Meat and Bone Meal
A rendered dry product from mammalian tissues including bone. Unlike "chicken meal" or "beef meal", no species is specified — the source animals and the ratio of meat to bone are not disclosed.
Why manufacturers use it
Meat and bone meal is among the cheapest available protein and mineral (calcium, phosphorus) sources in pet food manufacturing. Using a generic term gives manufacturers flexibility to substitute different animal species depending on market prices without reformulating the product or changing the label.
What the evidence says
The digestibility and nutritional value of meat and bone meal depends heavily on the bone-to-soft-tissue ratio. High bone content raises ash significantly and reduces protein digestibility. Regulation in the EU (EC 1069/2009) and US (FDA) prohibits the use of diseased animals, but the lack of species disclosure makes independent quality verification impossible. A high ash content in a product often indicates high bone meal inclusion.
How it affects a product's score
Meat and bone meal triggers the protein-unspecified transparency deduction when present in the top three ingredients. A product where it is the primary protein source will also score lower on protein ranking than one built around named animal ingredients.
Reviewed products containing meat and bone meal (2)