Chicken broth in dog food is used for enhanced flavor and nutrition. In this article, you’ll learn what it is and why manufacturers include it in their formulas.
Contents
What is Chicken Broth?
Chicken broth in dog food is used to enhance commercial products by providing flavor and nutrition. It’s abundant in protein, easily digestible, and a very appetizing ingredient.
Broth for dog food is made by simmering chicken bones, cartilage, chicken parts, or muscle meat in water.
During cooking, lots of the nutrients dissolve into the water and create a broth or stock, a very flavorful extract of nutrients and flavor provided by the chicken ingredients.
To guarantee that manufacturers don’t just use water with a fancy name, the AAFCo specified some guidelines:
Chicken broth has to provide a protein content of at least 90% in dry matter. And for every 135 parts of water, there has to be a minimum of 1 part protein[1].
In theory, manufacturers can obtain chicken broth powder from suppliers to be dissolved in water to create a reconstituted broth.
Chicken Broth in Dog Foods
Chicken broth is used as a flavoring and a source of moisture.
It can also be a nutritious addition to dog food, as it can contain nutrients such as trace minerals, fats, and amino acids.
It contains peptides and free amino acids which give chicken stock in dog food it’s meaty, savory and overall brothy aroma.
By simmering chicken cartilage, it can also be a source of collagen, gelatin, chondroitin, or glucosamine.
Chicken broth has a good reputation and is linked to well-being. It is generally accepted as a wholesome and nutritious ingredient.
And with the trend towards more honest and natural ingredients and premium dog foods, it’s an obvious choice for manufacturers.
Further Reading
[1] AAFCO Official Publication. Chapter 6. Free Access.