This bag of Pedigree pet food has a picture of a grilled steak on the label, however it incorporates no steak ingredient. As an alternative the Pedigree pet food incorporates the ingredient “meat and bone meal”.
If the Pedigree pet food contained the meat portrayed on the label, a one pound steak would price $3.31 per pound ($331.00 per 100 kilos Alternative Chuck).
However…as a substitute of steak, this Pedigree pet food incorporates “meat and bone meal.” Per USDA pricing of meat and bone meal, 1 pound of this ingredient prices Pedigree $0.12 ($250.00 per ton).
The precise ingredient within the pet meals (meat and bone meal) prices 2500% LESS than the ingredient portrayed on the label (steak).
We contacted Pedigree through their web site contact kind on 2/4/26, asking if their pet meals contained roasted hen or grilled steak as label photos painting. Pedigree didn’t reply to our questions.
Beneath are another widespread pet meals ingredient costs based mostly on USDA information. These are bulk costs, and lots of are human edible grade (not feed grade).
| Ingredient | Worth (Bulk) | Estimated Worth per Pound |
| Corn | $4.20/bushel (approx. 56 lbs) | $0.07 |
| Soybeans | $10.30/bushel (approx. 60 lbs) | $0.17 |
| Soybean Meal | $300.00/ton | $0.15 |
| Wheat | $5.00/bushel (approx. 60 lbs) | $0.08 |
| Meat and Bone Meal | $250.00/ton | $0.12 |
| Rice (seconds or Brewers) | $16.00/100 kilos | $0.16 |
| Fats (White Grease, Yellow Grease, Tallow) | $0.40 | |
| Rooster (Backs and Necks Stripped – USDA inspected) | $0.07 | |
| Mechanically Separated Rooster (USDA inspected) | $0.24 |
With meat components in pet meals, present laws enable components to be labeled as the entire meat when truly the product incorporates a lesser lower. As instance “hen”…
Pet meals laws enable for the ingredient identify ‘hen’ to be listed within the ingredient panel when the precise ingredient within the pet meals is “hen backs and necks stripped” costing solely $0.07 per pound. Rooster backs and necks stripped means that almost all of the meat has been eliminated.
Pet meals laws additionally enable for the ingredient identify ‘hen’ to be listed within the ingredient panel when the precise ingredient within the pet meals is mechanically separated hen.
And, in both occasion – regulatory authorities take no motion in opposition to producers that painting grilled hen breasts on a pet meals label when the pet meals truly incorporates hen backs and necks. Pet meals producers are allowed to mislead customers with photos that allude they’re utilizing the next high quality ingredient – equivalent to hen breast meat costing $1.19 per pound bulk USDA pricing, when the pet meals truly incorporates hen backs and necks stripped costing $0.07 per pound.
Don’t hesitate to ask your pet meals producer what cuts of meats are utilized in your pet’s meals, and ask why they choose that specific lower. As properly, ask if components are human grade/human edible or are feed grade.
Susan Thixton
Pet Meals Security Advocate
Writer Purchaser Beware, Co-Writer Dinner PAWsible
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