Banned Ingredients

No Artificial Preservatives

• BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) have both been linked to cancer by sources like the World Health Organization and as well as the US National Toxicology Program. They are both also incredibly hard for dogs to digest so they can also aggravate food allergies and intolerances.
• Propyl Gallate (also listed as Gallic Acid or Propyl Ester) is often used in conjunction with BHA/BHT. It can mimic the negative effects of estrogen, and is linked to cancer, liver, kidney, breathing and skin issues.
• Propylene Glycol, a relative to antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol) and it is banned in the European Union from being added to dog foods. It is disruptive to healthy digestion and has been shown in studies to cause nervous system damage, intestinal lesions/blockage, and cancer.
• Ethoxyquin was originally developed as a chemical pesticide for fruit, before being used as a preservative. Studies have shown links to kidney and liver damage, hyperthyroidism, reproductive issues, cancer, blindness, and immune deficiency syndrome.
• TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) contains petroleum-derived butane and is also used to stabilize explosive compounds and make varnishes. It has been linked to stomach cancer and can damage cellular DNA.
• Sodium Metabisulphite can trigger severe allergic reactions in dogs. Exposure can also cause nervous system damage and issues with circulation.
• Sodium Nitrite is potentially highly carcinogenic.
• Carrageenan has been linked to cancer and severe inflammation in dogs.

 

No Artificial Flavors

PupJoy bans any flavor additive substance that isn’t made from real foods: fruit, vegetables, spices, plants, eggs, meats, fish or dairy. They can cause food sensitives and allergies. This also includes animal digest as a flavor enhancer, which results from a chemical breakdown of un-named leftover animal parts, that can include rancid or diseased parts.

No Artificial Sweeteners

Dogs can’t process artificial sweeteners. Xylitol and other sugar alcohols can cause vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Sorbitol is a synthetic sweetener that is linked to arthritis and is known to cause a range of digestion issues including vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping, and bloody stools.

No Artificial Colors

PupJoy bans artificial color dyes like caramel coloring, red #40, blue #2, and yellow #5. They do not add any nutritional value and can also trigger a range of health issues in dogs like hyperactivity, allergic reactions, organ damage, and cancer.

 

No Dangerous By-Products

Animal by-product means everything that is left of an animal carcass once the meat and bones have been removed. Essentially, slaughterhouse scraps. Manufacturers create animal by-products by cooking animal carcasses at such a high heat that it melts the material. This can include diseased, rotten, and euthanized animal flesh but can also be hooves, beaks, feathers, and other waste from meat processing. These products are not healthy for your dog as they are hard to digest and come from dangerous sources.

No Dangerous Meat "Meals"

Some dog foods or treats will list "meat meal" or simply just "meat" as an ingredient in their food. When manufacturers include this nondescript language on an ingredient list, it often is a mixture of several types of meats including dead livestock or zoo animals. Yes, you read that right.

No Dangerous Fats

While good animal fats can be healthy for dogs, the FDA regulations for generic animal fat in dog food allows the fat to be chemically preserved and sourced from “dead, non-slaughtered, diseased, or euthanized animals.” Tallow is chemically preserved as well, and can include rancid restaurant grease.