Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Pet Food Ingredients

Toxic Menadione

Why hasn’t AAFCO addressed the toxicity of menadione? Why is industry still telling pet food consumers Menadione is safe? One little paragraph from Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University should be read by AAFCO, FDA and all pet food manufacturers that use this toxic ingredient.

Why hasn’t AAFCO addressed the toxicity of menadione?  Why is industry still telling pet food consumers Menadione is safe?  One little paragraph from Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University should be read by AAFCO, FDA and all pet food manufacturers that use this toxic ingredient.

Quoting the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University description of Vitamin K…

“Although allergic reaction is possible, there is no known toxicity associated with high doses of the phylloquinone (vitamin K1) or menaquinone (vitamin K2) forms of vitamin K (20). The same is not true for synthetic menadione (vitamin K3) and its derivatives. Menadione can interfere with the function of glutathione, one of the body’s natural antioxidants, resulting in oxidative damage to cell membranes. Menadione given by injection has induced liver toxicity, jaundice, and hemolytic anemia (due to the rupture of red blood cells) in infants; therefore, menadione is no longer used for treatment of vitamin K deficiency.”

The Material Safety Data sheet on Menadione-sodium bisulfite states: “The substance is toxic
to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.”

To make matters worse, AAFCO regulations require the synthetic Menadione to be used in cat foods containing more than 25% fish (dry matter).  It would not matter if the cat food has sufficient vitamin K sourced from food (spinach, olive oil)…regulations require the addition of Menadione to cat foods containing high levels of fish.  As well, as far as a supplement in pet foods – Menadione is the ONLY approved supplement for vitamin K per AAFCO.  Vitamin K can be sourced from food, but if a supplement is added, only K3 menadione is allowed in all pet foods.  A vitamin K made from food (such as a vitamin supplement sourced from spinach), would not be allowed.

Pet food industry consultant Dr. Greg Aldrich disagrees that Menadione is risk.  “While small amounts of vitamin K are required in the diet and might be provided by whole ingredients or healthy gut fermentation, the uncertainty of these sources leads many petfood companies to supplement with commercial vitamin K3 (menadione).  Judicious use of nutritional vitamin K3 is clearly not toxic, so this notion that vitamin K3 as an ingredient in petfoods should not be used is unfounded and should be reversed.  Further, it is hoped that through education and communication, consumers can be made aware that not all that is printed on enthusiasts’ websites is correct.”

I disagree Dr. Aldrich.  Information is available to the toxic effects on humans (per material safety data sheet and research quoted by Linus Pauling Institute);  more than likely this information was initially researched on animals.  Regardless to your statement the ingredient has been used in pet foods for 50 years, there’s a reason menadione is considered toxic for humans…I have to assume this toxicity was discovered through test animals.  There’s more to the story of menadione you are not telling us.  (Darn those pet food enthusiasts websites.)

Personally, my pets will not be consuming any synthetic vitamin K.  Go natural vitamin K!

 

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com

What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients?  Chinese imports?  Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 2500 cat foods, dog foods,  and pet treats.  30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com

 

BB small

 

Have you read Buyer Beware?  Click Here

 

 

 

DP small

 

Cooking for pets made easy, Dinner PAWsible

 

 

 

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?  Click Here to subscribe

Follow Truth about Pet Food on Twitter

Become a Fan of Truth about Pet Food, Dinner PAWsible, Buyer Beware on Facebook

Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Patty

    July 27, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    Is Menadione in Purina Pro Plan bright mind adult large breed? My dig had been eating it for 4 weeks, on the 4th week, she developed seuzures, and has them ever since. Currently she’s being followed for Insulinoma. I really think it’s the food she was eating. Help!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Learn More

Human Grade & Feed Grade
Do you know what the differences are between Feed Grade and Human Grade pet food? Click Here.

 

The Regulations
Pet Food is regulated by federal and state authorities. Unfortunately, authorities ignore many safety laws. Click Here to learn more about the failures of the U.S. pet food regulatory system.

 

The Many Styles of Pet Food
An overview of the categories, styles, legal requirements and recall data of commercial pet food in the U.S. Click Here.

 

The Ingredients
Did you know that all pet food ingredients have a separate definition than the same ingredient in human food? Click Here.

Click Here for definitions of animal protein ingredients.

Click Here to calculate carbohydrate percentage in your pet’s food.

 

Sick Pet Caused by a Pet Food?

If your pet has become sick or has died you believe is linked to a pet food, it is important to report the issue to FDA and your State Department of Agriculture.

Save all pet food – do not return it for a refund.

If your pet required veterinary care, ask your veterinarian to report to FDA.

Click Here for FDA and State contacts.

The List

The Treat List

Special Pages to Visit

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Click Here

Pet Food Recall History (2007 to present)
Click Here

Find Healthy Pet Foods Stores
Click Here

About TruthaboutPetFood.com
Click Here

Friends of TruthaboutPetFood.com
Click Here

You May Also Like

Pet Food Ingredients

Laws require transparency within the pet food industry, but not for you.

Pet Food Regulations

A multi-billion dollar a year industry founded on an illegal process.

Pet Food Ingredients

Is pet food actually as safe as we are told? Is pet food safe for consumers to bring into their homes, safe for children...

Pet Food Ingredients

We educate consumers to risk ingredients, so pet food works out a plan…they just won’t list all those risk ingredients on the pet food...