Heavy Metal Concentration in Canned Cat Foods

Abstract

The present study examined the concentration of heavy metals including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) in 30 commercially available canned cat foods consisting of 13 complete foods and 17 complementary foods, and the concentrations were compared to those in 5 commercial canned tuna for humans. Cd concentration in the canned cat foods was significantly higher than that in the canned tuna for humans, whereas no differences were observed in the concentrations of As, Hg and Pb. We compared the concentration of heavy metals in the canned cat foods to the maximum contents directed by European Union, indicating that As and Hg concentrations exceeded the maximum contents in 9 and one complete foods, respectively. As and Pb concentrations were above the maximum contents in 13 and one complementary foods, respectively. Five and one samples exceeded the maximal concentrations of As and Pb in formula feed directed by Japanese government respectively. Assuming that body weight of cat is 4 kg and that the intake of the food conforms to label description, 30, 17, 25 and 7 foods exceeded provisional tolerable weekly intake of As, Cd, Hg and Pb in humans, respectively. The present results provide basic information for defining the maximal concentration for heavy metals in pet foods.