Is carrageenan dangerous for cats?

Carrageenan has come under scrutiny as an ingredient in pet foods as a result of a few published studies. These studies reported negative effects including inflammation and toxicity. This led to concern about possibly creating disease in the intestines of dogs and cats.

Why do they put carrageenan in cat food?

In short, carrageenan is a food additive. It’s used as a thickener and emulsifier to improve the texture of processed foods. It has no nutritional value, whatsoever and it’s added to some human foods and many of our canned cat foods.

Is there carrageenan in cat food?

The refrigerated “fresh” pet food found in the grocery store almost always contains carrageenan. So until pet food manufacturers recognize the health risks and stop including carageenan in their foods, it’s up to the pet parents of the world to always read the labels and choose wisely.

Does Whiskas contain carrageenan?

The USDA considered limiting the amount of carrageenan in human foods, but they never followed through. Skip foods with carrageenan like Friskies Pate, Hill’s Science Diet, Iams, Royal Canin, and Whiskas.

Is carrageenan bad for animals?

Gastrointestinal Inflammation Dog food manufacturers often argue the grade of carrageenan is perfectly safe for pet foods as well as human foods. In studies using lab animals, carrageenan has been known to cause intestinal damage, inflammation, ulcers, lesions, and potentially colon cancer.

Does Meow Mix have carrageenan?

This fish-based food is a chunky stew made with tuna in fish broth, mixed up with ocean fish (probably tilefish) and shrimp. The stew contains soybean oil as its primary fat source and gets a flavor boost from both natural and artificial flavors. The food is stabilized with a combination of guar gum and carrageenan.

Does Royal Canin have carrageenan?

Ingredients. Royal Canin Adult Canned Dog Food primarily uses chicken and pork liver as sources of protein, as well as chicken by-products and pork by-products as secondary ingredients. Another stand-out ingredient is carrageenan, a thickening agent extracted from seaweed that has been used in foods for centuries.

Does Friskies wet cat food contain carrageenan?

If you choose to buy Friskies, avoid their dry recipes. Instead, opt for Friskies wet cat food. Their wet recipes contain some undesirable additives, including carrageenan, artificial colors, and artificial flavors, but are meat-rich with minimal carbohydrate content.

Why do you put carrageenan in cat food?

Carrageenan: Should It Be In Your Cat’s Food? Carrageenan is a common food addivitve both in pet food and human food. It is extracted from seaweed through the use of a chemical solvent. It is used as thickener and binder in canned pet food, as well as in many human foods such as ice cream, yogurt, and soy milk.

Where does carrageenan go in a pet’s body?

However, carrageenan in the diet does reach cells in the colon. The studies were done in the lab and not in a living animal. It would be helpful to know if this is repeatable in cats and dogs. Another missing piece of information is how cats and dogs digest carrageenan.

What kind of food grade is carrageenan on?

Food grade (also called “undegraded”) carrageenan is on the “GRAS” list (FDA’s list of items that are “Generally Recognized as Safe). As it pertains to pet food, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines it as an acceptable emulsifier, stablizer, and thickener.

What happens when you eat carrageenan in mice?

Exposure to the common food additive carrageenan leads to glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and inhibition of insulin signalling in HepG2 cells and C57BL/6J mice. Diabetologia. 2012 Jan;55 (1):194-203.