11d • Nutrition
What Does “Meat” Mean on a Pet Food Label?
Pet food labels can look straightforward… until you realize words like “meat,” “meat meal,” and “meat by-products” don’t all mean the same thing. And yes — the wording is very intentional.
Let’s break down what these terms actually mean according to AAFCO (the group that sets ingredient definition standards for pet food labeling).
“Meat”
When a label says “meat,” it refers to the clean flesh of slaughtered mammals — most commonly beef, pork, or lamb.
This includes:
skeletal muscle
and sometimes the muscles of the heart, tongue, diaphragm, and esophagus
It may also naturally include small amounts of:
fat
connective tissue
nerves and blood vessels
👉 It does not include bone, feathers, hooves, or intestinal contents. Think of “meat” as fresh, unrendered animal muscle tissue.
“Meat Meal”
“Meat meal” is meat that has been cooked down (rendered) and then dehydrated into a concentrated protein powder.
That rendering process removes:
water
most fat
What’s left is:
👉 a dense, protein-rich ingredient
Meat meal is not automatically bad — in fact, it can provide more protein per ounce than fresh meat because it isn’t diluted by moisture.
Quality depends on:
the source
the manufacturer
how the ingredient is handled
Not the word “meal” alone.
Meat By-Products”
AAFCO defines meat by-products as the non-rendered parts of the animal other than meat.
This can include:
organs (liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen)
stomach and intestines (cleaned)
other edible internal tissues
❗ It does not include:
hair
horns
hooves
feathers
👉 Organs are actually highly nutritious and contain vitamins and minerals muscle meat doesn’t.
So “by-products” aren’t automatically “bad” — but, again, quality control matters by brand and sourcing.
Poultry Terms Work the Same Way
Poultry = clean flesh of birds (muscle tissue)
Poultry meal = rendered, concentrated version
Poultry by-products = organs + internal tissues (not feathers or feet)
Same rules — different species.
So… Which One Is “Better”?
Here’s the honest, balanced answer:
It depends on the company, sourcing, and formulation — not just the ingredient word.
Fresh meat = great
Meat meal = still great in many formulas
Organ ingredients = nutritionally valuable
A premium food may use:
meat and meat meal together
(because one provides moisture + palatability, the other provides concentrated protein)
Context matters more than label buzzwords.
💡 Helpful Takeaway
Instead of focusing only on a single word on the bag, ask:
Does the company provide transparent sourcing information?
Do they have quality control and nutrition expertise?
Is the food AAFCO complete & balanced for my pet’s life stage?
Does my pet feel well and thrive on it?
💬 Community Question
Did any of these definitions surprise you?
Have you ever chosen a food based on one of these words on the label? Let’s chat — understanding the language makes us stronger advocates for our pets. ❤️
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What Does “Meat” Mean on a Pet Food Label?
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