- Joined
- Jan 29, 2024
- Messages
- 90
- Purraise
- 53
I’m interested in hearing opinions on which additives are the worst and which are acceptable.
Carrageenan and Agar-Agar: I know Carrageenan has pretty much universally fallen out of favor, but I see quite a few brands use Agar. From what I’ve read they are essentially the same thing – both red algae. So I wonder if Agar is actually any better.
Gums (Guar, Cassia, Xanthan, etc.): These sound terrible, but from the reading I’ve done it seems that they are probably less undesirable than Agar. ???
Fenugreek Seeds: I see some brands (like Rawz) use this as a binder instead of gums. Does anyone know of a downside to these seeds?
Tripolyphosphate: I’ve read mixed information on this. Some sources say it is terrible, to be avoided at all costs, and some seem to indicate it is no worse than other inorganic phosphates, like Tricalcium Phosphate and Sodium Phosphate. I’ve read that inorganic phosphates can be problematic for cats because they are absorbed MUCH more readily than the phosphorous in meat, and then that can lead to imbalances. So I would prefer that they not be in cat foods, but it is pretty hard to avoid them and respectable review sites don’t flag them, so I’ve come to accept them. But my burning question – is Tripolyphosphate actually any worse than the others?
Natural Flavor: This is a big turn off to me, and since I’ve been looking for a new cat food I’m surprised to be seeing it so frequently – even brands that I otherwise thought were pretty good. If they name the source – like natural turkey flavor – I’m tempted to let it go. But then again, from what I’ve read it is still pretty undesirable. Curious what others think.
Carrageenan and Agar-Agar: I know Carrageenan has pretty much universally fallen out of favor, but I see quite a few brands use Agar. From what I’ve read they are essentially the same thing – both red algae. So I wonder if Agar is actually any better.
Gums (Guar, Cassia, Xanthan, etc.): These sound terrible, but from the reading I’ve done it seems that they are probably less undesirable than Agar. ???
Fenugreek Seeds: I see some brands (like Rawz) use this as a binder instead of gums. Does anyone know of a downside to these seeds?
Tripolyphosphate: I’ve read mixed information on this. Some sources say it is terrible, to be avoided at all costs, and some seem to indicate it is no worse than other inorganic phosphates, like Tricalcium Phosphate and Sodium Phosphate. I’ve read that inorganic phosphates can be problematic for cats because they are absorbed MUCH more readily than the phosphorous in meat, and then that can lead to imbalances. So I would prefer that they not be in cat foods, but it is pretty hard to avoid them and respectable review sites don’t flag them, so I’ve come to accept them. But my burning question – is Tripolyphosphate actually any worse than the others?
Natural Flavor: This is a big turn off to me, and since I’ve been looking for a new cat food I’m surprised to be seeing it so frequently – even brands that I otherwise thought were pretty good. If they name the source – like natural turkey flavor – I’m tempted to let it go. But then again, from what I’ve read it is still pretty undesirable. Curious what others think.