Clean Label Project Report Detects Lead in 99% of Cat Food Samples

Key points

• The Clean Label Project analyzed 100 cat food items from 62 brands for over 122 contaminants, finding lead in 99% of samples, cadmium in 96%, and arsenic in 94%.
• Fish and seafood-based products contained approximately 18 times more mercury than other protein sources, with 48.6% of these items ranking among the highest mercury levels.
• Dry cat food contained roughly three times more lead than wet or air-dried food, though lead levels were not linked to specific protein types.
• Glyphosate was detected in 37% of products, with higher levels associated with increased plant ingredients, while DEHP was found in 48% of samples, particularly in canned and pouched formats.
• The organization emphasizes that the study compares contaminant levels rather than determining if specific products cause illness, noting that single-batch testing limits broad conclusions about brand consistency.

Background

This report follows earlier concerns about metal contamination in pet food, such as the August 2026 recall of Fromm dog food due to potential metal exposure. While previous incidents focused on specific recalls, this study provides a broader analysis of common contaminants across the cat food industry, highlighting that premium labels do not guarantee purity.

Why it matters

These findings prompt pet owners to consider asking manufacturers about their testing protocols for heavy metals, as chronic exposure to contaminants like lead and mercury may pose long-term health risks for cats, even if individual products are not deemed immediately unsafe.

What to watch

The Clean Label Project recommends that cat owners inquire about finished-product testing for heavy metals, while the industry may face increased scrutiny regarding contamination levels in fish-based and dry food categories.