Veterinary expert issues warning over additive in canned cat food that could cause cancer in pets
A veterinary expert has issued a warning about an additive discovered in canned cat food that could cause cancer in the favored family pets.
Author Ingrid King, who can be a former veterinary hospital supervisor and veterinary journalist, has expressed concern over the presence of carrageenan, a substance that has been discovered to cause colon cancer when examined on animals in laboratories.
According to the Cornucopia Institute, the International Agency for Research on Cancer recognises degraded carrageenan – which is used as a gelling agent in many fashionable cat food manufacturers – as a ‘attainable human carcinogen’.
This is predicated on analysis which reveals that it results in greater charges of colon cancer in lab animals.
There are two sorts of carrageenan – degraded and undegraded, with processors claiming that food-grade carrageenan falls completely in the undegraded class.
However, one examine confirmed that, in the merchandise they examined, not a single pattern of food-grade carrageenan could confidently declare to be completely freed from the potential cancer-causing materials.
In an article for feline-based web site Catster, Ms King warned pet house owners that food-grade or ‘undegraded’ carrageenan is on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) checklist of things that are ‘Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)’.
Despite the issues over how the agent might have an effect on cats’ well being, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines it as an appropriate emulsifier, stabiliser, and thickener.
However, Ms King warns that degraded carrageenan, which happens at excessive temperatures and acidity, has been related to ulcerations in the gastro-intestinal tract and gastro-intestinal cancer in animals.
She revealed that she felt ‘more and more involved’ about feeding cats or different animals food that accommodates carrageenan.
The veterinary expert continued by advising that, though meals with out this ingredient could also be slightly more durable to seek out, you will need to learn animal food labels and discover alternate options in case your cat’s present food accommodates it.
She completed by saying that pet house owners ought to take due care and a focus to scan your cat’s food for this ingredient.
Ingrid said that, until your cat completely refuses to eat manufacturers that don’t include carrageenan, pet house owners ought to contemplate swapping any relevant meals discovered to include the ingredient.
