What Are the Chemicals Used in Some Dry Dog Foods?

What Are the Chemicals in Dry Dog Foods?

And why fresh food is a cleaner, safer choice for your dog

When you pick up a bag of dry dog food, it might seem like a convenient and complete option—but have you ever looked at the ingredients list and wondered what all those unpronounceable names are? Beneath the kibble’s crunchy exterior lies a cocktail of chemicals, additives, and preservatives that can impact your dog’s long-term health.

Here’s a closer look at the kinds of chemicals commonly found in dry dog food—and why more and more pet parents are making the switch to fresh alternatives like Poppy’s Picnic.

To make kibble shelf-stable, manufacturers use artificial preservatives to stop fats from going rancid. Common examples include:

These chemicals are banned or heavily restricted in human food in many countries. The World Health Organization lists BHA and ethoxyquin as potential carcinogens. Yet, they’re still found in some pet foods.

Some brands opt for “natural” preservatives like tocopherols (Vitamin E) or ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), but these have a much shorter shelf life and often appear alongside synthetic chemicals in less transparent formulations.

Dry food loses much of its natural aroma and taste during high-temperature processing. To make it appealing, manufacturers add:

These aren’t harmful in small amounts, but they mask the fact that the original ingredients may have been low quality or heavily processed.

Kibble often contains synthetic dyes to make it look more appealing to human buyers. These include:

There’s no nutritional benefit to artificial colouring—it’s purely marketing. Some dyes have been linked to behavioural issues and allergies in both animals and humans.

To avoid mould and bacterial growth in storage, some manufacturers use chemical agents like:

While regulated for safety, the cumulative effect of ingesting these chemicals daily isn’t well studied in dogs, especially those with compromised immune systems.

Because high-temperature extrusion destroys many natural nutrients, dry food is typically fortified with synthetic supplements. These may include:

These aren’t inherently bad, but they’re a sign that the food’s natural nutritional value has been degraded during processing and needs to be ‘patched up’ afterwards.

At Poppy’s Picnic, we believe dogs deserve real food. That’s why our raw and gently cooked meals are made with fresh, human-grade meat, vegetables, and oils—without synthetic additives, preservatives, or colourings.

Because our meals aren’t processed at extreme temperatures, they retain their natural nutrients, including fragile enzymes and amino acids. We naturally balance our recipes to FEDIAF guidelines, using real ingredients—not artificial chemicals—to ensure your dog gets everything they need to thrive.

Our Mighty Mince and Power Balls ranges are perfect examples of clean nutrition with transparency at the heart.

Many pet parents assume that because dry food is marketed as ‘complete’, it must be the best option. But a closer look at the chemical additives tells a different story.

By switching to fresh food, you can feed your dog meals that are not only free from unnecessary chemicals but also closer to what nature intended—fresh, nourishing, and made with love.

Curious about making the switch? Explore the full range at Poppy’s Picnic. Your dog will taste the difference—and you’ll see it in their health, energy, and happiness.