Poultry Offal

Poultry offal is the clearest example on this site of a product that is nearly worthless in one market and genuinely valued in another, which is why it deserves more attention than its volume suggests.

Feet and paws, gizzards and livers all have established demand across Southeast Asia and almost none in Canada. For a Canadian processor they represent revenue from material that currently leaves the plant at rendering value. For a buyer they are a specialty line bought on appearance and consistency.

Three things decide whether a programme works. The first is grading, which is stricter than newcomers expect: buyers grade on size, skin condition and the absence of bruising and breakage, and a consignment that disappoints is discounted after arrival rather than refused before it, which is the worse outcome commercially.

The second is the processing standard, particularly the cleaning standard on gizzards and the speed from line to freezer on livers, both of which show plainly in the finished product. The third is cold-chain discipline, which matters more here than for muscle meat.

Eligibility is the binding constraint. Destinations frequently approve an establishment for offal separately from whole birds and cuts, and often more narrowly. Confirm approval for the specific line before pricing it.