Pacific Whiting Meal

The Pacific whiting fishery supplies fish for people and, as a secondary outlet, fish meal. Reduction plants cook and press the fish, then dry the solids. Removing water and oil leaves a storable protein powder.^7,8,11

1. 01 // Source Pacific whiting Whole Pacific whiting enters a reduction plant, one outlet for fish from this fishery.
2. 02 // Process Steam cooked Heat firms the fish proteins so water and oil separate more readily.
3. 03 // Process Pressed Pressing removes water and oil from the cooked fish, leaving a solid cake.
4. 04 // Process Dried and ground The cake is dried and ground; recovered fish solubles may be returned before drying.
5. 05 // Output Whiting meal Dry, ground Pacific whiting meal reaches the kibble plant as a protein ingredient.

1. 01

   Supplies concentrated protein

   Cooking, pressing and drying remove much of the fish's water and oil. A senior-dog trial found that white fish meal could replace poultry by-product meal without changing measured digestibility.^1,8

2. 02

   Provides a reduction outlet

   Meal production gives the Pacific whiting fishery another market alongside fish sold for people. Making a dry protein product also reduces the bulk that must be transported.^7,11

3. 03

   Stores as a dry good

   Low water content limits bacterial spoilage and removes the need for refrigeration in storage. The remaining oil still needs protection from oxidation.¹¹

4. 04

   Names the fish

   The species name gives a buyer more sourcing information than generic fish meal. It does not reveal the fish parts used or the finished meal's quality.^2,9

How much A senior-dog diet trial tested 20% white fish meal; the researchers did not identify that meal as Pacific whiting.¹

1. Brands say

   Whiting meal supplies digestible fish protein

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a senior-dog trial, a diet with 20% white fish meal had similar measured digestibility to one using poultry by-product meal. That supports fish meal as protein, but the tested meal was not identified as Pacific whiting.¹

2. Brands say

   Its omega-3s improve skin and coat

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A controlled crossover trial in 16 dogs found coat improvement with measured doses of marine oil. Fish meal retains some fat, but the trial tested oil, not whiting meal or the amount supplied by kibble.^3,6

3. Brands say

   Named whiting means better quality fish meal

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   AAFCO's labeling model ties a named fish to the species used, not to a quality grade. An analysis of 13 fish substrates found that the fish parts used affected composition. The name alone cannot grade the meal.^2,9

4. Critics say

   Fish meal is just filler

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A high-protein fish meal class averaged 74.8% protein on a dry matter basis. A dog trial also replaced poultry by-product meal with 20% white fish meal without reducing measured digestibility. Protein is a clear job.^1,6

5. Brands say

   Pacific whiting meal is hypoallergenic

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a selected group of atopic dogs challenged with cod, 27 of 31 reacted. That study cannot give a whiting allergy rate, but it shows why a named fish protein offers no allergy guarantee.⁴