Actually - I think what the employee at the petstore told you was incorrect. Here is the official definition of chicken meal:

Chicken Meal - chicken which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size.

That is the official AAFCO definition - so if one label says Chicken and another says Chicken Meal - it could be exactly the same thing. I'm pretty sure (but not positive) that it has nothing to do with the fat content.

I get my dog food from a Holistic Dog Food supply store which offers both prepared kibble and wet food as well as premade raw food, and they are very knowledgeable about the ingredients of dog food. They actually do not carry Innova. Their objection to it is more because they cannot be sure that the manufacturer of Innova also manufactures Natura (sp?) food which is not human grade ingredients and they cannot say for sure that they use different processing equipment and don't cross contaminate the two foods. They also highly recommend Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul even though they don't carry it. They told me it is terrific food with all natural human grade ingredients.

I'll be quite honest with you, I wouldn't change my dog's food on the advise of one petstore employee. He could be blowing smoke just to get you to buy the food in his store.