Pesticides residues in pet food: A market-based study on prevalence and toxicological implications

Pesticide residues in pet food pose potential risks to animal health, yet their occurrence and dietary exposure in companion animals remain largely unexplored. This study analyzed 83 commercial dry pet food products (43 for dogs and 40 for cats) from the Spanish market to assess pesticide contamination and associated toxicological risks. A total of 51 pesticides were detected, predominantly fungicides (47 %) and insecticides (37 %), with 37.25 % of them banned in the European Union. Pesticide residues were significantly more prevalent in pet food containing vegetable ingredients (p = 0.041). Although pesticide residues were detected more frequently in dog food than in cat food (p < 0.05), total pesticide concentrations did not significantly differ between species. The estimated daily intake (EDI), calculated according to manufacturer-recommended feeding rates, revealed significant differences in exposure levels between dogs and cats for specific compounds. However, cumulative exposure assessments through the Hazard Index (HI) indicated that all pesticide groups remained below the risk threshold (HI < 1), with a worst-case scenario of 0.32. Despite the frequent detection of non-approved pesticides and regulatory concerns, our findings indicate that chronic dietary exposure to these pesticide residues in pet food is unlikely to pose an immediate toxicological risk, based on calculations using current regulatory thresholds, which are established for individual compounds. However, the long-term effects of chronic low-dose exposure to pesticide mixtures remain uncertain and require further investigation. The absence of specific maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pet food underscores the need for stricter regulations and systematic monitoring to ensure long-term safety. To our knowledge, this is one of the first comprehensive investigations assessing both pesticide prevalence and potential dietary exposure in companion animals, highlighting the urgent need for improved regulatory frameworks to address the presence of non-approved pesticides in pet food.