Problematic additives
Propylene glycol
Avoid
Description
Synthetic humectant.
Benefits
Maintains moisture
Risks
Toxic to cats (anemia), banned in cat food in EU
Why this ingredient is used
Propylene glycol is a synthetic humectant (moisture retainer) used in semi-moist pet food and treats to keep them soft and prevent them from drying out. It is the same compound used as antifreeze (at higher concentrations) and in e-cigarette liquid. At the concentrations found in pet food (typically 5 to 10 percent), it is generally recognised as safe for dogs. However, it is explicitly banned from cat food by the FDA because cats develop Heinz body anaemia from chronic propylene glycol exposure, where their red blood cells are damaged. PetFoodRate deducts undesirables points for any product listing propylene glycol regardless of species.
Species adaptability
Avoid for
- Cats
- Dogs