Soybean meal has plenty of value in pet food; however, it is currently suffering from a bit of an image crisis. | Sharaf Maksumov, Dreamstime.com
No corn, no soy, no wheat. Seems to be a near unanimous claim — from both pet food companies and self-help websites. According to Petfood Industry’s Dog and Cat Food Ingredient Database, soy is found in less than 13 percent of dog and 20 percent of cat foods. That is a long way from its once dominant position. Today it is vilified as a cheap filler, allergen and goitrogen, among other things. This seems somewhat surprising given soy products are a cornerstone for vegetarian and vegan dietary choices and the antithesis of animal proteins in the human foods market.
