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Ingredient library

Worth knowing

Animal digest

Also appears on labels as: digest of poultry by-products

A rendered, hydrolyzed flavoring made from unspecified animal tissues. Legal and safe by regulation, and also maximally vague.

Watched ingredients get highlighted on every product panel you open.

What the research says

Animal digest is a palatant. It's sprayed on kibble to make it taste like something. The regulation allows the source animals to go unnamed, which means the ingredient tells you nothing about what your pet is eating.

There's no direct evidence of harm. We flag it because unnamed animal sources sit at the bottom of the transparency scale: you cannot tell what species you are feeding.

Placeholder Sources: Source citations for this entry will be linked here once the citations feed is connected. Until then, ask us for the reading list any time: hello@checkthepanel.com.

General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.

Found in 26 scored products

We flag it by name on 13 of them. Lowest scores first.

Panel Score 51 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
Canine Carry OutsSausage Links - Beef Flavorcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 60 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
9LivesPlus Carecommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 67 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
PurinaPurina Dog Chowcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Fancy FeastCreamy Delights Chicken Feast with a Touch of Real Milkcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PurinaFancy Feast Kitten Tender Chicken Feastcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PurinaFancy Feast Kitten Tender Salmon Feastcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PurinaFancy Feast Seafood Classic Paté Collectioncommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PurinaFancy Feast Kitten Tender Ocean Whitefish Feastcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 79 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
TemptationsTasty Chicken Flavorcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 79 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
TemptationsCreamy dairy flavorcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 79 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Heart toTaildoggie Deli Delitescommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 82 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Royal CaninFeline Health Nutrition Indoor Adult Morsels in Gravy

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Heart to TailDeboned Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Foodcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Fancy FeastClassic Paté Chicken Feast
Panel Score 79 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Purina Cat ChowComplete Chicken Dry Cat Food
Panel Score 80 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Gravy TrainBeef Sticks Wet Dog Food
Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
TemptationsClassic Tasty Chicken Cat Treats
Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
FriskiesSurfin' & Turfin' Favorites Dry Cat Food
Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
CesarFilet Mignon Flavor Wet Dog Food
Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PurinaFancy Feast Classic Paté Seafood Feast
Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
ShebaPerfect Portions Salmon Paté
Panel Score 86 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
BeneboneDental Chew
Panel Score 88 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Purina ONESmartBlend Chicken & Rice Adult
Panel Score 92 out of 100, grade A: Pretty good
Hill's Science DietAdult Chicken & Barley Recipe

2 more scored products list this ingredient. Showing the 24 lowest-scoring.