Pork Meal

Pork processing leaves tissues outside the main meat cuts. Rendering gives those tissues a feed outlet: heat removes water, fat is separated, and the remaining solids are ground for shipment to kibble plants.^4,7,9

1. 01 // Source Pork tissues The raw material comes from pigs and includes tissue left after meat processing.
2. 02 // Process Cooked and dried Rendering heats the material and removes most of its water before the ingredient leaves the plant.
3. 03 // Process Fat separated Melted fat is removed from the cooked solids, leaving a greater share of protein and minerals.
4. 04 // Output Ground pork meal The dry solids are ground into particles that a kibble plant weighs into its recipe.

1. 01

   Adds dry animal protein

   Rendering removes water before the ingredient is weighed into a recipe. Pork meal therefore contributes protein without bringing along fresh pork's water.^4,7

2. 02

   Uses a processing stream

   Rendering turns pork tissues left after meat processing into a saleable feed ingredient. It also gives pet food plants a dry material that is easier to handle than raw tissue.^4,9

3. 03

   Names the animal source

   The pork name identifies the species used for the meal. That helps owners check a recipe when they need to avoid a different animal protein.^7,8

4. 04

   Ships as a dry meal

   The renderer separates fat and grinds the dried solids. Kibble makers receive an ingredient they can weigh and mix with other dry materials.^4,7

How much One Mars Petcare funded dog study included 4% pork meal in mixed diets; it did not isolate the meal's effect.¹

1. Brands say

   Pork meal has more protein per pound than fresh pork

   Evidence

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

   Rendering removes most water, so meal supplies more protein per pound as sold than wet pork. One analyzed porcine meal was 53.7% protein on a dry basis. Concentration says nothing about digestibility.^4,7

2. Brands say

   Pork meal suits dogs with chicken allergies

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   A review counted pork reactions in 7 of 297 dogs with reported food reactions, compared with 45 for chicken. Those counts do not predict an individual dog's response, and a pork recipe may contain chicken ingredients.^2,3,8

3. Brands say

   Pork meal digests as well as chicken meal

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   A 12-dog comparison found similar digestion for diets based on fresh pork and chicken, but tested no pork meal. Another dog study included pork meal at 4% among many ingredients. Neither measured the meal's own digestibility.^1,2

4. Critics say

   Pork meal is a low-grade filler

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   One analyzed porcine meal contained 53.7% protein and 10.5% fat on a dry basis, so it contributes animal nutrients. The unresolved question is how much protein a dog digests from a particular supplier's meal.^4,7

5. Owners say

   Pork meal is safe for every allergic dog

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   Pork triggered reactions in 7 of 297 dogs in a review of reported food challenges. That count does not estimate population risk, but it rules out a blanket promise for dogs with food allergies.³