Chicken Byproduct Meal
Alright, let’s jump feet first into this issue and address it head on. (If you don't already get the pun, keep reading...)
That’s our attempt to bring a bit of levity to a subject that’s become pet food ingredient taboo. Even the mere discussion of chicken byproduct ingredients creates visceral reactions, and flares emotions among select pet caretakers.
The source of the strong reaction is a protective instinct in combination with misinformation. For decades chicken byproduct ingredients have been characterized as unsavory, possibly harmful, cheap, etc. The old “not for my dog/cat/child” parental instinct kicks in.
But if you’re open to objective nutritional facts, science, and the environmental cause, it’s time to reevaluate the prejudice against Chicken Byproduct Meal, and other like ingredients (Turkey Byproduct Meal, for instance).
That’s our attempt to bring a bit of levity to a subject that’s become pet food ingredient taboo. Even the mere discussion of chicken byproduct ingredients creates visceral reactions, and flares emotions among select pet caretakers.
The source of the strong reaction is a protective instinct in combination with misinformation. For decades chicken byproduct ingredients have been characterized as unsavory, possibly harmful, cheap, etc. The old “not for my dog/cat/child” parental instinct kicks in.
But if you’re open to objective nutritional facts, science, and the environmental cause, it’s time to reevaluate the prejudice against Chicken Byproduct Meal, and other like ingredients (Turkey Byproduct Meal, for instance).
First, it’s helpful to acknowledge that modern, uniquely American food preferences and sensibilities are at the core of a resistance to animal byproduct ingredients. Simply put, the very simple-minded “that’s gross…” principle applies. ('Merica.)
But what’s gross to us may be a delicacy to (likely healthier) humans elsewhere. Firmly in control of your lunch? Okay then, consider:
Now consider in comparison, Chicken Byproduct Meal:
“…the dry rendered product from clean parts of the (chicken) carcass, inclusive of heads, feet, undeveloped eggs and viscera. Exclusive of feather except in such amount as might occur unavoidably in good manufacturing practices. Made from chicken sourced from USDA-inspected establishments.”
Not so outrageous, is it??
To further eradicate prejudice against these chicken components, consider that chicken feet are enjoyed by fellow humanoids in Brazil, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Bolivia and Vietnam.
Chicken feet are a great source of collagen, which is scientifically-proven to have myriad health benefits. Hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, nutritional sources of bone and joint health, are present as well. Chicken feet also offer protein and valuable mineral content that can boost the immune system.
Chicken heads probably don’t come to mind in your family meal planning, but understand that if your dog or cat were out fending for him or herself in the wild, they wouldn’t skip the abundance of protein, fat, and minerals available in this part of the chicken. (Yep, just to be clear, we're talking brains here.)
And chicken viscera? Spend just a few moments watching a nature show involving carnivores and prey and you’ll quickly realize that the prey animal’s internals are prioritized. This is because wild carnivores, our pets’ biological counterparts and equals, instinctively seek out the highest nutritional value.
So objectively, nutritionally, and scientifically, there’s absolute and inarguable justification for chicken byproduct ingredients.
And when evaluated in the context of preferred "cleaner" pet food ingredient alternatives, Chicken Byproduct Meal actually offers nutritional advantages such as:
Objective nutritional facts along with our environmental duty to use all parts of food animals means that it would be an error not to use chicken byproduct ingredients in pet foods. As per usual, the inane, irresponsible, and profit-oriented pet food industry has it wrong. They’d prefer to reinforce misguided American food norms, and pretend that their pet foods contain ingredients akin to those served in 5-star restaurants. (See also: “Human grade” Pet Food Ingredients.)
And so that’s why on the ingredient panels of Sustainable Pet Foods™ you’ll see “Chicken Byproduct Meal” and "Turkey Byproduct Meal." Now that you’re informed, we hope that where others see “gross” you’ll see truth, nutritional merit, environmentalism, and a sound health rationale.
Still on the fence or in the "that's gross" camp? Well, bummer... You'll have to come around eventually, though - Pet Food Sustainability Facts.
But what’s gross to us may be a delicacy to (likely healthier) humans elsewhere. Firmly in control of your lunch? Okay then, consider:
- Shirako. A Japanese delicacy – sperm sacs of various fish.
- Tuna Eyeballs. Also a Japanese specialty.
- Balut. A dish in the Philippines made from partially developed duck eggs.
- Gaeng Kai Mot Daeng. Ant egg soup in Laos.
- Moose nose. Brought to you by our neighbors to da north.
- Hakarl. Partially decomposed Greenland shark that’s been stored underground for two to three months. Get some of that in Iceland.
- Locusts. Sometimes deep fried or covered in chocolate, they’ve become a common snack or meal in Israel.
Now consider in comparison, Chicken Byproduct Meal:
“…the dry rendered product from clean parts of the (chicken) carcass, inclusive of heads, feet, undeveloped eggs and viscera. Exclusive of feather except in such amount as might occur unavoidably in good manufacturing practices. Made from chicken sourced from USDA-inspected establishments.”
Not so outrageous, is it??
To further eradicate prejudice against these chicken components, consider that chicken feet are enjoyed by fellow humanoids in Brazil, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Bolivia and Vietnam.
Chicken feet are a great source of collagen, which is scientifically-proven to have myriad health benefits. Hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, nutritional sources of bone and joint health, are present as well. Chicken feet also offer protein and valuable mineral content that can boost the immune system.
Chicken heads probably don’t come to mind in your family meal planning, but understand that if your dog or cat were out fending for him or herself in the wild, they wouldn’t skip the abundance of protein, fat, and minerals available in this part of the chicken. (Yep, just to be clear, we're talking brains here.)
And chicken viscera? Spend just a few moments watching a nature show involving carnivores and prey and you’ll quickly realize that the prey animal’s internals are prioritized. This is because wild carnivores, our pets’ biological counterparts and equals, instinctively seek out the highest nutritional value.
So objectively, nutritionally, and scientifically, there’s absolute and inarguable justification for chicken byproduct ingredients.
And when evaluated in the context of preferred "cleaner" pet food ingredient alternatives, Chicken Byproduct Meal actually offers nutritional advantages such as:
- Higher protein
- Higher fat
- Notably lower Ash content
- A superior amino acid profile, including typically higher values of Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Arginine, and more
- Higher levels of bone, skin, and joint nutrients such as collagen and proteoglycans
Objective nutritional facts along with our environmental duty to use all parts of food animals means that it would be an error not to use chicken byproduct ingredients in pet foods. As per usual, the inane, irresponsible, and profit-oriented pet food industry has it wrong. They’d prefer to reinforce misguided American food norms, and pretend that their pet foods contain ingredients akin to those served in 5-star restaurants. (See also: “Human grade” Pet Food Ingredients.)
And so that’s why on the ingredient panels of Sustainable Pet Foods™ you’ll see “Chicken Byproduct Meal” and "Turkey Byproduct Meal." Now that you’re informed, we hope that where others see “gross” you’ll see truth, nutritional merit, environmentalism, and a sound health rationale.
Still on the fence or in the "that's gross" camp? Well, bummer... You'll have to come around eventually, though - Pet Food Sustainability Facts.