Heavy Metals in Cat Food: Safer Brands as Study Examines Toxic Materials

A new study has found heavy metals and other toxic substances in popular U.S. cat foods, raising concerns among industry representatives and nutrition experts. The Colorado-based Clean Label Project tested 100 cat food products from 62 brands, discovering lead in 99% of samples, cadmium in 96%, and arsenic in 94%. Mercury, glyphosate, and plastic-related chemicals were also detected.

Dry cat food contained three times more lead than wet or air-dried products, while fish- and seafood-based formulas had higher mercury and cadmium levels. Only three brands—BIXBI, Freshpet, and Smalls—met the organization's certification standards. Critics argue the report compares contaminant levels rather than assessing health risks, and the study relied on a single batch of each product, a limitation acknowledged by the authors.

The Pet Food Institute, representing the industry, questions the methodology, peer review, and the sufficiency of testing a single batch of each product. Cat owners often choose premium foods, assuming higher prices and quality mean healthier food, but the report suggests this assumption may be flawed.