Canola Meal
Our ingredient score: 2 / 5 · Plant protein · How We Score
Canola meal is what is left of the canola seed after the oil has been extracted, and it is used in animal feed as a low-cost source of protein. There is little data on how well cats digest this protein, and it contains no taurine. Canola is bred to be low in substances called glucosinolates, which can affect the thyroid gland, so only small residues of them remain. It is an undesirable source of protein in cat food.
Common Questions
Can canola meal affect a cat's thyroid?
Canola meal may contain small amounts of glucosinolates, substances that can affect the thyroid. Canola is bred to keep them low, so the amount in cat food is small.
Is canola meal bad for cats?
Canola meal is the solid material left after oil is pressed from canola seed, and it is widely used in livestock feed. There is little published research on how well cats digest it. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that plant protein sources contain no taurine, so cats need some animal protein or added taurine in the diet. For a cat with a medical condition, ask your veterinarian about the food.
Source: merckvetmanual.com
Why is canola meal in cat food?
Canola meal is added mainly as a low-cost protein source. It is what remains of the canola seed after the oil is extracted, and the same material is common in farm animal feed. It raises the crude protein figure on the label, but that protein comes from a plant and not from meat. The Cornell Feline Health Center describes cats as obligate carnivores that rely on nutrients found only in animal products.
Source: vet.cornell.edu
What is the difference between canola meal and canola oil?
Canola oil is the fat pressed out of the seed, while canola meal is the solid material left behind once that oil is removed. The meal is mostly protein and fiber with little fat. The oil supplies energy and fatty acids. They are listed separately on ingredient lists, and a food can contain one without the other. The Merck Veterinary Manual says plant protein sources contain no taurine, and that applies to canola meal.
Source: merckvetmanual.com
Is canola the same as rapeseed?
Canola is a type of rapeseed. Plant breeders in Canada developed it from rapeseed varieties with low levels of erucic acid and glucosinolates, and the name canola was coined for those varieties. Older rapeseed meal carried more glucosinolates, plant compounds that can interfere with thyroid function. Canola meal still may hold small residues. US pet food labels use the name canola meal.
How does Pettings score canola meal?
Pettings gives canola meal 2 out of 5 and lists it as a plant protein. It appears on 4 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. There is little data on how well cats digest it, and it contains no taurine, which keeps the score low. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.
How Foods With Canola Meal Compare
Canola Meal is on the label of 4 of the 149 dry cat foods we list.