What Is Chicken Meal in Dog Food? And Why Is It Used in Dog Food?

If you’ve ever picked up kibble at the grocery store and scanned the ingredients list, you’ve likely seen “chicken meal” listed and asked yourself, “What the heck is chicken meal? And does it belong in my dog’s food?”

We talked to vet experts to answer all your questions about this common pet food ingredient, including “What is in chicken meal?” and “Is chicken meal good for dogs?”

“Chicken meal is ground-up chicken flesh and skin from slaughtered birds,” says Dr. Jennifer Larsen, DVM, PhD, a professor of clinical nutrition in the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of California, Davis.

While the “slaughtered” part may sound a little jarring, it’s actually a good thing. It means that the chickens were not found dead and then later used to make chicken meal.

Dr. Larsen says that chicken meal can typically be used as a source of protein, but it can also provide essential minerals, vitamins and fatty acids. Chicken meal is also a natural source of glucosamine, a natural compound found in cartilage that helps maintain healthy joints.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), an organization that sets standards and rules for pet food manufacturers, is specific about what parts of the chicken can be used to create the rendered product.

• Chicken meal can include clean flesh, skin and bone.
• Chicken meal cannot include feathers, feet, heads or intestines.

Chicken meal is one type of meat meal, or rendered protein, used in pet food. Other meat meals include beef meal, salmon meal and lamb meal.

Chicken meal, made from real chicken, is created through a rendering process where chicken meat is ground up, cooked at high temperatures and dried.

This process separates the fat and water. What’s left behind is dried protein, which is ground into a fine powder. That powder is chicken meal—also known as poultry meal.

A highly concentrated source of protein, chicken meal is a “cost-effective and efficient way to increase the protein content of dog food,” says Dr. Sabrina Kong, DVM, a vet at a small-animal clinic in Northern California, a dog trainer and a veterinary consultant for We Love Doodles.

Dog food made with chicken meal contains more protein per pound of food than fresh chicken because the moisture content of chicken meal is low.

These are the two main differences between whole or fresh chicken and chicken meal:

1. Moisture content: Whole chicken contains more water.
2. Protein concentration: “Chicken meal is a dried, concentrated protein source,” Dr. Kong says.

Chicken by-product meal is composed of the non-rendered parts of the chicken carcass that remain after the meat has been removed.

These parts of the animal source are sometimes called animal by-product or chicken by-product, and the parts are what pet food makers use to create the by-product meal.

Entrails (such as the liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys), along with other parts of the chicken (such as the feet and head), can be part of chicken by-product meal, per the standards set by the AAFCO.

Basically, chicken meal can only be made from chicken flesh, skin and bones. Chicken by-product meal, however, can be made from a lot of what remains of the chicken carcass after the flesh, skin and bones are removed.

While chicken by-product meal can definitely be a source of minerals and other essential nutrients, it’s generally considered lower quality than chicken meal, says Dr. Kong.

Yes, chicken meal adds nutritional value to a dog’s diet. In fact, it has several benefits, says Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM, a veterinarian at Animal Hospital of West Monroe in West Monroe, Louisiana, and the co-founder of How To Pets.

• Highly concentrated source of protein: A huge benefit of chicken meal is the high protein content. “Unlike fresh chicken, which contains a lot of water, chicken meal is a concentrated source, meaning it gives your dog more protein per bite,” says Dr. Ochoa. Protein is an essential part of a dog’s diet because it aids in tissue repair and muscle growth.
• Rich in essential amino acids: “As a vet, I always emphasize the importance of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins,” says Dr. Ochoa. Amino acids help maintain a healthy coat and skin, and they’re crucial for the dog’s health and well-being.
• Great source of minerals: Chicken meal contains calcium and phosphorus, minerals Dr. Ochoa says are vital for strong teeth and bones.
• Ideal fat content: Chicken meal contains a beneficial amount of fat. “Dietary fats are a concentrated energy source and they’re also pivotal for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K),” Dr. Ochoa says. “Plus, they help keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy.”
• Shelf stable: Chicken meal is a convenient dry dog food ingredient. Due to the cooking process, the moisture content of chicken meal is low, making it a stable ingredient that is less likely to spoil.
• Cost-effective nutrient source: Fresh meat is simply more expensive than chicken meal. “For [pet parents] balancing a budget, chicken meal is cost-effective because it packs a lot of nutritional value into a smaller amount,” says Dr. Ochoa.

No, chicken meal is not bad in dog food. “It’s a good source of protein, as long as it’s combined with other high-quality ingredients,” says Dr. Kong.

Even though chicken meal is not made for human consumption, it’s safe for our dogs. It isn’t an ingredient food companies are trying to hide, either. For example, higher-quality pet foods such as Wellness Complete Health grain-free dry dog food have the words “chicken meal” (and “salmon meal”) prominently featured on the front of the bag.

Is chicken meal ever in human food?

Is chicken meal in both canned and dry dog food?

“Chicken meal is primarily found in dry dog foods due to its low moisture content,” says Dr. Kong. “It’s less common in canned foods, which often use fresh or whole meat sources.”

Are pet parents able to determine how much chicken meal is in their dog’s food by reading a pet food label?

While it’s difficult to determine exactly how much chicken meal is in your dog’s food, you can look at the pet food ingredients list on the dog food label and take note of where chicken meal falls in the order of ingredients.

“Ingredients are listed by weight, so if chicken meal is listed high, it’s a significant component,” Dr. Kong says.

In other words, there is more (by weight) of the first ingredient in the pet food than the second, more of the second than the third, and so on down the ingredients list.

What are 4D meats and does chicken meal contain them?

4D meats are meat from dead, dying, diseased or disabled animals, such as chickens or cows. In 2019, the FDA stopped allowing the use of 4D meats in dog food, which includes chicken meal.

Worth noting is that even before the 2019 FDA change, many pet food manufacturers did not use 4D meats anyway. But now, they cannot legally use 4D meats.

Is chicken meal in all dry dog foods?

No, but it’s in a whole lot of them! Many dog food brands, including high-quality dog foods, contain chicken meal.

Fun fact: Chicken meal and chicken by-product meal aren’t strictly used in chicken-based dog foods. If you read the ingredient list on many different types of food, such as salmon or beef kibble, you may find that chicken meal or chicken by-product meal—or both—are in the pet food’s ingredient list.

This Rachael Ray Nutrish Big Life dry dog food is a great example. Beef is the first ingredient, but chicken meal is the second, even though the food name only references “beef, veggies & brown rice.” The food contains fish meal, too!

What is chicken meal in cat food?

Chicken meal in cat food is ground-up flesh, skin and bone from slaughtered chickens. It provides a concentrated source of protein for cat food.

As is the case with chicken meal in dog food, chicken meal in cat food cannot contain feathers, feet, heads or intestines.