This guide explains exactly what chicken by-products are, why they're stigmatized, whether they're actually bad for dogs, and what to look for on labels.
What Are Chicken By-Products?
According to AAFCO (the organization that defines pet food ingredients), chicken by-products are:
"Non-rendered, clean parts of slaughtered chicken such as heads, feet, viscera, free from fecal content and foreign matter except such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices."
In simpler terms: by-products are the parts of the chicken that aren't muscle meat or skin. This includes:
What's Included in Chicken By-Products:
- Organs (viscera) — Liver, heart, kidney, spleen, gizzard, lungs, intestines
- Heads — Including brain, eyes, combs
- Feet — Source of collagen and cartilage
- Necks — Bone, cartilage, connective tissue
What's NOT Included (Per AAFCO):
- Feathers
- Feces or intestinal contents
- Beaks (though heads are allowed)
- Foreign matter
The key thing to understand is that "by-products" is a catch-all term that includes both highly nutritious parts (organs like liver and heart) and less valuable parts (feet, necks). You can't tell which from the label.
Are Chicken By-Products Bad for Dogs?
The short answer: It depends entirely on which by-products are included and the quality of sourcing.
Why By-Products Aren't Inherently Bad:
Many by-products are some of the most nutrient-dense foods available:
- Chicken liver — 50x more vitamin A than muscle meat, 3000% more B12, 12x more iron, extremely rich in folate and choline. One of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.
- Chicken heart — Rich in taurine (critical for heart health), CoQ10 (energy and antioxidant support), B vitamins, iron, and zinc.
- Chicken kidney — High in B12, selenium, riboflavin, and protein. Supports kidney and metabolic function.
- Chicken gizzard — Lean protein source, rich in iron, zinc, and B vitamins. Essentially a muscle (stomach muscle).
These organs are more nutritious than plain chicken breast. Dogs in the wild eat organs first because they're instinctively drawn to nutrient density. For more on why organs are so valuable, see Why Beef Liver is One of the Best Things You Can Feed Your Dog.
Why By-Products Can Be Problematic:
The problem isn't that by-products are bad — it's that the term lacks transparency:
- Quality variation — "Chicken by-products" could mean premium liver and heart, or it could mean low-value feet and intestines. The label doesn't tell you.
- Sourcing concerns — Some manufacturers use by-products from sick, dying, or diseased animals (material not fit for human consumption). Reputable brands don't, but the vague labeling makes it impossible to verify.
- Marketing stigma — The pet food industry has trained consumers to view by-products as "fillers" or "waste," so brands using quality by-products often hide them under vague terminology.
- Lack of specificity — Without knowing which parts are included, you can't evaluate nutritional value or make informed decisions.
Chicken By-Products vs. Named Organs: The Transparency Problem
Here's the key distinction that matters for dog owners:
Transparency Makes the Difference
| Ingredient | Transparency | Quality Signal |
|---|---|---|
| "Chicken liver" | ✅ Clear - you know exactly what it is | ✅ High - manufacturer is confident in ingredient |
| "Chicken heart" | ✅ Clear - you know exactly what it is | ✅ High - shows intentional sourcing |
| "Chicken by-products" | ❌ Vague - could be anything | ⚠️ Low - manufacturer hiding specifics |
| "Chicken by-product meal" | ❌ Vague + rendered (heat-damaged) | ❌ Very low - double red flag |
Rule of thumb: If a manufacturer is using high-quality organs, they'll name them specifically. If they hide behind "by-products," they're likely using lower-value parts or don't want you to know what's included.
Evaluate Any Ingredient: Use our free ingredient analyzer to check your dog's food. Get detailed breakdowns of chicken by-products, chicken liver, chicken meal, and hundreds of other ingredients with our transparency-focused ratings.
What Is Chicken By-Product Meal?
Chicken by-product meal is even less transparent than chicken by-products. It's by-products that have been rendered — cooked at high heat (240-290°F) to remove moisture and fat, then ground into a powder.
How By-Product Meal Differs from By-Products:
- Chicken by-products — Fresh or frozen organs, necks, feet, etc. (non-rendered)
- Chicken by-product meal — Rendered (heat-processed) and dried by-products
Why Rendering Matters:
Rendering concentrates protein (by-product meal is ~60-70% protein vs ~18-20% in fresh chicken), but it also:
- Destroys heat-sensitive nutrients — B vitamins (especially thiamine, riboflavin), taurine, glutathione, and natural enzymes are damaged or lost at high heat
- Reduces bioavailability — Nutrients that survive rendering are less efficiently absorbed than those in minimally processed whole foods
- Obscures quality further — Rendering makes it even harder to know what went into the meal
For more on how rendering affects nutrition, see What is Meat Meal in Dog Food?
The Marketing Problem: Why By-Products Are Stigmatized
The pet food industry has successfully created a stigma around "by-products," positioning them as low-quality fillers that premium brands avoid. This marketing works because:
- Western food culture — In the US, people don't eat organs, feet, or heads, so these parts seem "gross" or unfit for consumption
- Premium positioning — Brands can charge more by claiming "no by-products" even though some by-products are superior to muscle meat
- Vague terminology — The catch-all term makes it easy to lump excellent ingredients (liver) with poor ones (feet)
The Reality:
Many cultures around the world prize organs for their nutritional value. In France, pâté (liver) is a delicacy. In Asia, chicken feet are valued for collagen. The "by-product = bad" narrative is a cultural bias, not a nutritional fact.
The actual issue is transparency. If a food contains liver — great! But call it liver, not "by-products." If it contains feet — fine, but be honest about it so consumers can decide if that's what they want.
Should You Avoid Dog Food with Chicken By-Products?
Here's how to evaluate foods with by-products:
✅ When By-Products May Be Acceptable:
- Premium, trusted brand — If a brand you trust with transparent sourcing lists by-products, they may be using quality organs
- Supplementary ingredient — By-products listed lower on the ingredient list as a minor component, alongside named proteins
- Company provides transparency — Brand clearly states which by-products are used (some do this on their website)
⚠️ When to Avoid By-Products:
- Primary protein source — If "chicken by-products" or "chicken by-product meal" is the first or second ingredient
- Budget or low-quality brands — Brands known for cutting costs are likely using the cheapest by-products available
- Multiple generic by-products — Lists like "chicken by-products, meat by-products, poultry by-product meal" signal poor quality
- No transparency — Brand won't disclose which parts are included
✅ Better Option: Look for Named Ingredients
Instead of accepting vague "by-products," choose foods that specify exactly what organs are included:
- Named organs: "Chicken liver," "chicken heart," "chicken gizzard"
- Whole prey: "Whole chicken" (includes organs naturally)
- Organ blends: "Chicken organs" or "chicken viscera" (slightly more specific than "by-products")
For comparison, see what to look for in generic meat by-products vs. poultry by-product meal vs. chicken meal.
Chicken By-Products in Dog Treats
In treats, "chicken by-products" usually refers to dehydrated or freeze-dried organs, feet, or necks. The same transparency rules apply:
✅ Good By-Product Treats:
- Freeze-dried chicken liver — Nutrient-dense, dogs love it, excellent training treat
- Dehydrated chicken hearts — High in taurine, natural chew
- Air-dried chicken gizzards — Lean protein, chewy texture
⚠️ Lower-Value By-Product Treats:
- Chicken feet — Mostly collagen and cartilage, minimal nutritional value beyond joint support
- Chicken necks — Bone and cartilage, some dogs enjoy as chews but not nutrient-dense
- Generic "chicken by-products" — Unknown mix, impossible to evaluate
Again: transparency is key. A treat labeled "freeze-dried chicken liver" is excellent. A treat labeled "chicken by-products" is concerning.
Whole-Food Organs vs. By-Products: The Watts Approach
At Watts, we don't use vague "by-products" terminology. We name exactly what organs we use:
- Beef liver — The most nutrient-dense whole food available
- Beef kidney — Rich in B12, selenium, and riboflavin
- Beef heart — High in taurine, CoQ10, and B vitamins
These organs are technically "by-products" under AAFCO definitions, but we don't hide behind that term. We source them from grass-fed cattle, air-dry them to preserve nutrients (no high-heat rendering), and list them clearly on our label.
Why transparency matters:
- You know exactly what your dog is eating — No guessing, no vague terminology
- We're confident in our ingredients — If we're using premium organs, why hide them behind "by-products"?
- Minimal processing preserves nutrients — Air-drying retains 95%+ of nutrients vs rendering which destroys 30-50%
Learn more about why organ-based nutrition is superior to muscle meat.
The Bottom Line on Chicken By-Products
"Chicken by-products" isn't automatically bad — some by-products (organs) are the most nutritious parts of the animal. But the term is too vague to trust.
What to do:
- Prioritize transparency — Choose foods that name specific organs (liver, heart) rather than hiding behind "by-products"
- Evaluate brand reputation — If a trusted brand lists by-products, research what they include. Low-quality brands likely use cheap parts.
- Avoid by-product meal — Rendered by-products lose nutrients and are even less transparent
- Read the full ingredient list — If "chicken by-products" is the first ingredient, avoid. If it's a minor component in an otherwise high-quality food, it may be fine.
- Consider whole-food supplementation — If your dog's food doesn't include named organs, consider adding whole-food organ supplements to fill nutritional gaps
The real issue isn't whether something is a by-product — it's whether the manufacturer is transparent about what they're using and committed to quality sourcing.
Related By-Product Ingredients
Here are common by-product and chicken-based ingredients you'll encounter in dog food:
- Meat By-Products — Generic mammal organs and tissue from unspecified sources
- Poultry By-Product Meal — Rendered poultry organs, generic sourcing concerns
- Chicken Meal — Rendered chicken muscle meat (not organs), concentrated protein
- Chicken — Fresh chicken muscle meat for comparison
- Chicken Liver — Specific organ ingredient, highly nutritious
- Chicken Heart — Named organ rich in taurine and CoQ10
- Animal Digest — Chemically broken-down tissue used as flavor enhancer