Dog Owners May Want to Switch Up Their Kibble
Stock photo. (Getty Images/Olena Vasylieva)
Dog owners who feed their pets dry kibble might be unintentionally serving them a mix of heavy metals and chemicals tied to plastics, according to a recent laboratory review. The Colorado nonprofit Clean Label Project analyzed nearly 80 widely sold dog foods—including dry, fresh, frozen, air-dried, and freeze-dried varieties—and found many contained what the group describes as “hazardous levels” of heavy metals, plastic-associated compounds, and acrylamide, a chemical formed during high-heat cooking that may cause cancer, CNN reports.
The numbers: On average, the tested dog foods had three to 13 times the heavy metal content found in human foods tested by the group over the past decade. This aligns with earlier research from Cornell University showing that, calorie for calorie, dogs consume multiple times more heavy metals than humans. “The concentrations of heavy metals and other contaminants we discovered are concerning,” said CLP chief Molly Hamilton.
Kibble under scrutiny: Dry dog food appeared to be the biggest source of contaminants. Compared to fresh or frozen foods, kibble contained roughly 21 times more lead and mercury, 13 times more arsenic, six times more cadmium, and about 24 times more acrylamide, the report said. One kibble sample had acrylamide levels of 780 parts per billion, which Cornell veterinary nutritionist Dr. Joseph Wakshlag compared to a person eating five servings of french fries daily.
Industry response: The study did not disclose specific brands. The Pet Food Institute, which represents manufacturers, said it is reviewing the findings and emphasized that companies regularly test products to ensure pet health and safety.
History and uncertainty: Scientists have previously raised concerns about contaminants in dog food, though experts note that the actual effects on pets remain unclear. Current safety limits for metals in pet foods are based on general animal-feed guidelines rather than dog-specific research, and long-term studies tracking dogs on different diets are limited.
Potential risks and advice: Heavy metals can accumulate in organs and have been associated with cancer in dogs, but more research is needed to determine the impact of present exposure levels over a dog’s lifetime. Clean Label Project recommends consulting a veterinarian, considering fresh or frozen dog food when possible, and for kibble users, rotating brands and formulas rather than feeding the same food every day.
About Post Author
