Meat or Animal Derivatives

According to European law, 'meat and animal derivatives' is defined as "All the fleshy parts of slaughtered warm-blooded land animals, fresh or preserved by appropriate treatment, and all products and derivatives of the processing of the carcass or parts of the carcass of warm-blooded land animals".

In other words, if it's from the carcass of an animal it could be in there. It's a very loose catch-all statement that could therefore legally include any part of an animal left over after slaughter (head, tails, beaks, feet, skin...) from any animal (beef, pork, chicken). Unspecified body parts from unspecified animals. 

We'll park the quality issue to one side for the moment. There's a really valid health reason why you should not be feeding a food that contains this ingredient to your dog. 

Let's say you have noticed that your dog doesn't handle chicken particularly well. So, you select a product that says 'Beef' on the front of the bag. But the ingredient list says 'Meat Derivatives'... is that all beef derivatives?

Legally, no, it may well be a whole selection of various meats (pork, lamb, chicken), but as a minimum, 4% will be beef. JUST 4% OF BEEF is required. Manufacturers that use the term 'Meat or Animal Derivatives' on their labelling are free to substitute the meats however suits them best commercially. 

Next time you purchase any raw or dry food check the label. You will be surprised what manufacturers are hiding in their ingredients. 

Rhondda Raw products are produced with human grade meat only - check our recipe tab for all info.