Dog Food Heavy Metals: What Pet Parents Need to Know in 2026
Our dogs tend to eat the same thing every day, so there are a lot of decisions that go into making the right choice for them. The ingredients, your budget, and your pup’s needs and tastes are just some of the key considerations for owners.
With the publication of a recent report focusing on contaminants in dog food – specifically dry food like kibble – the conversation for concerned owners has turned to heavy metals. What exactly are they? Are they regulated? And what level is safe in your dog’s food?
Worrying headlines can incite panic, so here’s what you need to know about the report’s findings and current regulations, plus we share guidance on how to evaluate dog food safety so you can make an informed decision about feeding your pup.
⚙️ What Do Heavy Metals in Dog Food Mean?
Heavy metals are elements like lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. These occur naturally and can safely appear in small amounts in both human and pet food.
The FDA describes these as non-essential trace elements1: “elements that have no physiologic role in the body and can be harmful if consumed in excess.”
In a 2019 report2 on heavy metals in animal food, the FDA acknowledged: “For these heavy metals, high levels can be toxic; however, eliminating them entirely from our animal food supply is not always possible because these metals are found in the air, water, and soil.”
Certain farming and manufacturing processes can cause a higher concentration of heavy metals. So, depending on the processes and ingredients used in a dog food, this can lead to potentially harmful higher levels of heavy metals.
🗣️ Why Is Everyone Talking About Heavy Metals in Dog Food Now?
Recently, the Clean Label Project, a non-profit organization that tests consumer products, released a report3 that found high levels of lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium in dry dog food.
This report made national headlines, which has understandably caused a rise in concerned dog owners wanting to find out more. Major headlines (including coverage from CNN4 and NBC News) framed these findings as “alarming,” especially for dry kibble.
The Clean Label Project tested 79 bestselling dog food products5 for contaminants, including heavy metals. It tested food across a range of categories, including fresh, frozen, dry, and freeze-dried.
What the 2026 Clean Label Project Study Found
The report came to the following conclusions:
❌ Dry dog food contained more arsenic, more lead, and more acrylamide than fresh/frozen alternatives.
✅ Fresh and frozen food has significantly lower contaminant levels than dry dog food (up to 21x less lead and 20x less mercury).
✅ Products that were labeled "human-grade" or using fresh, whole ingredients consistently tested cleaner across all contaminant categories.
Arsenic: 11.8x higher than fresh/frozen
Cadmium: 6.0x higher than fresh/frozen
Mercury: 24.0x higher than fresh/frozen
Lead: 21.2x higher than fresh/frozen
📋 How Do Pet Food Safety Standards Work?
Due to a lack of legal regulations for heavy metals in dog food, The Clean Label Project compared its findings to data from human-consumable products.
However, while there are no specific federal guidelines when it comes to industrial and chemical contaminants (including heavy metals) in dog food, there are some important regulatory and guiding bodies in the broader animal feed space that have released data and guidance on this topic.
🏢 Regulatory Body | 🎯 Purpose | 📢 Guidance on Heavy Metals? | 📊 Maximum Tolerable Levels (MLT) Listed for Complete Feed |
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | Regulates pet food under The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act6 (FD&C Act), which ensures that “all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.” | The FDA has not published formal guidance, action levels, or tolerances for heavy metal levels in animal food. | N/A - Its 2019 report on heavy metals2 used data from the two bodies listed below. |
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) | The AAFCO is an independent organization that sets standards for pet food, which help guide state, federal, and international regulations. | The AAFCO publishes guidance in its Official Publication7 for members. | Arsenic - 50 ppm |
National Research Council of the National Academies (NRC) | The NRC provides expert, objective advice to the federal government on science, engineering, and medical issues. | Published the “Mineral Tolerance of Animals” in 20058, which contains some maximum tolerable levels for pet food, although there’s no specific category for dogs. | Arsenic - 30 ppm |
The levels found in the CLP study are below the current maximum tolerable levels of heavy metals for animal feed listed by the above organizations. For example, the CLP found 1,576.5 ppb of lead in the highest sample, while the AAFCO limit is 10,000 ppb.
However, the MLT figures relate to animal feed generally (calculated using the most sensitive species listed in the NRC’s 2005 report, not dogs). There has been discussion around whether these figures are now outdated and don’t reflect the latest science on the subject, with people arguing that human food levels are updated regularly, while pet food falls behind10.
⚠️ So, Are These Levels Actually Dangerous?
Long-term exposure to heavy metals can negatively affect a dog’s health because of a gradual buildup in the body known as bioaccumulation11. This happens when trace elements are taken in more quickly than they can be processed and removed, allowing them to collect in tissues over time.
If a dog regularly eats food containing heavy metals above recommended amounts, this may increase the risk of accumulation. Since many dogs eat the same diet every day, repeated exposure to a single food source can make them more susceptible. Dogs are also likely to consume more heavy metals relative to body weight than humans.
The CLP paper cited studies that show heavy metals can build up in a dog’s liver and kidneys12, as well as studies linking cancer in pets to increased exposure to cadmium13 and lead14.
It’s important to note, as the CLP does, that many factors contribute to an elevated cancer risk, though, “including sex, neuter or spay status, genetics, exercise, diet, and environmental conditions.”
🔖 Are The Clean Label Project’s Findings Legit?
The Clean Label Project (CLP)’s mission is to “uncover the often-overlooked risks associated with environmental contaminants and toxins found in everyday products.” The CLP works with accredited labs and has been transparent about its methodology and process. For this paper, products were tested in collaboration with an accredited lab, Ellipse Analytics15.
The CLP has published the full white paper and methodology on its website, which breaks down the findings.
The CLP’s concerning results have, unsurprisingly, kicked off a lot of discussion around safety in pet food. However, for balance, there are a few limitations to the study to bear in mind:
Other than listing its top “Clean 16” recommendations, the CLP did not publish brand-specific results, which limits its usefulness to consumers
Detailed raw data is unavailable for peer review
While CLP did adjust for serving size, fresh food has a much higher water content than dry food
Recipes were not selected like-for-like; for example, there were no fish recipes tested for fresh/frozen food
Comparisons were made to human food standards. This can be difficult to compare for several reasons, as dog food is created to be a whole meal, while human consumables are usually standalone items eaten as part of a wider diet.
🧐 Ingredient Combinations To Look Out For
Heavy metal levels can arise from a variety of sources. The Clean Label Project flagged key ingredient contributors in its report. This is useful, actionable information for owners studying the ingredients in their dog’s food, regardless of brand or food type.
Ingredient | Example | Reason |
🐟 Fish and Seafood | Salmon | Bioaccumulation of arsenic and mercury in marine life |
🫀 Animal by-products | Bones, and organ meats such as liver, kidney, spleen | Heavy metals tend to concentrate in organs and bones16 |
🍚 Plant-based carbohydrates | Rice | Can accumulate metals from the soil |
💊 Vitamin and mineral premixes | - | These can naturally contain trace metals |
🔄 So, Should You Switch Dog Food Brands? Here’s What to Consider First
While the CLP didn’t release the results of how each tested brand performed individually, it did release a list of its “Clean 16”, which were its highest-rated products17. As the overall results suggested, the majority of these recommended brands fell in the “fresh/frozen” category.
If you’re thinking about a change, here are some questions that may help guide you in the decision-making process:
Signs you may want to consider changing: | What to look out for when evaluating dog food quality: |
❌ Fish-heavy formulas | ✅ Brands that use human-grade ingredients and processes |
❌ Rice-dominant ingredient list | ✅ Brands that use third-party testing for heavy metals |
❌ Lack of third-party testing transparency | ✅ Brands that are transparent regarding ingredient sourcing |
❌ Lack of ingredient transparency | ✅ Brands that offer a variety of protein options |
💵 The Premium Cost Problem
Brands that offer human-grade ingredients, go above and beyond AAFCO standards, and test for heavy metals are often premium brands. And the reality is, these brands come with a higher price tag than standard kibble.
Our pets are part of the family, so this can cause a great deal of guilt and anxiety for owners who would like to switch to a premium food but can’t afford it. This is especially the case for owners of larger breeds or multiple dogs, where costs are already higher.
While there’s no getting around the fact that high-quality, fresh food usually costs more, there are ways to make changes while allowing for budget constraints. For example, making ingredient-level swaps and changes, or considering partial fresh feeding.
📉 Ways to Reduce Exposure
If the recent discussion has prompted you to consider a change to your pup’s food, here are a few options to consider. I’ve laid out how these might affect your budget, and some of the pros and cons of each.
Action | Budget | Example | Pros | Cons |
Switch/rotate proteins with the same brand | 💲 | Switch from salmon recipes to chicken | ✅ Easy swap | ❌ Limited by your pup’s likes/intolerances of ingredients |
Upgrade to fresh/frozen food | 💲💲💲 | Switch to a brand offering fresh/frozen meals | ✅ Fresh brands had lower levels of contaminants across the board in the CLP’s report | ❌ Fresh/frozen food is more expensive |
Introduce a fresh/frozen topper | 💲💲 | Add a fresh topper from a service with a partial plan, or create a fresh topper yourself at home | ✅ More affordable than switching to fully fresh | ❌ Not all companies offer partial plans |
Rotate food types | 💲 | Change brands/recipes regularly | ✅ Changing meals may stop the bioaccumulation of any one contaminant over a period of time | ❌ May be difficult for picky eaters or pups with sensitive stomachs or allergies |
Final Reality Check: What We Know vs What We Don’t
The CLP’s findings had a clear message: dry food contained significantly higher levels of heavy metals than fresh/frozen food. These levels are below publishd max tolerable levels for animal feed, which may provide some reassurance; however, there are questions around whether that guidance itself is up to date. Given these uncertainties, it’s clear that there’s a lot we still don’t know about heavy metals in pet food, and this area of research would benefit from long-term health studies.
While owners have little control over what happens at a regulatory or research level, there are some practical next steps you can take. Information on the heavy metal content of specific ingredients can be particularly useful when choosing recipes. Rotating meals is another possibility to reduce worries around potential bioaccumulation.
When it comes to brands, consider companies that make food to human-grade requirements and carry out third-party testing on contaminants like heavy metals. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the company’s customer support with these queries if you can’t easily find the information online.
Understandably, pet parents may feel anxious reading worrying headlines. If you’re engaging with this topic, then you’re already on the right track to making an informed decision for your pup, whatever you choose. Lastly, if you have any concerns or need further advice on your pup’s diet, reach out to your vet for tailored support.
FAQs
What specific ingredients in dog food cause the highest heavy metal levels?
Fish/seafood, organ meats, bone meal, and rice are all key ingredients that can contribute to higher levels of heavy metals.
Are premium dog foods actually lower in heavy metals than cheaper brands?
Price or brand reputation isn’t the key factor – the type of food and its ingredients matter more. Recent CLP research found that fresh/frozen dog foods contained significantly lower levels of contaminants than dry kibble, with up to 21 times less lead and 20 times less mercury.
Products made with human-grade ingredients also performed better. Protein choice can make a difference, too, with fish-based recipes generally showing higher mercury levels than meat-based options. That said, foods made with fresh, human-grade ingredients often do come at a higher price.
If I feed kibble, what can I add to my dog's diet to reduce the impact of heavy metals?
If budget allows, you can consider partial fresh feeding (some companies offer 50% fresh plans or toppers). Look for companies that are transparent about their ingredients and processes. You can also consider rotating recipes regularly or switching out certain proteins for others.
References
1. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/biological-chemical-and-physical-contaminants-animal-food/chemical-contaminants
2. https://www.fda.gov/media/132046/download?attachment
3. https://cleanlabelproject.org/dog-food-study/
4. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/12/health/dog-food-toxins-wellness
5. https://cleanlabelproject.org/dog-food-category-tested-products/
6. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-foods-feeds/pet-food
7. http://www.aafco.org/Publications [Association of American Feed Control Officials. (2019). 2019 AAFCO Official Publication.]
8. https://natureslogic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/NRC-2005.pdf [National Research Council of the National Academies. (2005). Mineral Tolerance of Animals. (Second Revised ed.). Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.]
9. https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/number/ppm-to-ppb.html
10. https://truthaboutpetfood.com/antiquated-risk-levels-extremely-high-levels-of-lead-mercury-arsenic-and-cadmium/
11. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/bioaccumulation
12. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4655766/
13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325013508
14. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4937060/#:~:text=They%20found%20that%20the%20intracellular,their%20corresponding%20controls%20%5B43%5D.
15. https://www.ellipseanalytics.com/
16. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-00467-4#:~:text=According%20to%20NRC60%2C%20some,contamination%20of%20these%20by%2Dproducts
17. https://cleanlabelproject.org/wp-content/uploads/CLP_Clean16_DogFood_020326_WEB-1.pdf
