Animal fats (unspecified)

Controversies and what to watch for

When a label says 'animal fats' without specifying the species, it means the fat source changes from batch to batch based on whichever rendering plant offers the lowest price. This week's 'animal fat' might be mostly beef tallow, next week's might be pork lard mixed with poultry grease. The nutritional profile (fatty acid ratio, saturated vs unsaturated) shifts with each batch. For pets with fat-specific sensitivities, this is a direct health risk. PetFoodRate assigns the minimum transparency score to any product listing unspecified animal fats. Named fats (chicken fat, salmon oil, duck fat) always score higher because they commit to a traceable, consistent source.