What Are Meat and Animal Derivatives in Dog Food?

At a glance

• "Meat and animal derivatives" is a legal category term for animal parts that don't have to be named individually
• It can cover nutritious parts like organ meat, but also low-value offcuts, and the mix can change from batch to batch
• The term isn't automatically a sign of poor food, but it does hide the species and the cut you're actually feeding
• Marleybones names its meat directly, such as beef, chicken, lamb and salmon, with no vague derivatives on the label

Meat and animal derivatives is a category term used on dog food labels to describe parts of an animal without naming them specifically. It can include muscle meat, but also organs and lower-value parts like connective tissue, and the exact mix, even the species, can vary between batches. The term isn't automatically a sign of poor food, but it does hide what's actually in the pack, which is why it's worth understanding before you buy.

What are meat and animal derivatives in dog food?

Meat and animal derivatives is a legally defined category used in pet food labelling for the parts of an animal that manufacturers don't have to list by name. It can cover muscle meat, but also organs, blood, connective tissue and other by-products of animals processed for the human food chain. What it does not do is tell you the species, the cut, or the proportion of each.

Because the term is so broad, the actual contents can change from one production run to the next, depending on what's available and what costs least at the time. Two packs of the same food can contain quite different derivatives while carrying the same wording on the label.

Are meat and animal derivatives bad for dogs?

Not inherently. Some of what falls under the term, such as liver, heart and other organ meats, is genuinely nutritious and a natural part of a dog's diet. The problem is the lack of detail rather than the ingredient itself.

Because the term doesn't name the species or the cut, you can't tell whether you're feeding quality organ meat or low-value leftovers, and it can vary batch to batch. For a dog with a protein sensitivity, an unnamed source is also almost impossible to work around, since you can't rule out the protein that upsets them. The vaguer the label, the less control you have.

Why is the term used instead of naming the meat?

Mainly cost and flexibility. Listing "meat and animal derivatives" rather than "chicken" or "beef" lets a manufacturer change the ingredients between batches based on price and supply, without changing the label. It's legal and common, but it's the opposite of a fully named ingredient list, where you can see exactly what goes in.

A named ingredient like "chicken" tells you the species and that it's meat. A named meat meal, such as "chicken meal", is also specific and can be high quality. The key word in every case is named. The clearer the wording, the more you actually know about the food.

Does Marleybones use meat and animal derivatives?

No. Marleybones names the meat in every recipe directly, whether that's chicken, beef, lamb or salmon, so you can see exactly which protein your dog is eating. Every ingredient is listed in full, with a percentage for nearly all of them, so there are no vague category terms to decode. If you want to know what else is worth watching for, the guide to dog food ingredients to avoid covers the rest.

To find the right recipe for your dog, build their personalised Marleybones plan based on their age, size and needs.

FAQs

Are meat and animal derivatives the same as meat?

No. "Meat" on its own, or a named meat like chicken, refers to muscle meat from a stated species. "Meat and animal derivatives" is a broader term that can include organs, connective tissue and other parts, without naming the species or cut.

Are meat and animal derivatives the same as animal by-products?

They overlap. Both refer to parts of an animal beyond prime muscle meat. Some by-products, like liver and kidney, are nutritious, but the concern with both terms is the same: they're used vaguely, without specifying what's included.

Is meat meal a derivative?

A named meat meal, such as "chicken meal", is a specific, concentrated protein source and can be good quality. The issue is only with unnamed terms, where the species and cut aren't stated.

How do I avoid meat and animal derivatives?

Read the composition list and choose foods that name their meat directly, such as beef, chicken, lamb or salmon, ideally with a percentage. A fully named ingredient list is the clearest sign of what you're actually feeding.