You may have heard about industrial chemicals like bisphenol A making their way into our food supply via can linings--but what about our pets? Not surprisingly, they are vulnerable, too. A recent study, for example, found that BPA in the bloodstream of pet dogs nearly tripled when they switched to canned dog food.
At the Ecology Center, we pioneered a rapid method for identifying the types of polymer coatings used in food cans. On the heels of the major study that resulted, we have completed a smaller study of pet food cans.
We took a “citizen science” approach, asking community members to send in empty cat and dog food cans they had recently purchased for their pets. We received a total of 60 cans from pet owners in Southeast Michigan, then used our spectroscopic method to learn what types of coatings were inside each can.
What we found:
- Almost all cat food cans tested (95%) had a PVC-based coating
- Most dog food cans (81%) had a BPA-based coating
- All of the pet food cans contained a PVC or a BPA-based coating--or both. A few other coating materials were also detected in combination with PVC or BPA.
“These findings are quite concerning and similar to our own studies that examined two brands of canned dog food, including one that was promoted to be BPA-free but actually contained equivalent amounts of this chemical as one where no such claims have been made,” said Cheryl S. Rosenfeld, DVM, PhD, associate professor at the Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri.
“We also found that when dogs consumed canned dog food containing BPA for two weeks, it was associated with metabolic and gut microbiome alterations. Thus, these recent findings from the Ecology Center raise further concern that potentially all commercial brands of dog and cat food may contain BPA that can lead to potential health effects in our companion animals.”
Click on individual products below and on the menu links to read more about our study of pet food cans.
Published on June 22, 2017
Sample Listing
 | 9 Lives Hearty Cuts With Real Beef & Chicken in Gravy Cat Food | PVC |
 | Best Feline Friend Tuna & Chicken Chuckles in Aspic Recipe Cat Food | PVC |
 | Best Feline Friend Tuna & Tilapia Twosome In Aspic Recipe Cat Food | PVC |
 | Best Feline Friend Tuna and Shrimps Cat Food | PVC |
 | Blue Wilderness Bayou Blend With Alligator & Catfish Dog Food | Epoxy |
 | Blue Wilderness Chicken Cat Food | PVC |
 | Chicken Soup for the Soul Kitten Recipe Kitten Food | PVC |
 | Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Duck & Potato Formula Dog Food | Polyester, PVC |
 | Earthborn Holistic Chicken Catcciatori Cat Food | Epoxy, PVC |
 | Earthborn Holistic Chicken Catcciatori Cat Food | Acrylic, Epoxy, PVC |
 | Evanger's Food For Dogs Beef Dinner For Dogs | Epoxy |
 | Evanger's Food For Dogs Duck and Sweet Potato Dinner For Dogs | Epoxy |
 | Friskies Homestyle Turkey Dinner With Garden Greens In Gravy Indoor Cat Food | PVC |
 | Hill's Science Diet Gourmet Turkey Entrée Dog Food | Epoxy |
 | Hill's Science Diet Healthy Cuisine Poached Salmon & Spinach Medley Cat Food | PVC |
 | Iams Classic Pâté With Beef & Vegetables in Gravy Premium Dog Food | Epoxy, Polyester, PVC |
 | Iams Classic Pâté With Chicken & Rice in Gravy Premium Dog Food | Epoxy, Polyester, PVC |
 | Iams Pâté with Gourmet Chicken Kitten Food | PVC |
 | Iams Purrfect Delicacies Flaked Oceanfish & Tuna Recipe Cat Food | Epoxy, Polyester, PVC |
 | Lotus Grain-Free Beef Stew Dog Food | Epoxy |
 | Lotus Grain-Free Turkey & Vegetable Pâté Cat Food | Epoxy |
 | Lotus Grain-Free Turkey & Vegetable Pâté Cat Food | Epoxy |
 | Lotus Just Juicy Pork Shoulder Stew Dog Food | Epoxy |
 | Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Real Turkey Recipe Cat Food | Polyester, PVC |
 | Merrick Purrfect Bistro Chicken Pâté Cat Food | Polyester, PVC |
 | Newman's Own Organics Chicken Dinner Cat Food | PVC |
 | Newman's Own Organics Turkey & Liver Dinner | PVC |
 | Newman's Own Organics Turkey Dinner Dog Food | Epoxy |
 | Newman's Own Organics Turkey Dinner Dog Food | Epoxy |
 | Nutro Max Cat Chicken Supreme Entrée Chunks In Sauce Adult Cat Food | PVC |
 | Ol' Roy Strips in Gravy Filet Mignon Flavor Dog Food | Oleoresin, Polyester, PVC |
 | Pedigree Choice Cuts in Gravy With Chicken Dog Food | Epoxy, PVC |
 | Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner With Beef Dog Food | Epoxy, PVC |
 | Pure Balance Chicken Recipe Adult Dog Food | Epoxy |
 | Purina Beneful IncrediBrites With Salmon and Wild Rice Small Dog Food | PVC |
 | Purina Beyond Beef, Potato & Green Bean Recipe Dog Food | Epoxy, PVC |
 | Purina Fancy Feast Delights With Turkey & Chedder Cheese Cat Food | PVC |
 | Purina Fancy Feast Medleys Chicken Primavera With Veggies & Greens Cat Food | PVC |
 | Purina Fancy Feast Salmon & Shrimp Feast in Gravy Grilled Gourmet Cat Food | PVC |
 | Purina Friskies Supreme Supper Classic Paté Cat Food | PVC |
 | Purina Friskies With Ocean Whitefish & Tuna In Sauce Prime Filets Cat Food | PVC |
 | Purina Mighty Dog Chicken, Egg & Bacon Country Platter Small Dog Food | PVC |
 | Redbarn Naturals Beef Paté With Parsley & Cranberries Cat Food | PVC |
 | Redbarn Naturals Chicken Paté Indoor Cat Food | PVC |
 | Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté Cat Food | PVC |
 | Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté Cat Food | PVC |
 | Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté With Salmon Oil & Mussels Cat Food | PVC |
 | Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté With Salmon Oil & Mussels Cat Food | PVC |
 | Redbarn Naturals Ocean Fist Cat Food | PVC |
 | Redbarn Naturals Tuna Paté With Mussels & Parsley Cat Food | PVC |
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