Are By-Products High-Quality and Nutritious Ingredients?

Did you know that the liver that your pet loves is actually a by-product? “By-product” has a regulatory definition that really just means that it is not the primary product. While T-bone steaks may be the primary product from human consumption, beef liver for pets can come from the same source.  Similarly, wheat bran is a by-product of the flour industry. By-products can provide high quality nutrition for pets. Beef liver is full of protein and vitamins. Wheat bran is an excellent fiber source. The truth is that any ingredient – by-product or not – can be of high or low quality.

Hill's only buys ingredients from suppliers whose facilities meet stringent raw material quality standards. For suppliers with multiple sites, we qualify each location separately to ensure consistency in ingredient quality. The ingredients, including by-products in our pet foods are evaluated on a case-by-case basis with consideration of our manufacturing processes.

References:
Clinical Nutrition Team. Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University. Clinical Nutrition Service. Don’t be bothered by by-products. http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/05/dont-be-bothered-by-by-products/.

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