Preservatives are common components of pet food products. Many countries have not passed regulations that require companies to indicate the presence of preservatives in their products. 

Many preservatives used in pet food have been associated with specific safety issues that can adversely affect a pet’s health and wellbeing. Cats can suffer from serious illness as a result of long-term thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency brought about by sulfur dioxide and sodium and potassium sulfite in pet food.

Sodium benzoate, a common preservative in pet food and people food, has been shown to significantly lower a cat’s tolerance to benzoic acid, which at certain levels may cause toxicity. 

To avoid or reduce potential health problems associated with preservatives in pet food, certain precautions may be observed by pet owners:

• Choose the best premium quality pet food product you can afford. These products usually come from reputable manufacturers that conform to specific standards of quality. 

• If you are feeding raw meat or bone products to your pet, choose those that are marked “for human consumption only”. These products are protected by laws that ban the use of preservatives in human-grade meat and meat products.

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