Pork Fat

Pork processing leaves fat and trimmings after meat is removed. Renderers heat that material to release the fat, then separate it from water and solids for use in food and feed.^4,9

1. 01 // Source Pork trimmings Fatty tissue and other pig trimmings remain after meat is cut for sale.
2. 02 // Process Heated Cooking melts the fat and drives water from the chopped material.
3. 03 // Process Separated Draining, pressing or centrifuging separates liquid fat from water and protein solids.
4. 04 // Output Cleaned pork fat The fat is cleaned and often stabilized against oxidation before shipment to food plants.

1. 01

   Adds concentrated energy

   Rendered pork fat is nearly all fat. A small addition raises the recipe's energy without adding much water, protein or starch.^2,5

2. 02

   Coats the kibble

   Manufacturers apply fat after drying so its aroma reaches the dog. In one company test, dogs generally preferred pork fat coatings to poultry fat coatings.³

3. 03

   Uses pork processing leftovers

   The meat industry already produces fatty trimmings. Rendering turns them into a feed ingredient, and feed fats have historically supplied energy at low cost.^4,5

How much A manufacturer tested pork fat as a 6% kibble coating; a typical amount across dog foods was not published.³

1. Brands say

   Pork fat supplies concentrated calories

   Evidence

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

   The lard table averages 99.5% crude fat on a dry basis. Adding it raises a recipe's energy while contributing essentially no protein. The bag's calorie statement tells you what the complete food delivers.^2,8

2. Brands say

   Pork fat makes kibble irresistible to dogs

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   A pet food company's coating test used 6 pork fats at a 6% coating level and generally found better preference than poultry fat. It was an industry test, and preference changed between fat batches.³

3. Brands say

   Linoleic acid in pork fat improves coats

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   Pork fat contains 80 to 132 g/kg linoleic acid on a dry basis. A 9-week dog study found a coat benefit from adding linoleic acid with zinc. It did not test pork fat.^1,2

4. Owners say

   Pork fat itself causes pancreatitis

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   No cited dog trial isolates pork fat as a cause. Merck advises less than 20 g fat per 1,000 kcal for dogs with pancreatitis. The concern is the complete diet's fat load, not its pork source.⁶