If a brand uses chicken meal, but has a terrific reputation for quality, can’t we assume they avoid 4D and waste products?
They may choose to avoid 4D and waste products. But if they use chicken meal, they can’t legally make the claim that they don’t, because no government authority will verify it. Plain and simple, if it says chicken meal, they’re allowed to use 4D and waste products and can’t legally claim they don’t — so they have little incentive to do otherwise, and no one is watching to make sure.