Hi Mark!
Thanks for getting the ball rolling in here
I can understand your concerns with all the mixed information that is making its way around the internet. Royal Canin's philosophy has and always will be pet first. The cat or dog is always at the heart of our formulation process and our ingredient selections are not any different. We carefully select each and every ingredient to 1) provide a desired nutrient profile 2) be of the highest digestibility 3) be of the highest quality and free from contamination. We conduct validations on each and every ingredient supplier before they become part of our supplier network, but also as part of ongoing monitoring and audits. In addition, every ingredient is tested on arrival at our plant.
The change from Yorkshire Terrier 28 to Yorkshire Terrier did not change the quality or the goal of the formula, which is to provide nutrients that support the unique particularities of the Yorkie. The 28 represented the protein content, which we decided to remove from the name because of some confusion when other RC formulas had the same number (or same protein level).
It is important to remember that ingredient are a vehicle to supply nutrients to the body. The change from Chicken Meal to Chicken By-Product Meal (CBPM) was a decision to continue to provide the quality and digestibility of protein and individual amino acids that we strive for in our formulas. The CBPM comes from human grade chickens where the human market utilizes the muscle meats (the breasts, thighs, legs etc.) and we can utilize the other valuable sources of protein, including the internal organs and necks. Doing this we are actually able to achieve the same nutrients, digestibility and quality for the Yorkie as with Chicken Meal.
Why has Royal Canin made this move? We produce a lot of pet food, and the reality is that there is not enough chicken meal that meets our quality requirements, to meet our production demands. In other words we were faced with a decision: continue using chicken meal, which has a name that is more appealing to many consumers, but accept a lower quality ingredient, or; find an alternative ingredient that perhaps has a less appealing name, but which meets the safety, quality, and digestibility requirements we have for our products. Our choice was to maintain the same level of quality and nutrition that our consumers have come to expect from us.
What people may not realize is that what are considered "by-products" are actually just as expensive, if not more. Look at the cost/kg of chicken gizzards in the grocery store, it's actually more expensive than the muscle meat and it packs more of a nutrient punch. Same as pet treats. I have seen elk antlers, beef trachea, duck feet etc cost more than a chicken breast treat. A by-product is simply a product produced in secondary to a principle product. (Analogy: think thanksgiving dinner. You go to all the work to create the beautiful turkey at the center of your table, the principle product. The turkey sandwiches you enjoy the next day would be the by-product. Same great taste, nutrients etc. but you don't go out of your way to make it for the sandwiches)
Thanks!
Ashley