Hill's Healthy Advantage Cat Food Ingredients

Chicken by-product meal is produced by cooking chicken by-products using a process called rendering. By-products are defined by AAFCO as the "non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals." Thus, chicken by-products contain nearly all parts of chickens which are typically not consumed by humans. These parts include the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, stomach, blood, intestine, bone, etc.

Like other meat by-products, chicken by-products are considered controversial, mainly because they are inexpensive ingredients which consumers have equated with slaughterhouse waste. However, manufactures and many experts claim that animal by-products are unjustly criticized. Proponents state that "named" by-products, such as chicken by-products, supply many important nutrients required by cats.

The following recipes contain chicken by-product meal:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken Flavor For Adult Cats (Oral +)

Whole grain wheat contains the entire grain of wheat (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Wheat is the second most-produced cereal grain in the world (corn is the first). Although wheat is a controversial ingredient, it is not necessarily undesirable because it provides dietary fiber and many other nutrients. However, wheat contains a notable amount of plant based protein, which is inferior to meat based protein and therefore an undesirable substitution.

Wheat is also one of the most common ingredients to cause food allergies or intolerance. However, grains such as wheat are typically low offenders in comparison to certain protein sources (such as beef).

The following recipes contain whole grain wheat:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Kittens

Wheat flour is produced by grinding uncooked wheat into a powder. In addition to dietary fiber, wheat flour provides various vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein.

Wheat is considered a controversial ingredient because of it's protein content. Plant based proteins degrade the overall protein quality in the product. In addition, many people believe wheat is one of the most common ingredients to cause food allergies or intolerance. However, grains such as wheat are typically low offenders in comparison to certain protein sources such as beef.

The following recipes contain wheat flour:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Kittens

White rice is produced by removing the husk, germ, and bran of rice grains. Unlike brown rice which contains the bran and germ, white rice is nutritionally empty.

The following recipes contain white rice:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Kittens

Corn gluten meal is a by-product from the production of various corn products (corn starch, corn syrup, etc). It's very high in protein (nearly 60% protein) and therefore can significant boost the protein content of the product. Because plant based proteins such as corn gluten meal are inferior to meat based proteins (lack many essential amino acids), they are not suitable substitutes.

The following recipes contain corn gluten meal:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken Flavor For Adult Cats (Oral +)

Brewer's rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewer's rice is a lower quality grain. Brewer's rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.

The following recipes contain brewers rice:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken Flavor For Adult Cats (Oral +)

Wheat gluten is the main protein of wheat. Although wheat gluten is mostly protein, wheat gluten is considered controversial because it significantly boosts the protein content of the product. This is undesirable because plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.

The following recipes contain wheat gluten:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Kittens
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Kittens

Brown rice is naturally rich in fiber and various minerals including manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium. Relative to other grains, brown rice is easy to digest.

The following recipes contain brown rice:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Kittens

Whole grain corn is the entire corn kernel (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Corn is a cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in cat food.

Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.

Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, we'll discuss a few of the opposing arguments.

In regards to digestibility, the claims of "highly digestible" are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by cats to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.

Finally, we'll discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in cat food should certainly warrant further questioning.

The following recipes contain whole grain corn:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken Flavor For Adult Cats (Oral +)

Cracked pearled barley is barley with the outer husk and bran layers removed. Similar to regular barley, cracked pearled barley provides carbohydrates and dietary fiber. Cracked pearled barley is however not as nutritious as regular whole grain barley.

The following recipes contain cracked pearled barley:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Kittens

Whole grain oats are an excellent carbohydrate source with considerable nutrients in addition to dietary fiber. More specifically, oats are rich in B vitamins and various minerals including manganese.

The following recipes contain whole grain oats:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Kittens

Rice starch is a gluten free carbohydrate derived from rice. Typically, rice starch is used as a binder in kibble.

The following recipes contain rice starch:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Kittens

The following recipes contain oat hull:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Kittens

Whole grain wheat contains the entire grain of wheat (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Wheat is the second most-produced cereal grain in the world (corn is the first). Although wheat is a controversial ingredient, it is not necessarily undesirable because it provides dietary fiber and many other nutrients. However, wheat contains a notable amount of plant based protein, which is inferior to meat based protein and therefore an undesirable substitution.

Wheat is also one of the most common ingredients to cause food allergies or intolerance. However, grains such as wheat are typically low offenders in comparison to certain protein sources (such as beef).

The following recipes contain whole grain wheat:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Kittens

Pork plasma is the colorless fluid part of a pig's blood. It may sound disgusting, but it's actually very nutritious for cats. Regardless of the nutritional aspects, consumers are shocked by this ingredient, which is why pork plasma is considered a controversial ingredient.

The following recipes contain pork plasma:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Kittens

White rice is produced by removing the husk, germ, and bran of rice grains. Unlike brown rice which contains the bran and germ, white rice is nutritionally empty.

The following recipes contain white rice:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Kittens

Powdered cellulose is produced from minuscule pieces of wood pulp and plant fibers. Other than its fiber content, powdered cellulose lacks any nutritional contribution.

The following recipes contain powdered cellulose:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken Flavor For Adult Cats (Oral +)

Corn gluten meal is a by-product from the production of various corn products (corn starch, corn syrup, etc). It's very high in protein (nearly 60% protein) and therefore can significant boost the protein content of the product. Because plant based proteins such as corn gluten meal are inferior to meat based proteins (lack many essential amino acids), they are not suitable substitutes.

The following recipes contain corn gluten meal:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken Flavor For Adult Cats (Oral +)

Brewer's rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewer's rice is a lower quality grain. Brewer's rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.

The following recipes contain brewers rice:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken Flavor For Adult Cats (Oral +)

Wheat gluten is the main protein of wheat. Although wheat gluten is mostly protein, wheat gluten is considered controversial because it significantly boosts the protein content of the product. This is undesirable because plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.

The following recipes contain wheat gluten:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Kittens
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Kittens

Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.

The following recipes contain pea protein:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Kittens

Whole grain corn is the entire corn kernel (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Corn is a cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in cat food.

Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.

Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, we'll discuss a few of the opposing arguments.

In regards to digestibility, the claims of "highly digestible" are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by cats to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.

Finally, we'll discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in cat food should certainly warrant further questioning.

The following recipes contain whole grain corn:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken Flavor For Adult Cats (Oral +)

Caramel color is a concentrated form of caramel, a natural food colorant. Caramel color has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel color is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.

The following recipes contain caramel color:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Kittens

Chicken by-product meal is produced by cooking chicken by-products using a process called rendering. By-products are defined by AAFCO as the "non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals." Thus, chicken by-products contain nearly all parts of chickens which are typically not consumed by humans. These parts include the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, stomach, blood, intestine, bone, etc.

Like other meat by-products, chicken by-products are considered controversial, mainly because they are inexpensive ingredients which consumers have equated with slaughterhouse waste. However, manufactures and many experts claim that animal by-products are unjustly criticized. Proponents state that "named" by-products, such as chicken by-products, supply many important nutrients required by cats.

The following recipes contain chicken by-product meal:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken Flavor For Adult Cats (Oral +)

Soy protein isolate is a highly refined/purified form of soy bean protein. Roughly 90% of soy protein isolate is protein. The inclusion of non-meat protein typically degrades the overall quality of protein in the recipe. This degradation is due to the inferior amino acid profile of plant based proteins.

The following recipes contain soybean protein isolate:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Kittens

Menadione sodium bisulfate complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."

The following recipes contain menadione sodium bisulfate complex:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Kittens

Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."

The following recipes contain menadione sodium bisulfite complex:

• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Wet Cat Food Chicken Entree For Adult Cats
• Hill's Healthy Advantage Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Kittens