Cat Food Contaminant Study
New Study Detects Lead and Other Contaminants in Most Tested Cat Foods
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Key Points
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Glyphosate was detected in 37% of tested foods; the report found that each additional plant ingredient among a food’s first 10 ingredients was associated with about 40% higher glyphosate levels.
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Canned and pouched foods had about five times more of the plasticizer DEHP than bagged products, according to the study.
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Although chicken-based foods performed better on mercury and cadmium, the report author said they showed higher rates of lead and herbicide contamination, illustrating that no protein type led on every measure.
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Report author Molly Hamilton cautioned that cats often eat the same food day after day, meaning contaminants could represent repeated exposure over their lifetimes; this was a concern she raised, not a finding that the study established health harm.
A new study of 100 cat foods from 62 brands found heavy metals in nearly all products tested. Clean Label Project detected lead in 99% of samples, cadmium in 96%, and arsenic in 94%. The Colorado nonprofit also found glyphosate—a common herbicide—in 37% of foods and DEHP, a plastic chemical, across most products.
The contamination levels varied sharply by food type. Dry cat food contained roughly three times more lead than wet or air-dried products. Fish- and seafood-based foods had substantially higher mercury levels. The Pet Food Institute said manufacturers maintain safety programs and pet owners should feel confident in their products.
Dry Food Shows Three Times More Lead
The study's most striking finding involved packaging and preparation method. Dry kibble had roughly three times more lead contamination than wet food or air-dried products, according to the Clean Label Project. Canned and pouched foods showed a different problem: they contained about five times more DEHP—a plasticizer used in packaging—than bagged products.
Fish Foods Carry Higher Mercury Risks
Protein source matters significantly for certain contaminants. Fish- and seafood-based cat foods had substantially more mercury than foods made with poultry or other proteins. However, chicken-based products showed higher rates of lead and herbicide contamination, meaning no single protein type performed better across all measures, the report found.
Plant Ingredients Link to Herbicide Contamination
Glyphosate appeared in 37% of tested foods. The Clean Label Project found that each additional plant ingredient among a food's first 10 ingredients was associated with about 40% higher glyphosate levels. Report author Molly Hamilton warned that cats often eat the same food daily, meaning contaminants could represent repeated exposure throughout their lives.
Important Limits on What the Study Shows
The study analyzed single batches of each food product, not variation over time or multiple production runs. Critically, the Clean Label Project did not establish that any tested food is unsafe or will cause harm to cats. The Pet Food Institute maintains that manufacturers follow strict food-safety programs. The research identifies contamination levels but stops short of linking them to actual health damage in pets.
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