Processed animal proteins

Controversies and what to watch for

Transformed animal proteins (also called 'processed animal proteins' or PAP) is an EU regulatory term for rendered animal tissue that has been heat-treated to kill pathogens. It covers everything from quality muscle meat trimmings to feathers, hooves, and slaughterhouse waste. The term tells you nothing about species, quality, or origin. In the EU, PAP from ruminants (cattle, sheep) was banned in most animal feeds after the BSE crisis. PAP from non-ruminants (pigs, poultry, fish) was re-authorised in 2021 for aquaculture and pig/poultry feed. In pet food, the term persists as a catch-all for the cheapest available rendered fraction. When PetFoodRate sees this term, it assigns the lowest transparency and protein quality scores.