Agar-Agar in dog food is approved as a food additive and is generally recognized as safe. It is mainly used as a gelling agent, thickener, or stabilizer in canned pet food.
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What is Agar-Agar?
Agar-Agar is extracted from the cell walls of various red algae such as Gelidium or Gracilaria.
Industrial production in Japan began in the early 18th century[1]. However, the term “agar-agar” is Malay for the type of jelly seaweeds people in Southeast Asia harvested for centuries.
Agar-Agar is a colorless to yellowish powder and consists of the polysaccharides agaropectin and agarose.
And agarose is a hydrocolloid with lots of gelling power.
Agar-Agar as a Food Additive
Agar might be used in the US as a gelling agent, stabilizer, or thickener, for example in canned dog food.
Agar dissolves in boiling water and forms a firm gel when cooled back to about 40 °C and does not melt again below 85 °C. That’s right, it gels and melts at different temperatures.
For this reason, agar is used in a variety of culinary or industrial applications as well as in pet food.
Manufacturers can choose between a variety of gelling agents for their products like carrageenan which is also obtained from red algae or alginates made from brown seaweeds.
Other examples of natural gums used in dog food include locust bean gum, guar gum, or xanthan gum.
Is Agar-Agar in Dog Food Safe?
In the US, Agar-Agar is approved as a food additive in dog food. It is listed as a stabilizer and is generally recognized as safe[2].
To qualify for this status, a substance must have a history of being used in food in the past and its safety must have been demonstrated based on extensive scientific evidence.
In 2016, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) re-evaluated the safety of agar (E 406) as a food additive for human consumption. They concluded that it`s safe to use[3].
Agar has no nutritional value, but might be slightly fermented by intestinal microorganisms. In higher doses, it could act as a dietary fiber with a mild laxative effect.
But given that agar has been used in pet foods in the past without causing significant problems and given the very small amounts used in most pet food, it is very unlikely to be harmful to your dog.
Further Reading
[1] FAO Technical Cooperation Programme. https://www.fao.org/3/x5822e/x5822e03.htm
[2] Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 582.7115 Agar-agar.
[3] European Food Safety Authority. Scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of agar (E 406) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 2016. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4645
[4] European Food Safety Authority. Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of agar for pets and non-food-producing animals (Hispanagar). EFSA Journal. 2022. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7284