Fish Meal

Fish meal plants process whole fish caught for meal and oil, along with heads, frames and trimmings left by seafood plants. Cooking and pressing separate oil and water; drying leaves a protein meal that ships without refrigeration.⁵

1. 01 // Source Fish and trimmings Whole small fish or seafood processing remains, including heads and frames, arrive at the meal plant.
2. 02 // Process Cooked Heat firms the proteins and frees water and oil from the fish tissue.
3. 03 // Process Pressed A press separates the solid cake from liquid that is further divided into fish oil and stickwater.
4. 04 // Process Dried and milled The cake is dried and ground; concentrated stickwater is often added back before drying.
5. 05 // Output Fish meal A dry powder or granule supplies protein and minerals when weighed into a kibble recipe.

1. 01

   Adds animal protein

   Removing much of the water and oil concentrates fish protein. In a senior dog trial, a diet with white fish meal had similar nutrient digestibility to a poultry meal control.^1,5

2. 02

   Uses seafood remains

   Meal plants turn heads, frames and trimmings from seafood production into a storable feed ingredient. Supply also depends on fisheries, and price can limit its use.⁵

3. 03

   Supplies marine nutrients

   Remaining fat and bone bring marine fats and minerals alongside protein. Their amounts change with the fish and processing, so fish meal alone does not tell you a food's EPA and DHA content.⁵

How much Dog tests used 10% salmon meal in a palatability diet and 20% white fish meal in a senior diet.^1,2

1. Brands say

   Fish meal provides digestible animal protein

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A senior dog trial replaced poultry by-product meal with 20% white fish meal and found no change in apparent nutrient digestibility. It supports fish meal as usable protein, though one tested meal cannot represent every supplier.^1,5

2. Brands say

   Fish meal gives dogs a healthier coat

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   We found no dog trial testing fish meal on coat outcomes. The closest, a 45-dog, 4-week trial, fed fish meal plus fish oil together and measured only a blood omega 3 marker, never skin or coat.³

3. Brands say

   Fish meal makes kibble taste better

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a dog preference test, a diet with 10% salmon meal was eaten about as much as the chicken control. Salmon protein hydrolysate increased intake, but that is a different ingredient.²

4. Brands say

   Fish meal is hypoallergenic for sensitive dogs

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Fish triggered reactions in 5 of 297 dogs with reported food reactions in a research review. That does not estimate allergy risk for all dogs, but it rules out treating fish meal as safe for every allergic dog.⁴

5. Critics say

   Fish meal is cheap filler

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Feedipedia's high-protein category averages 74.8% crude protein on a dry matter basis. Fish meal has a clear protein job, while price and supply can limit its use. Quality varies; filler is the wrong criticism.⁵