Purina® Cat Chow® Indoor Adult Cat Dry Food - Chicken, Natural, Real Meat
Overall Score: 76/100
Ingredients
- Chicken (protein)
- Liver Flavor (other)
- Powdered Cellulose (fiber)
- Soybean Hulls (other)
- Calcium Carbonate (mineral)
- Phosphoric Acid (other)
- Salt (mineral)
- Natural Flavor (additive)
- Choline Chloride (vitamin)
- Parsley Flakes (other)
- Potassium Chloride (mineral)
- Taurine (additive)
- Vitamin E Supplement (vitamin)
- MINERALS [Zinc Sulfate (other)
- Ferrous Sulfate (mineral)
- Manganese Sulfate (other)
- Copper Sulfate (other)
- Calcium Iodate (mineral)
- Sodium Selenite] (other)
- VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement (other)
- Niacin (Vitamin B-3) (other)
- Vitamin A Supplement (vitamin)
- Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5) (other)
- Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1) (other)
- Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2) (other)
- Vitamin B-12 Supplement (other)
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6) (other)
- Folic Acid (vitamin)
- Vitamin D-3 Supplement (other)
- Biotin (Vitamin B-7) (other)
- Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K)] (other)
- Lascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Vitamin C) (other)
- Red 40 (additive)
- Blue 2 (additive)
- Yellow 5 (additive)
Ingredient concerns
- Sodium Selenite (low concern): Sodium selenite is an inorganic form of selenium with a narrower safety margin than organic forms (such as selenium yeast). It has lower bioavailability and higher potential for toxicity at elevated levels compared to organic selenium sources. Some premium pet foods use selenium yeast instead as a safer alternative.
- Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (high concern): Menadione (vitamin K3) is a synthetic form of vitamin K that has been banned for use in human dietary supplements in many countries due to toxicity concerns, including potential liver damage, allergic reactions, and cytotoxicity. It can cause oxidative damage to cell membranes. Natural forms of vitamin K (K1 from plants, K2 from bacterial fermentation) are considered safer alternatives. Despite these concerns, it remains widely used in pet food as an inexpensive vitamin K source.
- Red 40 (high concern): Provides no nutritional benefit whatsoever and is added solely for the visual appeal to human buyers, as dogs and cats have limited color vision. Multiple studies have raised concerns about behavioral effects in children, leading the EU to require warning labels on foods containing Red 40. Some animal studies have suggested potential genotoxicity, though results are debated. The FDA maintains it is safe at approved levels, but many veterinary nutritionists recommend avoiding artificial colors entirely.
- Blue 2 (high concern): Another artificial color with zero nutritional value. Some studies have found associations with brain tumors in male rats at high doses, though these findings are not universally accepted. Like other artificial colors, it exists in pet food solely for marketing purposes and offers no benefit to the animal.
- Yellow 5 (high concern): Like Red 40, Yellow 5 provides no nutritional value and is added only for appearance. It has been associated with hypersensitivity reactions and behavioral effects in children in multiple studies. Banned or restricted in several countries. The EU requires warning labels on products containing tartrazine. No legitimate reason for its inclusion in pet food.
Dry food, with grains, for the adult life stage.
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