Cellulose

Controversies and what to watch for

Cellulose is insoluble plant fibre, often derived from wood pulp or cotton linters. It has zero caloric value, zero nutritional benefit, and passes through the digestive tract completely undigested. Brands add it to weight-management formulas to create bulk and satiety without adding calories. It is also used in hairball formulas to add mechanical bulk to stool. While technically safe, cellulose is the pet food équivalent of eating sawdust. PetFoodRate scores it as C-grade: not harmful, but its presence usually signals a formula designed to be cheap to manufacture rather than nutritionally optimal.