Corn Protein Meal

Wet mills process corn chiefly to recover starch for food and industrial uses. The germ and bran are removed, then the mill separates the protein from the starch slurry and dries it for animal feed.^5,8,9

1. 01 // Source Corn kernels Cleaned kernels enter a wet mill that separates starch from the other parts of the grain.
2. 02 // Process Soaked and ground Steeping softens the kernels, and grinding frees the oil bearing germ.
3. 03 // Process Bran screened out Screens remove fibrous bran from the slurry that still holds starch and protein.
4. 04 // Process Protein separated Centrifuges separate the lighter hydrated protein particles from the heavier starch particles.
5. 05 // Output Dried protein meal The separated protein stream is dried and sold to feed makers as corn protein meal.

1. 01

   Raises recipe protein

   A small weight of this concentrated meal adds substantial crude protein. The guaranteed analysis counts it alongside protein from meat and every other ingredient.^5,7

2. 02

   Uses a milling stream

   Wet mills produce the protein fraction while making starch and sell it for feed. It is a regular output of large scale corn processing.^5,9

3. 03

   Works in kibble

   Controlled dog trials fed extruded diets with corn protein meal as a major protein contributor. The diets also contained other protein sources, so their results describe whole recipes.^1,2

How much One controlled dog trial included 20.5% corn protein meal; that test level is not a published usual recipe amount.²

1. Critics say

   It raises protein without adding meat

   Evidence

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

   Feedipedia samples averaged 67.2% crude protein on a dry matter basis. The guaranteed protein figure counts protein from every source, so it rises when this meal is added without revealing how much came from meat.^5,7

2. Brands say

   Dogs digest corn protein meal well

   Evidence

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

   A 12-dog trial measured 85.65% protein digestibility for a diet containing 20.5% of the meal. A separate 6-beagle study found useful energy from it. These short trials do not show the digestibility of every recipe.^2,3

3. Brands say

   Corn protein alone makes a complete diet

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   Feedipedia puts lysine at 1.7% of corn protein, against 6.3% for soybean meal protein. The controlled dog diets included other ingredients. High total protein does not supply the right amino acid balance by itself.^1,2,5

4. Critics say

   Corn protein meal is just filler

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   The meal averaged 67.2% crude protein in Feedipedia samples, and dogs digested protein in diets containing it. Its job is clear. The useful label question is how much of the food's protein comes from corn.^2,5,7

5. Owners say

   Corn commonly causes food allergies in dogs

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   Corn was an identified trigger in 13 of 297 dogs gathered from studies of diagnosed food reactions. Those selected cases cannot measure risk among all dogs. Corn allergy is possible, but the evidence does not make it common.⁴