Report Alleges Heavy Metals in U.S. Cat Food, Industry Challenges Methodology
A new report by the Clean Label Project, a Colorado-based nonprofit, claims that popular U.S. cat food products contain detectable levels of heavy metals and other contaminants. The study, which tested 100 cat food products from 62 brands, found lead in 99% of samples, cadmium in 96%, and arsenic in 94%. Mercury, glyphosate, and plastic-related chemicals were also detected. The report indicates that dry cat food generally contained three times more lead than wet or air-dried products, and fish/seafood-based formulas had significantly higher levels of mercury and cadmium. Only three brands—BIXBI, Freshpet, and Smalls—met the Clean Label Project's certification standards. However, industry representatives and nutrition experts are challenging the report's methodology, arguing that it compares contaminant levels across products without determining actual health risks to felines. The Pet Food Institute spokesperson, Hana Bieliaskas, stated that the study used the Clean Label Project's proprietary 'purity stand...