Alaska Pollock Meal

Pollock processors sell seafood products for people and have heads, frames, skin and trimmings left to use. Fish meal production removes much of the water and oil from this material, making a dry ingredient for feed.^4,5,10

1. 01 // Source Pollock material Heads, frames, skin and trimmings from seafood processing are among the materials used for fish meal.
2. 02 // Process Cooked and pressed Cooking firms the protein so pressing separates a solid cake from water and oil.
3. 03 // Process Dried and ground The cake is dried to limit spoilage, then ground to break up lumps and bone.
4. 04 // Output Pollock meal The dry meal reaches the kibble plant with concentrated protein, minerals and some residual fat.

1. 01

   Adds fish protein

   Removing water concentrates the fish solids. The meal contributes protein to the recipe, while the finished food still needs the right balance of nutrients.^3,4,5

2. 02

   Supplies bone minerals

   Heads and frames contribute calcium and phosphorus. More bone raises ash and generally leaves less room for protein in a given batch.^4,10

3. 03

   Uses processing leftovers

   Meal gives seafood processors a saleable product from parts left after human food production. An Alaska industry report says pollock meal tends to sell for more than salmon meal.^8,10

4. 04

   Adds fish flavor

   Fish meal brings a characteristic marine smell and flavor. In dog tests, a salmon meal diet was eaten about as readily as a chicken control, though that result does not measure pollock meal.^2,4

How much A senior dog trial fed 20% whitefish meal, but did not identify that meal as Alaska pollock meal.¹

1. Brands say

   Pollock meal is a concentrated animal protein

   Evidence

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

   One American sourced pollock meal sample measured 63.4% crude protein on a dry matter basis. Cooking and drying remove water, leaving protein concentrated in the meal. That figure does not reveal the pollock share of a finished food.^3,5

2. Brands say

   Fish meal replaces poultry protein without hurting digestion

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   A senior dog trial replaced poultry by-product meal with 20% whitefish meal and found no change in apparent nutrient digestibility or measured immune markers. It tested that whitefish meal, not Alaska pollock meal.¹

3. Brands say

   Pollock meal omega-3s soothe itchy skin

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   A review found no convincing benefit over placebo in secondary skin outcomes from 4 fatty acid studies, though 1 high-quality trial reported reduced steroid use after 8 weeks. None tested pollock meal or its EPA and DHA dose.^5,6

4. Brands say

   Pollock meal is hypoallergenic for every dog

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   Fish was reported as a reaction trigger in 5 of 297 dogs gathered in a food allergy review. Those counts do not measure risk for all dogs, but pollock meal remains fish protein that a dog with a diagnosed fish reaction should avoid.⁷

5. Critics say

   Pollock meal is a low quality filler

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   A tested pollock meal was 63.4% protein on a dry basis, and a dog trial used 20% whitefish meal without lowering measured digestibility. Batch quality varies, but calling fish meal inert bulk ignores its protein contribution.^1,3,4