Study Reveals Widespread Contaminants in U.S. Cat Foods, Health Risks Unclear
A recent study analyzing 100 cat food products from 62 U.S. brands found heavy metals, the herbicide glyphosate, and plastic-related chemicals in nearly all tested samples. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer linked to hormone disruption, was the most common contaminant after heavy metals, appearing in 48 products. Canned and pouched foods showed significantly higher levels of DEHP compared to bagged products, suggesting contact with packaging as a source. While the study identified the presence of these contaminants, it did not establish whether the detected levels pose a health risk to cats. The analysis also noted that in 35 products, the first-listed ingredient did not reflect the majority of the recipe, often due to 'ingredient splitting' where plant ingredients were listed in various forms.
