Health & Nutrition > Ingredient Glossary
Ingredient Glossary
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Glossary of Active Ingredients: |
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Glossary of Active Ingredients:
Animal Digest
AAFCO Definition: A material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and not-decomposed animal tissue. The animal tissues used shall be exclusive of hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice and shall be suitable for animal feed. If it bears a name descriptive of its kind or flavor(s), it must correspond thereto.
In Basic Terms: Animal digest is a cooked-down broth made from unspecified parts of unspecified animals. Any kind of animal can be included: goats, pigs, horses, rats, etc. The animals can be obtained from any source and can include '4D' animals: dead, diseased, dying, or disabled.
Animal Fat
AAFCO Definition: Obtained from the tissues of mammals and/or poultry in the commercial process of rendering or extracting. It consists predominantly of glyceride esters of fatty acids and contains no additions of free fatty acids or other materials obtained from fats.
In Basic Terms: Animal fat a byproduct of meat meal processing. The origin of the contributing animals is never known, and the resulting oil is very low in linoleic acid -- an essential fatty acid that is important for skin and coat health. The animals can be obtained from any source and can include '4D' animals: dead, diseased, dying, or disabled.
BHA/BHT
AAFCO Definition: BHA/BHT is short for Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), both of which are chemical preservatives.
In Basic Terms: BHA and BHT are chemical preservatives that have been banned from human use in many countries. In the US, they are still permitted in pet foods. Some research shows that BHA and BHT may cause cancer and/or tumors.
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Canola Oil
Definition: The oil obtained from the repeated pressing of canola seeds. It tends to be low in linoleic acids, which helps skin and coat condition.
Chicken
AAFCO Definition: (definition derived from AAFCO definition for Poultry) The clean combination of flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken or combination thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet, and entrails. It shall be suitable for use in animal food. If the bone has been removed, the process may be so designated by use of the appropriate feed term.
In Basic Terms: Chicken is just that... Chicken. But keep in mind it can also contain chemical preservatives or hormones. Make sure your pet’s food company gets their chicken from a reputable source.
Chicken Fat
Definition: Obtained from the tissues of chickens in the commercial process of rendering or extracting.
In Basic Terms: Chicken fat is the highest of all animal sources in linoleic acid (over 23%), an important element for skin and coat health.
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Egg Product
AAFCO Definition: Product obtained from egg graders, egg breakers, and/or hatchery operations that is dehydrated, handled as liquid or frozen. These shall be labeled as per USDA regulations governing eggs and egg products. This product shall be free of shells or other non-egg materials except in such amounts which might occur unavoidably in good processing practices, and contain a maximum ash content of 6% on a dry matter basis.
In Basic Terms: Whole eggs, without the shell, in a dehydrated form. Must be USDA inspected (although that does not necessarily mean human grade).
Flaxseed Oil
Definition: The whole seed of the flax plant. Usually found ground in dog food.
In Basic Terms: What makes flaxseed such a valuable carbohydrate is its mix in both soluble and insoluble fiber. Together these fibers aid in digestion. Flaxseed is also an excellent source of Omega 6 and Omega 3 essential fatty acids. These fatty acids help produce the soft, luxuriant coat. The richest source of alpha-linoleic acid is found in flaxseed.
Lamb Meal
Meal - AAFCO Definition:
An ingredient that has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. Note: It is the origin of the meal that can be cause for concern.
Definition: (derived from AAFCO definition for Meat Meal) The dry rendered product from lamb tissues, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices.
In Basic Terms: Simply lamb meat with the moisture removed, making it suitable for use in dry food. As with all protein, the quality of lamb meal depends solely on the lamb it is derived from.
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Meat Meal or Meat & Bone Meal
Meal - AAFCO Definition:
An ingredient that has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. Note: It is the origin of the meal that can be cause for concern.
AAFCO Definition: The rendered product from mammal tissues, [including bone when listed as Meat & Bone Meal], exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, and stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. It shall not contain added extraneous materials not provided for in this definition.
In Basic Terms: Most people associate this ingredient with beef. However, it is possible for it to come from any mammal: pigs, goats, horses, rabbits and rendered animals. Meat meal can contain condemned parts and animals that are rejected for human consumption, including '4D' animals: dead, diseased, dying, or disabled. It can include pus, cancerous tissue, and decomposed (spoiled) tissue. This is an inexpensive ingredient found in many commercial pet foods.
Mixed Tocopherols
Definition: A source of vitamin E.
In Basic Terms: A good natural preservative. Not as effective as BHA/BHT, but a much better alternative to any chemical preservative.
Oats & Oatmeal
Definition: The dry ground product of cleaned oats with the hulls removed, rich in B vitamins.
In Basic Terms: The dry ground product of cleaned oats with the hulls removed, rich in B vitamins.
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Poultry By-Product Meal
Meal - AAFCO Definition:
An ingredient that has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. Note: It is the origin of the meal that can be cause for concern.
AAFCO Definition: Poultry By-Product Meal consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered poultry, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices. If the product bears a name descriptive of its kind, it must correspond thereto.
In Basic Terms: This is an inconsistent ingredient, with multiple organs used, constantly changing proportions, and questionable nutritional value. The origin can be any fowl (turkeys, ducks, geese, buzzards, etc.), instead of a single source, like chicken [unless listed as “Chicken By-Product Meal”]. Poultry by-product meal is much less expensive and tends to be less digestible than poultry meal.
Poultry Meal
Meal - AAFCO Definition:
An ingredient that has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. Note: It is the origin of the meal that can be cause for concern.
Poultry Meal (i.e. ground poultry meat; includes chicken and duck)
Definition: The dry rendered product from a combination of clean flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts of whole carcasses of poultry or combination thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet, or entrails. It shall be suitable to use in animal food. If it bears a name descriptive of its kind, it must correspond thereto.
In Basic Terms: Chicken meal is considered to be a good source of protein in commercial pet foods because it is basically chicken that has been cooked down. Of course, the quality of chicken meal depends solely on the chicken it is derived from.
Rice
Definition: A high quality source of carbohydrates, protein and fiber.
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Rosemary
In Basic Terms: A highly effective natural preservative that is also shown to have some cancer prevention properties.
Salmon Meal
Meal - AAFCO Definition:
An ingredient that has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. Note: It is the origin of the meal that can be cause for concern.
Definition: (derived from AAFCO definition for fish meal) The clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed salmon or salmon cuttings, either or both, with or without the extraction of part of the oil.
In Basic Terms: A good source of palatable fatty acids.
Tallow
AAFCO Definition: Animal fats with titer above 40°C. (Titer: A property of fat determined by the solidification point of the fatty acids liberated by hydrolysis.)
In Basic Terms: Hard, white fat that may be difficult for dogs to digest.
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