Dry dog food – kibbles or crunchy bits – is almost always contaminated with pesticides and toxic preservatives. Laboratory analyses published by the Swiss consumers' monthly ‘Saldo’ found harmful substances in 12 products out of 15.
The comparative test searched for a large number of substances, intentionally added to the feed or present as residues of poisons used in the cultivation of cereals and vegetables or in the production processes.
Pesticides and preservatives in dry dog food
The analytical research focused on:
- pesticides. Hundreds of molecules, including herbicides and insecticides, potentially carcinogenic, toxic for the nervous system or teratogenic (source of embryonic damage). Among these, particular alarm is raised by glyphosate, chlorpropham (CIPC, allowed in the USA but banned in the EU from 1.1.20, under EU regulation 2019/989) and chlorpyrifos (permitted in the USA and banned in the EU from 13.11.20, under EU regulation 2020/1085). (1) Toxic substances for mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and bees,
- two preservatives artificial – butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) – used to inhibit rancidity of feed. Although allowed as antioxidants in dog food up to 150 mg/kg, these chemicals appear carcinogenic and allergenic in long-term animal experiments.
The analyses have also concerned – fortunately, without bad surprises – mycotoxins (very dangerous food molds, recently detected by German Ökotest consumers in whole wheat spaghetti) and heavy metals (e.g. cadmium, mercury, chromium, lead).
Dry dog food, the test results
The outcome of the analyses it highlighted the presence of pesticide residues in 12 of the 15 products analyzed. In variable quantities, up to 205 micrograms (1 millionth of a gram, μg) per kilogram (kg) of kibble or crunchy dog treats. To give an idea, consider that the established limits for humans – who weigh much more than dogs, especially small and medium-sized ones – do not exceed 100 μg/kg of body weight.
The preservatives BHA and BHT were found in 9 products. The measured quantity is below legal limits but is nevertheless evaluated negatively, due to the associated risks.
None of the feeds was found to be contaminated by mycotoxins and heavy metals.
The best of the test
The two foods best are Romeo (Aldi) and M-Classic (Migros), free of pesticides and preservatives BHA or BHT.
Acceptable also the outcome of Purina (Nestlé) kibble, without pesticides but with BHA and BHT.
The worst of the test defends itself
Harmony kibble were the worst in the test. And the reaction of their producer Qualipet is 'curious', claiming a better judgment arguing that the nutritional values of its Pet Food are more important than contaminant residues. Good to die for?
The daring thesis according to which Harmony kibble would contain more meat than the others is actually denied by Swiss consumers, who detect similar amounts of meat in three other feeds (Real Nature by The Goodstuff and Natura plus by Coop, Qualité & Prix line).
The reactions of other producers
The producers of the Pet Food rejected by the test shrug. Mars – producer of Pedigree and Frolic – and Yummix, distributor of The Goodstuff, declare that their products comply with European regulations. And that's enough, so be it if you like.
Coop Switzerland stands out from the others for a proactive and immediate response. It guarantees immediately that Menu Natura Plus will no longer contain chlorpropham and communicates having immediately changed the supplier of Qualité & Prix Adult, the dog food found to be contaminated.
The missing rules
The European legislator has not yet defined the maximum residue limits (Maximum Residue Levels, MRLs) of pesticides allowed in plant and fish raw materials intended exclusively for animal feed, Pet Food included. (2) As if animals, domestic and wild, were immune to toxicities widely demonstrated in scientific literature.
Animal welfare, after all, is only lip service in the priorities of the European Commission which has postponed ad maiora, as has been seen, the adoption of a specific policy. Animal health, on the other hand, focuses on zoonoses and highly pathogenic diseases.
Marta Strinati and Dario Dongo
Notes
(1) Jiang Zhao, Steven Pacenka, Jing Wu, Brian K. Richards, Tammo Steenhuis, Kenneth Simpson, Anthony G. Hay. Detection of glyphosate residues in companion animal feeds. Environmental Pollution, 2018; 243: 1113 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.08.100
(2) Reg. EC 178/06, which amends Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council to introduce Annex I, containing the list of food products and feed to which maximum pesticide residue levels apply. Considering 5
Professional journalist since January 1995, has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and magazines (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). Author of journalistic investigations on food, she published the volume 'Reading labels to know what we eat'.
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT – Food Times) and Égalité.
