Responsibly Sourced Whole Meat: Myth vs. Fact

Responsibly Sourced Whole Meat: Myth vs. Fact

Get the scoop on what it means — and what it doesn’t.  

Let’s chat marketing. In a world where advertising is everywhere and attention spans are short, it’s easy to summarize claims about pet food — about anything, really — in quick, memorable phrases. You know, something that’ll stick.

But sometimes, catchiness comes at the cost of clarity, and the bigger picture blurs. Take the phrase “responsibly sourced.” You hear it all the time, but what does it mean? And who’s allowed to say the meat in their pet food is sourced that way?

We rounded up five myths about responsibly sourced whole meat to give you the real deal.

Myth: Responsibly sourced doesn’t necessarily mean it’s certified.

Fact: Certification is the best way to ensure that meat is raised in a reasonably ethical manner. It's typically achieved through independent organizations. Their job is to ensure that products in supply chains are obtained in an ethical, sustainable and socially conscious way.

To earn certification, a manufacturer must follow certain practices. Responsibly sourced meat products are raised on farms that treat the animals humanely in an environment that’s safe, enriched and right for their species. Every recipe in Halo Holistic is responsibly sourced and certified.

Myth: All meat is certified by the same organization.

Fact: Different organizations certify different kinds of meat. The Global Animal Partnership certifies the chicken and turkey in Halo Holistic. Founded in 2008, this nonprofit is made up of farmers, scientists, retailers, manufacturers and animal advocates, all collaborating to improve animal welfare.

The Marine Stewardship Council certifies the seafood in Halo Holistic. This global nonprofit works with scientists, fisheries and industry experts to improve the way oceans are fished. Their work incentivizes sustainable fishing, which means leaving enough fish in the ocean, respecting habitats, and ensuring people who depend on fishing can support their livelihoods.

Myth: Whole meat and meat meal have the same nutritional value.

Fact: High-quality meat meal can be a good source of protein, but it lacks many of the essential vitamins and minerals found in whole meat. Vitamins A, B, D and E are abundant in whole meat, as well as copper, iron, phosphorus, selenium and zinc. Each of these nutrients boost your dog’s health, from increasing energy to reducing inflammation.

Myth: All fruits and veggies in pet food contain GMOs.

Fact: Genetically modified organisms (or genetically engineered) are created when genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of another plant or animal. Many independent scientists believe GMOs aren’t safe for human consumption. To us, if a human shouldn’t eat it, neither should a pet. All the fruits and vegetables in Halo Holistic are non-GMO.

Myth: Pet food made with whole meat has the same amount of ash as pet food made with meat meal.

Fact: It’s a little weird to see “ash” listed in the ingredients of dog food, but here’s the deal: Most meat meals contain bone and other animal parts that are processed using high temperatures. This removes all the fat and moisture. Then, it’s ground into a powder that contains ash from bone minerals. The more bone, the more ash, and vice versa. Whole meat is deboned, so there’s less ash than food made with meat meal.

Got a pet question for our blog experts to answer? Email us at support@halopets.com and we’ll get to work 🐾