Chicken Heart

Poultry processors remove internal organs while dressing chickens for meat. They separate and trim the hearts from the other giblets, making this poultry side stream available as a named food ingredient.^7,8

1. 01 // Source Chicken carcasses Hearts remain inside the birds until the carcasses reach the poultry plant's evisceration line.
2. 02 // Process Giblets separated Workers separate hearts, livers and gizzards from the remaining internal parts and send them for further processing.
3. 03 // Process Hearts trimmed The USDA trade description for chicken hearts calls for attached fat, the surrounding sac and the aortic cap to be removed.
4. 04 // Output Separated hearts The resulting cut is identifiable chicken heart tissue, distinct from liver, gizzard or a mixed poultry ingredient.

1. 01

   Supplies animal protein

   Heart is muscle tissue. Its protein adds to the recipe, though the ingredient list does not reveal how much of the finished food's protein came from heart.^4,9

2. 02

   Adds fat and minerals

   An analysis found fat, phosphorus, iron and zinc in raw chicken hearts. Their contribution to a food depends on the amount used and the rest of the recipe.⁴

3. 03

   Markets a poultry side stream

   Processors already separate hearts while dressing chickens. Selling that cut gives them revenue from a part removed from the main carcass and gives food makers a distinct ingredient.^4,8

How much No source gives a typical amount for whole hearts; a 10-dog trial fed 5% of a hydrolyzed blend of chicken heart and liver.¹

1. Brands say

   Chicken heart adds real animal protein

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   One analysis measured 13.83% protein in raw heart, or about 61% after removing its water. Chicken heart contributes protein, but its name on a label does not reveal its share of the finished food.^4,9

2. Owners say

   Chicken heart can trigger chicken allergy

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A review counted chicken among food triggers in 45 of 297 dogs with identified reactions. It did not test heart separately. The caution for a dog with a diagnosed chicken allergy follows from heart containing chicken protein.^3,4

3. Brands say

   Taurine from hearts protects dogs' hearts

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   The study's 1179 mg/kg taurine figure is for combined chicken heart and liver, not heart alone. No study has fed chicken heart and measured a dog's cardiac outcome, and the protection claim has no direct support.^1,5

4. Brands say

   CoQ10 in chicken hearts protects dogs' hearts

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A placebo-controlled trial gave purified CoQ10 to 43 dogs with heart disease. It did not feed chicken heart or measure its CoQ10 content, and it found no clear improvement in clinical heart measures.²

5. Critics say

   Chicken hearts are just filler

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   An analysis measured 13.83% protein and 4.53% fat in raw heart, so it carries real nutrients. The ingredient list ranks it by weight but never states the amount, so a label cannot show its share is trivial.^4,9