Study Finds Heavy Metals In Nearly All Cat Food

A new investigation by the Clean Label Project tested over 100 top-selling cat food products and found that heavy metals are widespread across dry, wet, air-dried, and freeze-dried varieties. Lead was detected in 99% of samples, cadmium in 96%, and arsenic in 94%. Dry foods contained approximately three times more lead than wet or air-dried options, while fish-based products showed significantly higher mercury levels. The study also identified other contaminants including glyphosate, phthalates, pesticides, herbicide residues, and processing by-products in nearly all tested items, even those labeled as natural or premium.