Dried Egg Yolk

Egg processors separate yolks and whites for food manufacturers. Drying the yolk gives pet food makers a powder they can store and measure without handling refrigerated liquid egg.^7,8

1. 01 // Source Shell eggs Shell eggs are delivered to a plant that processes them into liquid egg products.
2. 02 // Process Broken and separated Plants break the eggs and separate the whites from the yolks, producing liquid yolk.
3. 03 // Process Spray dried and treated Liquid yolk is spray dried into a powder; heat treatment to reduce pathogens happens before or after drying.
4. 04 // Output Dried egg yolk The finished powder supplies concentrated yolk fat and protein to the recipe.

1. 01

   Adds energy and protein

   Yolk fat adds energy, while its protein contributes to the finished food. Fat makes up the larger share of yolk dry matter.⁵

2. 02

   Helps mix ingredients

   Yolk components help disperse fat and water during food processing. That manufacturing function does not show that yolk improves fat digestion in dogs.^3,6

3. 03

   Stores as a powder

   Egg processors already separate yolks from whites. Dried yolk stores without refrigeration until a pet food plant measures it into a recipe.⁸

How much An 8-dog digestibility study used diets containing 7.5 to 8% egg yolk powder, alongside differing amounts of chicken powder.¹

1. Brands say

   Dried yolk adds substantial fat and protein

   Evidence

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

   Across 8 hen breeds, yolk dry matter contained about 64 to 69% fat and 30 to 33% protein. It supplies both nutrients, with fat accounting for the larger share.⁵

2. Brands say

   Yolk lecithin makes fat easier to digest

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   Yolk contains phospholipids. The closest dog trial used 1% soy lecithin in 18 dogs and did not restore fat digestibility with soluble fiber. It did not test dried yolk.^3,6

3. Brands say

   Egg yolk makes coats shinier and reduces shedding

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   A supplier sells yolk for reduced hair loss. In a brand-funded trial completed by 32 dogs, a food containing egg and other ingredients did not beat the control food on coat scores. Yolk was not tested alone.^2,11

4. Owners say

   Egg is a common food allergy trigger

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   Egg triggered reactions in 11 of 297 dogs with identified food reactions in a literature review. Affected dogs must avoid it, but these selected cases do not measure the risk for all dogs.⁴

5. Critics say

   Dried egg yolk is just filler

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   Measured yolk dry matter was mostly fat and protein across 8 hen breeds. Both contribute to a recipe. Its place on the ingredient list gives a better clue to how much was used.^5,9