Study finds lead in 99% cat foods tested

The Clean Label Project released its 2026 Cat Food Category Report on Oct. 2, 2026, after testing 100 products from 62 brands for more than 122 contaminants. Lead was detected in 99% of products, cadmium in 96%, and arsenic in 94%. Glyphosate was found in 37% and DEHP in about half. Dry food had roughly three times more lead than wet or air-dried products. Fish and seafood had roughly 18 times more mercury; wet seafood had nearly 28 times as much as other wet meats. Nearly 85% of poultry-based foods met the group's purity standard, versus 25.7% of fish and seafood products. Molly Hamilton said most cats eat the same foods nearly every day, with little variation, and that the contaminants are an ongoing exposure that may accumulate in cats' bodies over their lifetimes. Elise Fennig said cat owners should feel confident that the food they feed their pets is safe and produced according to rigorous regulatory and quality standards. Ryan Babadi said major retailers have the responsibility to require their suppliers to eliminate harmful chemicals from pet food and packaging. The study compares contamination levels; it does not establish that any tested food is unsafe or will cause harm, and results reflect single batches.