10/04/2026
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A new investigation into cat food found toxic chemicals in nearly all types and brands.
The nonprofit Clean Label Project tested 100 cat foods from 62 brands for more than 120 contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticide residues, and chemicals used in plastics.
Lead was detected in 99% of products, cadmium in 96%, and arsenic in 94%.
Those figures describe how often the substances were detected. They do not establish that 99% of cat foods are dangerous or that the products caused illness.
The investigation also found substantial differences in contaminant levels.
Fish and seafood products carried more mercury and cadmium. Dry foods contained roughly three times as much lead as wet or air-dried foods, according to the report.
The comparisons accounted for calories, helping avoid misleading differences caused simply by the higher water content of wet food.
Other contaminants were less widespread.
The herbicide glyphosate was detected in 37% of products. DEHP, a chemical used to make plastics flexible, appeared in 48%. BPA was detected in just two products.
Contaminants can enter food through ingredients exposed to polluted soil or water, processing, or contact with packaging. Mercury can accumulate in marine food chains, helping explain the pattern in seafood recipes.
The concern is repeated exposure: cats often eat the same food every day, making ingredient sourcing and routine testing important.
But the investigation has limits. Each product came from a single batch, so the findings cannot describe every bag or can sold under a brand. The report compared contamination levels and did not determine whether a particular food would harm a cat.
For owners, a useful question to ask manufacturers is whether they regularly test finished foods for contaminants and share the results.
Discuss major diet changes with your veterinarian, especially if your cat needs a prescription diet.
Learn more:
"Cat food investigation finds heavy metals, pesticides and plastic chemicals." CNN