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877 products scored223 ingredients explainedNo paid placement
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Ingredient library

Worth knowing · Unnamed rendered protein

Meat and bone meal

Also appears on labels as: beef and bone meal, beef meal and bone meal, meat meal, bone meal

Rendered mammal tissue including bone, with no species named. Bone content pushes the calcium and phosphorus high and the digestibility down.

Watched ingredients get highlighted on every product panel you open.

Where it comes from
Rendering plants that take material from multiple sources. The regulation does not require the animal to be identified.
Why it's in the product
The cheapest way to hit a protein percentage on a guaranteed analysis.
Safety and toxicity
No acute toxicity, and US rendering is regulated. Our objection is that an unnamed mammal source is the least transparent protein you can buy, and the high ash content means the protein number on the bag overstates what the pet can actually use.
Interactions and who should be careful
Unusable for elimination diets. The high mineral load is also a poor fit for large-breed puppies, where calcium excess is a documented growth problem.

General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.

Found in 22 scored products

We flag it by name on 22 of them. Lowest scores first.

Panel Score 44 out of 100, grade F: We'd skip it
9LivesPlus Careimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 48 out of 100, grade F: We'd skip it
Kibbles 'n BitsOriginal Savory Beef & Chicken

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 51 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
CesarFilet Mignon Flavor & Spring Vegetables Garnish Small Breed Dry

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 52 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
9LivesDaily Essentials Dry Cat Food

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 55 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
Milk-BoneFlavor Snacks Dog Biscuits

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 55 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
Milk-BoneMaroSnacks With Real Bone Marrow

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 55 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
TemptationsBlock Party BBQ Flavor Dry Cat Foodimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 59 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
PedigreeComplete Nutrition Adult Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 59 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
PedigreeTasty Biscuits Peanut Butter Bacon Flavorimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 59 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
PedigreeAdult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavorimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 60 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Purina Puppy ChowTender & Crunchy With Real Beef & Riceimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 63 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Milk-BoneOriginal Medium Biscuits

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 67 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
PurinaDog Chow Complete Adult With Real Chicken

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 67 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Purina Dog ChowTender & Crunchy With Real Lamb & Turkey Flavorimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 68 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
9LivesHearty Cuts With Real Turkey, Chicken & Cheese In Gravyimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
PurinaFriskies Seafood Sensations Dry Cat Food

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PedigreeSmall Dog Food Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Flavorimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 79 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
FriskiesSurfin' & Turfin' Favorites Dry Cat Food

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 84 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
SPORTMiXPremium Maintenance 21/12imported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 84 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
SPORTMiXPremium Puppy Small Bitesimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

No Panel Score: not enough data
Ol' RoyComplete Nutrition Dry Dog Food

flagged on this product's score page

No Panel Score: not enough data
Special KittyOriginal Dry Cat Food

flagged on this product's score page