A red-meat protein, higher in fat and iron than poultry. Fresh or deboned beef is mostly water and ranks higher on the label than its dry contribution; beef meal is the concentrated form. Beef is among the most common food allergens reported in both dogs and cats, probably because it has been fed so widely for so long. Beef by-products such as liver and heart are listed separately.
How it appears on labels
You may see it listed as deboned beef, fresh beef, ground beef, beef meal, beef meat.
Find foods with or without it
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Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual, food allergy in dogs and cats
- Mueller et al., BMC Veterinary Research 2016, critically appraised topic on food allergens
