Ingredients like corn gluten meal and soybean meal are not by-products but are co-products of accepted manufacturing processes. This means in the manufacturing of the ingredient (for example soy beans), a brand new ingredient results (of no less quality – just a new ingredient!). In the case of soy bean meal, the removal of soy bean oil from the soy beans results in a highly concentrated plant protein – and as we’ve discussed in the past, companion animals and dogs in particular need proteins from both animal and plant sources to deliver 100% complete and balanced nutrition as required by AAFCO guidelines.

Our product contains an ingredient called chicken meal. Chicken meal is made from real chicken with most of the water and fat removed. Chicken meal does NOT contain heads, feet, or intestines.

These commonly used parts of a chicken are a great source of protein. Think about making chicken soup at home from scratch – many people boil the necks and backs of whole chickens to make chicken stock for soup and other recipes. And we all know human beings love to eat wings! Chicken meal contains these parts of the chicken.

Chicken meal is different from Chicken By-Product Meal (that, by the way, is not found in Rachael Ray ™ Nutrish but can be found in many other commercially available super premium dog food brands). Many consumers find this particular ingredient less than desirable because chicken by-product meal contains the necks, backs, wings, undeveloped eggs and entrails of the chicken. Again, we do not use chicken by-product meal in Rachael Ray Nutrish ™.

Other commonly used by-product that we DO NOT use in Rachael Ray Nutrish ™ is meat and bone meal.