What Are Meat Meal and By-Products in Dog Food?
5-minute read · Loyal Saints Nutrition Glossary
Quick answer
Meat meal is rendered (cooked-down, dried) animal tissue concentrated into a protein powder; by-product meal includes rendered animal parts not used for human food, of uncertain origin and quality. Both are common, inexpensive protein sources in pet food. Loyal Saints uses only named, whole, human-grade meats and organs — never rendered meal or by-products.
'Meat meal' and 'by-product meal' are among the most common ingredients in conventional pet food — and among the least understood. Knowing what they are helps you read a label critically.
What is meat meal?
Meat meal is created by rendering — cooking animal tissue at high heat to remove water and fat, then grinding the result into a dry, concentrated protein powder. Because the water is removed, meal is high in protein by weight, which can make a label's protein number look impressive. But rendering uses high heat (reducing bioavailability), and the quality and source of the original material vary widely.
What are by-products?
By-products are the parts of an animal left after the cuts intended for human consumption are removed. Some by-products (like certain organ meats) can be nutritious; the concern with 'by-product meal' is that it's rendered, of uncertain and variable composition, and not held to human-food standards.
Why ingredient naming matters
'Meal' = rendered
High-heat-processed, concentrated, lower bioavailability than whole meat.
'By-product' = uncertain parts
Variable, often not human-grade, of inconsistent quality.
Named vs. unnamed
'Chicken meal' is better than 'meat meal' or 'animal by-product' of unspecified species.
Whole meat is the gold standard
Named, whole, human-grade muscle and organ meats are highest quality.
Loyal Saints uses only named, whole, human-grade meats and organ meats — real beef, beef liver, beef heart, chicken, chicken liver, turkey, and wild salmon. Never rendered meal, never by-products, never animal digest. When you read our label, every protein is a real, recognizable, named ingredient you could find at a butcher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is meat meal bad for dogs?
Meat meal isn't necessarily unsafe, but it's a rendered (high-heat-processed) ingredient of variable quality and lower bioavailability than whole meat. Named meals (e.g., 'chicken meal') are better than unnamed ones. Loyal Saints avoids rendered meals entirely in favor of whole, named, human-grade meats.
What are animal by-products in dog food?
By-products are animal parts left after the portions intended for human consumption are removed. 'By-product meal' is rendered and of uncertain, variable composition not held to human-food standards. Loyal Saints uses no by-products — only named, whole, human-grade meats and organs.
Why does meat meal make protein numbers look high?
Rendering removes water, concentrating the protein by weight, so meal can show a high protein percentage. But this doesn't account for bioavailability or quality — the high-heat rendering process reduces how usable the protein is compared to whole meat processed without heat.
Does Loyal Saints use meat meal or by-products?
No. Loyal Saints uses only named, whole, human-grade muscle and organ meats — real beef, chicken, turkey, salmon, and organ meats. There are no rendered meals, no by-products, and no animal digest in any formula.
Now you know what to look for.
Loyal Saints: real whole foods, no fillers, no synthetic premix, complete and balanced. Everything you just learned to want.
