On dog and cat food packaging, you will often see claims such as 60% meat, 75% animal ingredients or 80% meat and fish. These eye-catching figures can easily give the impression that a higher percentage automatically means a better-quality food.

But it is not quite that simple.

Not every percentage on a pet food label refers to the same thing.

One manufacturer may state the percentage of meat, while another refers to animal ingredients or meat and fish. These are not necessarily the same.

So don't just focus on the large number on the front of the pack. Look at which ingredients are actually included in that percentage.

Does it consist of fresh chicken and dried chicken, for example? Are other animal ingredients included as well? And can you clearly see how the total percentage has been calculated?

A percentage only becomes truly useful when you understand what is behind it.

This is important when comparing percentages.

Fresh meat naturally contains a high amount of water. When it is used in dry dog or cat food, some of that moisture is lost during the cooking process.

This means that a recipe containing a high percentage of fresh meat does not necessarily contain that same percentage of meat in the finished dry food.

Dried meat or dried animal ingredients already contain much less moisture before processing and are therefore more concentrated.

That is why 40% fresh chicken and 40% dried chicken cannot be compared directly. Although the percentage is the same, it represents something different.

This is why some pet foods contain both fresh and dried animal ingredients.

Fresh meat provides a recognisable animal ingredient and can contribute to the food's flavour. Dried animal ingredients are more concentrated and can make an important contribution to the overall amount of animal protein in the finished food.

For example, if you see:

fresh chicken + dried chicken

it is worth considering both ingredients together rather than focusing only on the percentage of fresh chicken.

It is not just about how much meat is used, but also in what form it is added.

A high percentage does not tell you which animal ingredients are actually included in the food.

Compare, for example, a recipe that clearly states: fresh chicken, dried turkey, salmon with one that simply lists: meat and animal derivatives.

A figure of 70% may sound impressive in both cases, but the first recipe gives you a much clearer idea of what that percentage actually consists of.

That makes it easier to assess and compare different foods.

A specific ingredient name does not automatically mean that the ingredient is of higher quality. It does, however, provide greater transparency.

So don't just ask: How much meat does it contain? Also ask: What kind of meat does it contain?

Dogs and cats need the right nutrients, not a competition for the highest number on the packaging.

Animal ingredients can be important sources of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, among other nutrients. But a complete pet food consists of more than meat alone.

Other ingredients can also serve an important purpose within the recipe, including sources of fibre, fats, vitamins, minerals and other functional ingredients.

That is why a food containing 80% meat is not automatically better than one containing 60%.

What matters most is how the complete recipe is formulated and which nutrients the finished food ultimately provides.

The highest meat percentage does not automatically win.

Imagine two foods that both contain 60% animal ingredients. That still leaves 40% of the recipe. So what makes up the rest?

That can make a significant difference.

Which carbohydrate sources are used? Which fats? Which sources of fibre? Are the ingredients clearly identified? Are inexpensive ingredients mainly being used to bulk out the recipe, or does each ingredient have a clear purpose within the formulation?

The same principle applies as when reading any ingredient list: don't judge a food based on one number. Look at the complete recipe.

A high meat percentage and the term grain-free are often used together on pet food packaging. But being grain-free is not a guarantee of quality either.

When grains are removed, other ingredients are needed to build the recipe. These may include potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas or other plant-based ingredients.

So the important question is not simply whether a food contains grains. It is more useful to ask:

Which ingredients are used instead of, or alongside, the animal ingredients, and how much of the recipe do they make up?

Don't just check whether a food is grain-free. Look at what has been used in place of the grains. Even in grain-free foods, several plant-based carbohydrate sources can make up a significant part of the recipe. The complete composition therefore tells you much more than the grain-free label alone.

Look at the composition, not just the label.

The meat percentage tells you how much of certain animal ingredients have been used in the recipe.

The protein percentage listed under the analytical constituents tells you how much crude protein is present in the finished food.

These two figures are not interchangeable.

Protein can also come from a variety of animal and plant-based sources. And, as explained above, it also makes a difference whether animal ingredients are added fresh or dried.

So consider the meat percentage and protein percentage as two separate pieces of information.

Zie je twee voedingen met verschillende vleespercentages? Kijk dan verder dan alleen welk getal het hoogste is.

Vraag jezelf af:

•  What exactly does the manufacturer mean by the percentage shown?
•  Which animal ingredients are included in that figure?
•  Are those ingredients clearly identified?
•  Are they fresh, dried or a combination of both?
•  How is the rest of the recipe formulated?
•  Which carbohydrate, fat and fibre sources are used?
•  How transparent is the manufacturer about the complete composition?

Only then does the meat percentage have the context you need to make a meaningful comparison between different foods.

It would be easy if there were one ideal percentage we could give you. But unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.

A particular meat percentage on its own is no guarantee that a food is high-quality, complete or suitable for your pet. The quality and origin of the ingredients, the form in which they are used, the complete recipe and the nutritional profile of the finished food are all just as important.

And the food also needs to suit the animal eating it.

A puppy has different nutritional needs from a senior pet. An active dog has different requirements from a less active family dog. Body condition, eating habits and individual sensitivities can also play a role.

So instead of looking for the highest number, look for a high-quality food that suits your pet.