Defatted meal is oilseed meal from which nearly all oil has been removed by solvent extraction, resulting in low residual fat and a high protein concentration suitable for feed and food-ingredient applications.
In trade practice
Solvent extraction plants treat press cake or whole flaked seed with hexane to strip residual oil, then toast the meal to deactivate anti-nutritional factors and remove solvent traces. The finished defatted meal is tested for residual solvent, moisture, crude protein and, in the case of rapeseed meal, glucosinolate content. EU feed legislation sets limits on residual solvent. Buyers specify protein content grade, with HiPro sunflower meal and full-fat-free soybean meal being common traded grades.
In a specification
Contracts for defatted meal state minimum crude protein, maximum residual oil, maximum moisture and maximum residual solvent, all on an air-dry or as-is basis, referencing applicable EU feed-safety instruments.