Cat Food Heavy Metals: Dry Kibble Has 3x More Lead

# Cat Food Heavy Metals: Dry Kibble Has 3x More Lead

On November 2, 2026, nonprofit Clean Label Project released a new study testing 100 top-selling US cat foods. Dry products carried roughly 3x more lead than wet or air-dried foods.

Findings

• Sample: 100 top-selling US cat foods
• Finding: Dry kibble ~3x more lead than wet/air-dried
• Variation: Major differences by protein source
• Organization: Clean Label Project (nonprofit)

Why is dry food higher?

1. Ingredient sourcing

• Kibble uses meat and bone meal, minerals concentrate
• Wet food uses fresh meat, lower mineral content
• Fish meal and poultry by-product meal are sources

2. Processing

• High-temperature extrusion concentrates minerals
• Water evaporates, heavy metals proportion rises
• Higher bone and organ content means more metals

3. Soil contamination

• Industrial crops absorb soil heavy metals
• Fish meal from polluted waters
• Intensively farmed poultry

How co-packers control heavy metals

Ingredients

1. Supplier heavy metal testing — lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury

2. Ingredient traceability — which field, which ocean

3. Meal grade — avoid lowest-grade meal

Formulation

1. Fresh meat ratio — wet/fresh food safer than meal-based

2. Grain sourcing — low-heavy-metal grains

3. Mineral additives — additives themselves carry metals

Finished product

1. Per-batch heavy metal testing — lead, arsenic, cadmium

2. Third-party testing — not just self-check

3. Label transparency — report to brands

Dry vs wet comparison

| Type | Lead Level | Main Source |

|------|-----------|-------------|

| Dry kibble | High | Meal, bone meal, grains |

| Air-dried | Medium | Fresh meat, low temp |

| Wet food | Low | Fresh meat primarily |

| Freeze-dried | Low-Medium | Fresh meat, concentration |

What brands should check

1. Heavy metal test reports — not just nutrition labels

2. Ingredient sourcing — meal or fresh meat

3. Fish meal — heavy metal hotspot

4. Third-party testing — credible lab

Judgment

• Heavy metals are a long-term issue
• Consumers are increasingly aware
• Brands need transparency
• Co-packers should test proactively

If you're looking for a pet food co-packer that provides heavy metal test reports, Mixiaoqi pet food OEM/ODM tests every batch for lead, arsenic, and cadmium.

FAQ

Are cat foods exceeding limits?

Wide variation — doesn't mean all exceed.

Is dry kibble unsafe?

Not necessarily — choose by test reports.

Is wet food always safer?

Relatively lower in heavy metals, but watch freshness.