Ingredients & additives

Pets need a wide range of nutrients to maintain healthy body function, which is why it's important you pay attention to what goes into their food

'Ingredient' is a general term used for raw materials & additives used in pet foods.

Typical pet food ingredients include protein sources such as poultry, beef and fish, vegetables, cereals, vitamins and minerals, which manufacturers combine to achieve the right balance of nutrients for your pet.

Meat & fish

Meat is generally a good source of protein, essential fatty acids, iron and some B-group vitamins. As well as increasing the palatability of a product, meat is highly digestible.

Fish are commonly divided into two groups – 'white fish' such as haddock, plaice, cod, whiting & sole; and 'oily fish' such as herring, pilchards, mackerel, sardines, tuna, salmon and trout. Like meat, fish is a good source of high-quality protein; fish muscle contains iodine, fish bones, which are frequently ground during preparation, are a good source of calcium and phosphorus, and oily fish contain vitamins A & D, as well as Omega 3.

If you would like to find out more about the specific fish used in a particular pet food, please get in touch with the manufacturer.

Dairy & eggs

Dairy products and eggs provide high-quality and digestible protein. Dairy products used in pet food, such as cheese & milk, also provide calcium and several vitamins.

Animal by-products

Whilst we often think of staples such as meat, dairy and eggs when looking at the food system, animal by-products are the unsung heroes in the pet food industry, driving efficiency and providing the opportunity to reduce impact on the environment.

Farmed animals are primarily bred for the human food industry; however, there are some parts of the animal that are not favoured in the human diet, including organs and offal, ground bones and fat – the animal by-products – that can be utilised as nutritious ingredients for pet food. These ingredients play a crucial role in minimising waste by using as much of the animal as possible, creating a sustainable, circular food system, while enabling us to make affordable, nutritious and planet-friendly pet foods.

To ensure safety, animal by-products are strictly regulated by law. UK Pet Food members only use materials from species generally accepted in the human food chain, such as beef, lamb, poultry, pork, fish, rabbit and game, and have been slaughtered under veterinary supervision. These materials meet the very high safety and quality criteria laid down by regulations.

Vegetables

Vegetables provide a great source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Soya beans are commonly used to provide a source of protein and energy, Omega 6, B-vitamins, fibre and minerals.

Cereals & cereal by-products

Cereals provide an essential source of energy, a proportion of protein and other nutrients, including thiamine and niacin.

Good sources of carbohydrates in pet foods are usually cereal-based, such as corn (maize), rice, wheat, barley or sorghum. Certain fibres, such as beet pulp or rice bran, which are moderately fermentable fibres, can also have additional beneficial effects on the health of the digestive tract.

Although cats have no absolute dietary requirement for carbohydrates, good sources provide an excellent energy source in an easily digestible form.

Fats & oils

Fats and oils supply energy and essential fatty acids. They can be from vegetable or animal sources and are important for optimal health, including kidney function, reproduction and a glossy coat. There are two different types of essential fatty acids (EFAs) – Omega 3 & 6. Some fats also supply a source of vitamins A, D, E & K.

New sources of protein

Cell-cultivated products are a type of animal tissue that’s grown from cells rather than obtained from conventionally farmed animals. Instead of feeding animals to grow and produce meat and other animal tissues, the nutrients are fed directly to the animal cells in a controlled environment, allowing them to multiply and grow independently.

Additives

Additives which can be used in pet foods include vitamins, flavours, preservatives, antioxidants and colours. Most of the additives used in pet food are also used in our foods.

Vitamin & mineral supplements

A supplementary supply of vitamins and minerals may be added to ensure pets are receiving the required daily dietary intake.

Sodium & chloride

Sodium is an essential nutrient and, along with chloride, is important for fluid balance in the body.

Good sources of sodium in pet food include meat, poultry, fish and eggs. Sodium may also be included in prepared pet foods in the form of table salt (sometimes listed on the ingredients panel as salt) to enhance the taste.

NB: The National Research Council lays down guidelines on sodium levels for dogs and cats. Although sodium levels in human food can present a human health issue due to the risk of hypertension, sodium levels in prepared pet food are not a cause for concern in healthy adult dogs and cats.

The physiological makeup of an animal is quite distinct from that of a human. Healthy dogs and cats are actually able to consume diets with higher sodium levels than those found in most prepared pet foods without any adverse effects such as increased blood pressure or gain in body water.

While a higher sodium intake may cause increased thirst and water consumption, the extra sodium is excreted without a problem in the urine. In pets with disorders like heart or kidney disease, reduced salt diets may be advised. Such conditions must be discussed with a vet, and appropriate dietary advice must be followed.

Various sugars

The term "various sugars" is a category description which may refer to sucrose (cane sugar, commonly known as table sugar), fructose and glucose, all of which are natural products present in fruit, vegetables and cereals.

Some manufacturers may add sugar to pet foods as an energy source. Dogs and cats can easily convert sugar into usable energy through normal digestion.

Manufacturers may also add very small amounts of sugar to assist with the cooking process. When sugar is cooked along with meat, it results in browning of the meat and the production of natural sugars (just the same as those produced in the cooking of the Sunday roast). This provides a pleasing colour and enhances palatability.

If sugar is included in addition to that which naturally occurs in the ingredients, levels are carefully controlled to ensure nutritional balance and palatability.

Preservatives

Preservatives can be artificial or natural, but either way, they work by preventing the spoilage of food ingredients, just like in our food. It is, therefore, critical to have methods to prevent this deterioration and maintain high-quality, nutritious, and palatable foods. Canned pet foods are protected from spoilage by their airtight storage in the can, but dry foods, even with modern packaging, must include preservatives to maintain the quality and safety of the food.

Natural preservatives, tocopherols (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), are the most commonly used in pet food.

Antioxidants

Dietary antioxidants play a substantial role in the long-term health and well-being of pets.

Some manufacturers may add biological antioxidants, e.g. vitamins C & E and selenium, to pet foods to help support good health and neutralise free radicals.

Any pet owner interested in obtaining further information on the ingredients of a specific pet food product should look at the label on the packaging. Many of the additives present will be indicated here.

The enquirer can also contact the company directly, using the name and contact details on the packaging, to ask which additives it contains.

UK Pet Food members only use legally permitted additives in the smallest amounts necessary.

See our other factsheets about specific sources of nutrition for pets:

Sustainability in pet food ingredients

Pet owners want to feed their pets in a way that respects the environment and the pet food industry has been one of the first to commit to recycling & sustainable ingredient sourcing.