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.
Sample Name | Test Result | |
---|---|---|
Sample Name
9 Lives Hearty Cuts With Real Beef & Chicken in Gravy Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
9 Lives Hearty Cuts With Real Beef & Chicken in Gravy Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Best Feline Friend Tuna & Chicken Chuckles in Aspic Recipe Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Best Feline Friend Tuna & Chicken Chuckles in Aspic Recipe Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Best Feline Friend Tuna & Tilapia Twosome In Aspic Recipe Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Best Feline Friend Tuna & Tilapia Twosome In Aspic Recipe Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Best Feline Friend Tuna and Shrimps Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Best Feline Friend Tuna and Shrimps Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Blue Wilderness Bayou Blend With Alligator & Catfish Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Blue Wilderness Bayou Blend With Alligator & Catfish Dog Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Blue Wilderness Chicken Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Blue Wilderness Chicken Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Chicken Soup for the Soul Kitten Recipe Kitten Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Chicken Soup for the Soul Kitten Recipe Kitten Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Duck & Potato Formula Dog Food
Test Result
Polyester, PVC
|
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Duck & Potato Formula Dog Food | Polyester, PVC |
Sample Name
Earthborn Holistic Chicken Catcciatori Cat Food
Test Result
Acrylic, Epoxy, PVC
|
Earthborn Holistic Chicken Catcciatori Cat Food | Acrylic, Epoxy, PVC |
Sample Name
Earthborn Holistic Chicken Catcciatori Cat Food
Test Result
Epoxy, PVC
|
Earthborn Holistic Chicken Catcciatori Cat Food | Epoxy, PVC |
Sample Name
Evanger's Food For Dogs Beef Dinner For Dogs
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Evanger's Food For Dogs Beef Dinner For Dogs | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Evanger's Food For Dogs Duck and Sweet Potato Dinner For Dogs
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Evanger's Food For Dogs Duck and Sweet Potato Dinner For Dogs | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Friskies Homestyle Turkey Dinner With Garden Greens In Gravy Indoor Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Friskies Homestyle Turkey Dinner With Garden Greens In Gravy Indoor Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Hill's Science Diet Gourmet Turkey Entrée Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Hill's Science Diet Gourmet Turkey Entrée Dog Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Hill's Science Diet Healthy Cuisine Poached Salmon & Spinach Medley Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Hill's Science Diet Healthy Cuisine Poached Salmon & Spinach Medley Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Iams Classic Pâté With Beef & Vegetables in Gravy Premium Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy, Polyester, PVC
|
Iams Classic Pâté With Beef & Vegetables in Gravy Premium Dog Food | Epoxy, Polyester, PVC |
Sample Name
Iams Classic Pâté With Chicken & Rice in Gravy Premium Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy, Polyester, PVC
|
Iams Classic Pâté With Chicken & Rice in Gravy Premium Dog Food | Epoxy, Polyester, PVC |
Sample Name
Iams Pâté with Gourmet Chicken Kitten Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Iams Pâté with Gourmet Chicken Kitten Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Iams Purrfect Delicacies Flaked Oceanfish & Tuna Recipe Cat Food
Test Result
Epoxy, Polyester, PVC
|
Iams Purrfect Delicacies Flaked Oceanfish & Tuna Recipe Cat Food | Epoxy, Polyester, PVC |
Sample Name
Lotus Grain-Free Beef Stew Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Lotus Grain-Free Beef Stew Dog Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Lotus Grain-Free Turkey & Vegetable Pâté Cat Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Lotus Grain-Free Turkey & Vegetable Pâté Cat Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Lotus Grain-Free Turkey & Vegetable Pâté Cat Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Lotus Grain-Free Turkey & Vegetable Pâté Cat Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Lotus Just Juicy Pork Shoulder Stew Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Lotus Just Juicy Pork Shoulder Stew Dog Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Real Turkey Recipe Cat Food
Test Result
Polyester, PVC
|
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Real Turkey Recipe Cat Food | Polyester, PVC |
Sample Name
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Chicken Pâté Cat Food
Test Result
Polyester, PVC
|
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Chicken Pâté Cat Food | Polyester, PVC |
Sample Name
Newman's Own Organics Chicken Dinner Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Newman's Own Organics Chicken Dinner Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Newman's Own Organics Turkey & Liver Dinner
Test Result
PVC
|
Newman's Own Organics Turkey & Liver Dinner | PVC |
Sample Name
Newman's Own Organics Turkey Dinner Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Newman's Own Organics Turkey Dinner Dog Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Newman's Own Organics Turkey Dinner Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Newman's Own Organics Turkey Dinner Dog Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Nutro Max Cat Chicken Supreme Entrée Chunks In Sauce Adult Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Nutro Max Cat Chicken Supreme Entrée Chunks In Sauce Adult Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Ol' Roy Strips in Gravy Filet Mignon Flavor Dog Food
Test Result
Oleoresin, Polyester, PVC
|
Ol' Roy Strips in Gravy Filet Mignon Flavor Dog Food | Oleoresin, Polyester, PVC |
Sample Name
Pedigree Choice Cuts in Gravy With Chicken Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy, PVC
|
Pedigree Choice Cuts in Gravy With Chicken Dog Food | Epoxy, PVC |
Sample Name
Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner With Beef Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy, PVC
|
Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner With Beef Dog Food | Epoxy, PVC |
Sample Name
Pure Balance Chicken Recipe Adult Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Pure Balance Chicken Recipe Adult Dog Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Purina Beneful IncrediBrites With Salmon and Wild Rice Small Dog Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Purina Beneful IncrediBrites With Salmon and Wild Rice Small Dog Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Purina Beyond Beef, Potato & Green Bean Recipe Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy, PVC
|
Purina Beyond Beef, Potato & Green Bean Recipe Dog Food | Epoxy, PVC |
Sample Name
Purina Fancy Feast Delights With Turkey & Chedder Cheese Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Purina Fancy Feast Delights With Turkey & Chedder Cheese Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Purina Fancy Feast Medleys Chicken Primavera With Veggies & Greens Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Purina Fancy Feast Medleys Chicken Primavera With Veggies & Greens Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Purina Fancy Feast Salmon & Shrimp Feast in Gravy Grilled Gourmet Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Purina Fancy Feast Salmon & Shrimp Feast in Gravy Grilled Gourmet Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Purina Friskies Supreme Supper Classic Paté Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Purina Friskies Supreme Supper Classic Paté Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Purina Friskies With Ocean Whitefish & Tuna In Sauce Prime Filets Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Purina Friskies With Ocean Whitefish & Tuna In Sauce Prime Filets Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Purina Mighty Dog Chicken, Egg & Bacon Country Platter Small Dog Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Purina Mighty Dog Chicken, Egg & Bacon Country Platter Small Dog Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Redbarn Naturals Beef Paté With Parsley & Cranberries Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Redbarn Naturals Beef Paté With Parsley & Cranberries Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Redbarn Naturals Chicken Paté Indoor Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Redbarn Naturals Chicken Paté Indoor Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté With Salmon Oil & Mussels Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté With Salmon Oil & Mussels Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté With Salmon Oil & Mussels Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Redbarn Naturals Lamb Paté With Salmon Oil & Mussels Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Redbarn Naturals Ocean Fist Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Redbarn Naturals Ocean Fist Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Redbarn Naturals Tuna Paté With Mussels & Parsley Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Redbarn Naturals Tuna Paté With Mussels & Parsley Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Sheba Chicken & Tuna Entrée Paté in Natural Juices Premium Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Sheba Chicken & Tuna Entrée Paté in Natural Juices Premium Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Simply Nourish Chicken and Beef Stew Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Simply Nourish Chicken and Beef Stew Dog Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Simply Nourish Essentials Lamb & Carrot Recipe Adult Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Simply Nourish Essentials Lamb & Carrot Recipe Adult Dog Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Tender & True ABF Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Tender & True ABF Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Trader Joe's Tuna Cat Food
Test Result
Epoxy, PVC
|
Trader Joe's Tuna Cat Food | Epoxy, PVC |
Sample Name
Wellness Turkey Formula Cat Food
Test Result
Epoxy, PVC
|
Wellness Turkey Formula Cat Food | Epoxy, PVC |
Sample Name
Whole Paws Chicken Beef Vegetable Stew Dog Food
Test Result
Epoxy
|
Whole Paws Chicken Beef Vegetable Stew Dog Food | Epoxy |
Sample Name
Wild Calling Jumping Salmon Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Wild Calling Jumping Salmon Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Wild Calling Trot'n Tommy Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Wild Calling Trot'n Tommy Cat Food | PVC |
Sample Name
Wild Calling Trot'n Tommy Cat Food
Test Result
PVC
|
Wild Calling Trot'n Tommy Cat Food | PVC |