Veterinary expert issues warning over additive in canned cat food that could cause cancer in pets
A veterinary expert has warned about an additive in canned cat food that could cause cancer in popular pets.
Author Ingrid King, also a former veterinary hospital manager and veterinary journalist, has raised concerns about the presence of carrageenan, a substance found to cause colon cancer when tested on animals in laboratories.
According to the Cornucopia Institute, the International Agency for Research on Cancer recognizes degraded carrageenan – which is used as a gelling agent in many popular brands of cat food – as a “possible human carcinogen.”
This is based on research showing that it leads to higher rates of colon cancer in laboratory animals.
There are two types of carrageenan: degraded and undegraded, with processors claiming that food grade carrageenan falls squarely into the undegraded category.
A veterinary expert has warned about an additive in canned cat food that could cause cancer in popular pets
However, one study found that in the products they tested, not a single sample of food-grade carrageenan could confidently claim to be completely free of the potential carcinogenic material.
In an article for the cat-based website Catster, Ms. King warned pet owners that food-grade or “undegraded” carrageenan is on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) list of items that are “Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) ‘ are.
Despite concerns about how it may affect cat health, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines it as an acceptable emulsifier, stabilizer and thickener.
However, Ms King warns that broken down carrageenan, which forms at high temperatures and acidity, has been linked to gastrointestinal ulcers and gastrointestinal cancer in animals.
She revealed that she felt ‘increasingly concerned’ about feeding cats and other animals food containing carrageenan.
The veterinary expert went on to say that while foods without this ingredient may be a little harder to find, it’s important to read animal food labels and find alternatives if your cat’s current food contains it.
She ended by saying that pet owners should take due care and attention when scanning your cat’s food for this ingredient.
Ingrid stated that unless your cat absolutely refuses to eat brands that do not contain carrageenan, pet owners should consider swapping appropriate foods that contain the ingredient.