The petfood industry has come a long way in recent years. With new options being introduced each year, owners of dogs and cats can give their pets the best quality meals they deserve.
Meat powder is the backbone of many dry dog and cat foods. It can be listed as ‘meat meal’, or with an animal source like chicken, labeled as “chicken meat”. Meat powder is deactivated through heat treatment so dogs won’t get sick eating them by accident and won’t get digestive problems later on down the line.
The parts of animals that aren’t consumed by humans can be a huge source of protein. These include remains such as offal, connective tissues and bones, which are also called meat meal in some countries like the UK where they regulate what goes into it.
How is meat powder made in the petfood industry?
The process of rendering meat and other animal by-products starts with the raw materials being ground. They’re then cooked for a period between 40 – 90 minutes at temperatures ranging from 115°F to 145°C, during which time moisture is removed until all fats are separated out into an oil form that can be pressed through a sieve or otherwise processed into powder form.
How nutritionally beneficial is meat powder?
Nutritionists are not in agreement about whether or how much the rendering process affects meat nutritional content. One point of view is that it may reduce certain nutrients, like vitamin C; however others disagree because there’s no proof to support this claim and fresh ingredients would be more difficult for your pet dog if you were making them primarily out of dry rendered meats instead.