Does acana dog food contain heavy metals

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Top 5 Pet Foods That Tested HIGH for Lead, BPA, and Toxic Contaminants (plus top five to use instead)

PHOTO: pxhere.com

Pet cancers are on the rise, just like cancer in humans. Some breeds of dogs, such as the golden retriever, have a 60% chance of getting cancer in their lifetime (a slightly higher prevalence than people). Smaller dogs and cats have a lower risk, but all pets are at risk for this disease. Aside from some genetic mutations pets have gone through in the name of purebred breeds, the big culprit of pet cancer growth is hidden in environmental factors particular what food they eat.

Just as processed food we eat is a recently new movement, our pets also used to eat home cooked meals, or raw meat whatever their owners could spare from their own kitchens. This is how things were for over 16,000 years of the first domesticated pets.

Commercially sold pet food did not become available until around 1860s (but only as luxury food). A century later, the first canned food became available in the U.S. in 1922; and these canned full-meals gained popularity in the 1960s, when pets were accepted as a part of the family.

Unfortunately, at the same time as the food we eat has become more and more unhealthy full of genetically modified ingredients (GMOs), banned-in-other-countries chemicals, and contaminated with heavy metals the same has happened to pet food.

Except the amounts of these toxins are astonishingly higher, and they are given to animals with much smaller bodies, thus an even worse risk. This is contributing to a number of pet diseases including cancer.

To help prevent your pet from getting sick, the Clean Label Project tested 1,084 pet food products (both wet and dry dog and cat food) in 2017 and found the ones that are the safest and the ones that are the riskiest.

Did your dogs favorite food brand make the list?

Health Risks Associated with Toxic Ingredients in Pet Food

When looking at the contaminants commonly found in pet food, the ones that are of most concern starting from the worst one are:

Mercury: 62 Contaminated Cans of Food Per Month

Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that has been linked to neurological impairment, and fish has been heavily contaminated with mercury due to environmental pollution. A few years back it became such a high-risk food that health organizations issued a warning for consumers that the safe limit for an adult is three cans of tuna a month, two cans of tuna for a child ages 6 to 12, and only half a can of tuna for a child under the age of 6.

The Clean Label Project found the same amount of mercury in many brands of pet food as in a can of tuna. By weight alone, pets, especially cats, can consume extremely high amounts of mercury from wet canned food. While a 4-year-old child who weighs about 40 pounds is recommended just a half a can of tuna per month, a cat with an average weight of about 10 pounds can consume 62 cans of this contaminated food per month if fed twice a day.

That is an almost 500 times higher risk.

Lead: 16 Times Higher Contamination Than Flint Water

Lead is another heavy metal and a neurotoxin, is associated neurological impairment, gastrointestinal problems, skeletal symptoms, renal issues, cardiac symptoms, and liver dysfunction.

It has been of high concern of many after it was found severely over the safe limit in Flint, Michigan water supplies that poisoned many children.

While the allowed limit is 15 PPB (even though there is no safe limit for lead), and the water in Flint contained 158 PPB, pet food was found to be contaminated with as much as 1,420 PPB.

BPA: 980% More Than in Chicken Soup

BPA or Bisphenol A is a toxin often found in plastics, can lead to heart issues, cancer, and again, neurological impairment. The testing found 980% higher amounts of BPA in pet food than in a can of chicken soup.

Cadmium: 206% More Than in Cigarettes

Cadmium, yet another heavy metal is also linked to neurological impairment as well as high blood pressure, and kidney and liver damage.

In pet food, it was measured as high as 3,512 PPB, more than twice higher than in cigarette tobacco (1,700 PPB).

Other Risky Contaminants

Acrylamide, a chemical used in industrial processes of making dyes and plastics, can lead to neurological impairment and gastrointestinal problems.

Pesticides are linked to neurological impairment and kidney damage.

Mycotoxins, often used in bioterrorism, are associated with cancer risk.

Arsenic, also known as rat poison, leads to gastrointestinal issues. There was twice more arsenic found in 75% of pet foods than the EPA allows in drinking water.

Antibiotics cause antibiotic resistance.

(All of these are equally dangerous for humans).

Tips on Choosing the Safest Pet Food

Out of all of the pet food tested, the Clean Label Projects found three main repeating findings that you have to know:

Pet food that is labeled grain-free has the highest amount of contaminants (with some exceptions).
Products that contain fish tested the worst with the most amounts of toxins.
Products that use turkey as their main ingredient are the safest with the least amount of chemicals.
Look at brand report cards to see how your favorite brand rates.

Best of Dog Food: Dry, Wet, and Snacks

Out of all of the products tested, the Clean Label Project provided a simple and useful top 5 list for pet owners to know which products to choose from and which to avoid. These lists go through both wet and dry foods, and snacks.

You can look at these individually at Clean Label Project.

PHOTO: The Clean Label Project

#1 BEST DRY DOG FOOD: TruDog Feed Me Crunchy Munchy Gourmet Gobbler Great Life Grain & Potato Free Chicken

Others include:

Canidae Grain Free Under the Sun Adult With Chicken Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breeds Natural Purina Puppy Chow Tender & Crunchy

#1 BEST WET DOG FOOD: Stella & Chewys Frozen Chewys Chicken Dinner Patties

Others include:

Whole Paws Grain Free Turkey & Sweet Potato Stew Simply Nourish Grain Free Beef Pot Roast Dinner Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken and Sweet Potato Formula in Broth Shreds Simply Nourish Grain Free Turkey & Duck Stew

#1 BEST DOG TREATS: Dogswell Nutrisca Solos Chicken Breast

Others Include:

The Honest Kitchen Instant Goats Milk Trader Joes Smoked Chicken Tender The Honest Kitchen Joyful Jerky Filets Chicken Full Moon Chicken Strips

Worst Dog Food Brands

THE #1 WORST DRY DOG FOOD: Holistic Select Grain Free Adult & Puppy Health Salmon and Anchovy and Sardine Meal Recipe

Others Include:

Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Ocean Fusion TimberWolf Grain Free Legends Lamb and Herring with Apples and Herbs Simple Nourish Limited Ingredient Diet Sweet Potato & Salmon Recipe TimberWolf Grain Free Legends Black Forest Venison and Lamb with Herbs and Berries

THE #1 WORST WET DOG FOOD: Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Diet Sweet Potato and Fish Formula

Others Include:

Solid Gold Hund-N-Flocken Lamb, Brown Rice & Barley Recipe Wellness Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Diet Simple Whitefish and Potato Formula Sojos Wild Free Range Venison Recipe Wellness Whitefish and Sweet Potato

#1 WORST DOG TREATS: Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Treats Sweet Potato and Fish Formula

Others Include:

Hi Tek Rations Naturals Peanut Butter Flavor Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Treats Small Breed Brown Rice and Lamb Meal Formula Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Treats Sweet Potato and Chicken Formula Iams Proactive Health Small Biscuits with Natural Chicken Flavor

Best of Cat Food: Dry, Wet, and Snacks

Others Include:

PHOTO: The Clean Label Project

#1 BEST DRY CAT FOOD: Purina Beyond Simply White Meat Chicken and Whole Oat Recipe

Others Include:

Canidae Grain Free Under the Sun Indoor With Chicken Meow Mix Tender Centers Salmon and White Meat Chicken Purina Grain Free Beyond White Meat Chicken and Egg Recipe 9 Lives Daily Essentials Chicken, Beef, and Salmon

#1 BEST WET CAT FOOD: Whole Paws

Others Include:

Grain Free Turkey, Chicken & Giblets Dinner Purina Friskies Savory Shreds Turkey and Cheese Dinner in Gravy Whole Paws Grain Free Beef & Chicken Dinner Purina Friskies Indoor Homestyle Turkey Dinner with Garden Greens Whiskas Purrfectly Chicken

#1 BEST CAT SNACKS: Three Dog Bakery We Pity the Kitties Premium Chicken

Others Include:

Pet Pride Growth & Maintenance Chicken Dinner in Gravy Pet PrideGrowth & Maintenance Turkey & Gravy Giblets in Gravy OrijenWild Boar Natural Wild Boar Pet PrideGrowth & Maintenance Beef in Gravy

Worst of Cat Food

#1 WORST DRY CAT FOOD:

Others Include:

Taste of the Wild Grain Free Canyon River Feline Formula Trout and Smoked Salmon Natures Logic Feline Sardine Meal Feast Wellness Complete Health Indoor Health Salmon & Whitefish Meal Recipe Wellness Grain Free Core Original Formula OrijenRegional Red Angus Beef, Wild Boar, Goat, Lamb, Pork, Mackerel

#1 WORST WET CAT FOOD: Purina Fancy Feast Flaked Tuna Feast

Others Include:

Purina Fancy Feast Delights Grilled Tuna and Cheddar Cheese Feast Blue Buffalo Pate Healthy Gourmet Ocean Fish & Tuna Recipe Hills Science Diet Adult 1-6 Tender Tuna Dinner B.F.F. Valentine Tuna & Pumpkin Recipe in Gravy

#1 WORST CAT SNACKS: Feline GreeniesSavory Salmon Flavor

Others Include:

Meow MixIrresistibles Crunch Salmon and Ocean Whitefish Flavor PurinaFriskies Party Mix Original Chicken, Liver and Turkey Flavors PurinaFriskies Party Mix Treasure Island Salmon, Shrimp and Tuna Flavors PurinaFriskies Party Mix Beachside Shrimp, Crab & Tuna Flavors

Whats Next in the Fight for Clean Pet Food?

Could poor quality pet food be the reason for the pet cancer epidemic in the United States? Find out more, plus tips for keeping your pet healthy and cancer-free, in the new docu-series The Truth About Pet Cancer airing April 4. Click HERE to reserve your spot for free!!!

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Orijen, Acana Class Action Claims Dog Foods Contain Toxic Metals

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A class action lawsuit claims that Orijen and Acana dog foods contain toxic metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury despite being advertised asfit for human consumption.

Plaintiffs Tracy Simpson and Danika Lolles claim that two brands of dog foods produced by Champion Petfoods USA Inc. are falsely marketed as being made with fresh, regional ingredients that are biologically appropriate.

Simpson and Lolles claim that Champion Petfoods advertisement of the dog foods as being of high quality, and containing fresh, natural ingredients represents false advertisement, breach of warranty, and breach of implied warranty.

Allegedly, the food is advertised as being healthy for dogs, while their inclusion of heavy metals is actively harmful to dogs.

The Orijen, Acana dog food class action lawsuit claims that Champion Petfoods intentionally caters to consumers desire for natural products without harmful chemicals in their purchasing choices for dog foods.

Allegedly, Orijen is advertised to feature fresh, raw, or dehydrated ingredients, from minimally processed poultry, fish and eggs that are deemed fit for human consumption prior to inclusion in our foods. The pet owners claim that this statement is intended to convince consumers that the food is of such high quality that even humans could eat it.

Acana is similarly advertised with language touting its natural ingredients. The Acana label states that the food is bursting with richly nourishing meat and protein from free-fun chicken, whole, nest-laid eggs and wild-caught flounder all delivered fresh from our region so theyre loaded with goodness and taste.

The Champion Petfoods class action lawsuit alleges that the dog food maker financially benefits from catering to consumers preference for natural foods. Simpson and Lolles claim that dog owners prefer natural products so much over other products that they are willing to pay substantially more for natural foods.

In this vein, the plaintiffs state that Champion Petfoods prices Orijen and Acana dog foods at almost four times the price of regular dog food at nearly $80 per bag.

However, the dog food class action lawsuit claims that the food is not natural, healthy for dogs, or fit for human consumption, as claimed in advertisements or on the products labeling. Allegedly, Champion itself produced a paper that detailed average metal levels in its food. The consumers claim that the results of the paper show metal levels that are well above what a dog or a human can safely consume.

The pet owners note that a dog experiencing lead poisoning may exhibit vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, regurgitation, weakness, hysteria, seizures, and blindness. They go on to state that a dog experiencing arsenic poisoning may exhibit vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy, staggering, bright red blood in feces, loss of consciousness, and death.

Simpson and Lolles state that had they known that the dog foods contained heavy metals, they would not have paid as much for the food as they did, or would not have bought them at all. They seek compensation for financial injury for themselves and similarly affected consumers.

Another Orijen, Acana dog foodclass action lawsuit filed in April made similar claims.

The plaintiffs are represented by Robert R. Sparks, Richard S. Wayne, and Joseph J. Braun of Strauss Troy; Phyllis E. Brown and Adam S. Brown of Brown Law Firm LLC; and Ben Barnow and Erich P. Schork of Barnow and Associates PC.

The Orijen, Acana Contaminated Dog Food Class Action Lawsuit is Tracy Simpson, et al. v. Champion Petfoods USA Inc., et al., Case No. 2:18-cv-00074-WOB-CJS, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, at Covington.