‘named’ protein sources making them better for dogs sensitive to certain allergens. As an example, Pedigree Adult contains ‘chicken by-product meal’ (a named species but by-product source) while Drools Focus contains ‘chicken meal’ (a named species where the primary source of the chicken used is muscle meat). While reading the back of a dog food in a pet shop or grocery store this is an obvious quality difference that any pet parent can see.
Quick Facts
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Crude Protein (by-product meal) | 45–55% |
| Crude Protein (chicken meal) | 65–70% |
| AAFCO Definition | Rendered mammal tissues |
| Species Source | Unspecified |
| FSSAI Status | Permitted under 2.2.10 |
PROTEIN INGREDIENT QUALITY SPECTRUM — DOG FOOD
| Ingredient | CP % | Species Traceability | Allergy Safety | Found In (India) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh Chicken (whole) | 18–22% | Named | High | Fresh dog food brands |
| Chicken Meal | 65–70% | Named | High | Drools Focus, Royal Canin |
| Chicken By-Product Meal | 55–60% | Named species, mixed parts | Moderate | Pedigree Adult |
| Meat Meal | 50–58% | Named, unspecified species mix | Low | Mid-tier brands |
| Meat By-Product Meal | 45–55% | Unnamed species + by-products | Very low | Economy brands |
| Animal Digest | Variable | Unnamed, hydrolysed | Very low | Palatability coating |
Related Terms
Faq
Q: Is meat by-product meal harmful to dogs?
No, the meat by-product meal is a complete and nutritionally adequate protein source, with a moisture and protein content of 45–55% crude protein. When correctly formulated, the meat by-product meal meets or exceeds the minimum requirements stated by AAFCO for complete and balanced dog foods. Named meals offer the advantage of ingredient traceability, but lower-cost, processed protein sources like meat by-product meal are not inherently adverse to dogs. The ingredient in question might be a single protein source for some dogs with confirmed food allergies, but that does not mean it is toxic to them.
Key Takeaways
- According to the definitions provided by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), meat by-product meal is a nutritionally adequate and not harmful ingredient that is also FSSAI-permitted. However, as with other by-products, it is less traceable to the original species
- 45–55% crude protein (on a ‘dry’ basis) as against 65–70% for chicken meal (named species).
- This ingredient is not suitable for the dogs with single food protein allergies as the species source is not declared.
- In India – Drools – Chicken meal, Pedigree – Chicken by-product meal (named species).
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