Warning issued over additive that could cause cancer in pets
- Veterinary expert Ingrid King says the additive could harm your cat’s health
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A veterinary expert has issued a warning about an additive found in canned cat food that could cause cancer in the popular household pets.
Author Ingrid King, who is also a former veterinary hospital manager and veterinary journalist, has expressed concern over the presence of carrageenan, a substance that has been found to cause colon cancer when tested on animals in laboratories.
According to the Cornucopia Institute, the International Agency for Research on Cancer recognises degraded carrageenan – which is used as a gelling agent in many popular cat food brands – as a ‘possible human carcinogen’.
This is based on research which shows that it leads to higher rates of colon cancer in lab animals.
There are two kinds of carrageenan – degraded and undegraded, with processors claiming that food-grade carrageenan falls entirely in the undegraded category.
A veterinary expert has issued a warning about an additive found in canned cat food that could cause cancer in the popular household pets
However, one study showed that, in the products they tested, not a single sample of food-grade carrageenan could confidently claim to be entirely free of the potential cancer-causing material.
In an article for feline-based website Catster, Ms King warned pet owners that food-grade or ‘undegraded’ carrageenan is on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) list of items that are ‘Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)’.
Despite the concerns over how the agent may affect cats’ health, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines it as an acceptable emulsifier, stabiliser, and thickener.
However, Ms King warns that degraded carrageenan, which occurs at high temperatures and acidity, has been associated with ulcerations in the gastro-intestinal tract and gastro-intestinal cancer in animals.
She revealed that she felt ‘increasingly concerned’ about feeding cats or other animals food that contains carrageenan.
The veterinary expert continued by advising that, although foods without this ingredient may be a little harder to find, it is important to read animal food labels and find alternatives if your cat’s current food contains it.
She finished by saying that pet owners should take due care and attention to scan 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 any applicable foods found to contain the ingredient.
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