Lab Tests Find Heavy Metals In Popular Dog Food Brands

If you buy dog food and assume it is strictly regulated, this new lab review may surprise you. According to the Clean Label Project, testing of 79 best selling dog foods found measurable levels of heavy metals and plastic linked chemicals.

The nonprofit says a federally certified lab ran over 11,000 tests across dry, fresh, frozen, and air dried options. They looked for lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, pesticides, plastics, and acrylamide, a chemical that can form during high heat cooking.

What stood out most was the split between formats. Dry kibble came back with the highest levels overall, including more heavy metals and more acrylamide than fresh or frozen products. Meanwhile, the review found lower levels in fresh and frozen foods, although dogs often need bigger portions to match calories.

Even so, experts still want more clarity on real world risk. Cornell veterinary nutritionist Joseph Wakshlag told CNN that dogs may take in more heavy metals per calorie than humans, but long term health impacts remain uncertain without longer diet studies.

So what can you do right now? First, talk with your vet before making big changes, especially if your dog has kidney concerns. Next, consider rotating protein sources and formats, since variety can reduce repeated exposure to any one contaminant profile. Finally, Support stronger transparency so the pet food industry has clearer testing norms that protect pets and the wider environment.

Cleaner supply chains help all animals, and they also Support public health on a shared Earth. If you can, choose more whole food, plant based meals for yourself and push for safer standards for every bowl.

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