why unacceptable ingredients matter
Our pets are beloved members of our families, and keeping them away from potentially harmful ingredients is an important part of helping them have long and happy lives. Good pet products shouldn’t be made with dangerous additives, low-quality ingredients, or shortcuts — and it shouldn’t be a headache for you to make sure you’re giving your pet something you can trust.
As a Certified B Corporation, we’re dedicated to complete transparency in pet health and nutrition. That’s why we openly share information like our unacceptable ingredients list — to empower you with the knowledge you need to make the best choices for your pet and help them thrive.
shop with confidence
We’re committed to making it easy to access high-quality products that are good for your pet and the planet. We know that browsing ingredient lists can be overwhelming, and comparing every item’s product label just isn’t realistic. That’s why we make it easy to give your pet the best. Everything on onlynaturalpet.com and in our flagship store in Boulder has been vetted to ensure none of our unacceptable ingredients are present.
consumables
Consumables are the ingredients found in your pet’s food, treats, and supplements. These are the components that fuel your pet’s daily diet, and it’s critical to make sure that none of these consumables are harmful, toxic, or have known adverse effects. By keeping out unacceptable ingredients from our consumables, we help you provide clean, nutritious products that contribute to your pet’s overall health.
Here are consumable ingredients not allowed in any product we carry:
- Acesulfame-K (acesulfame potassium): an artificial sweetener and known carcinogen
- Animal Digest: a flavoring agent that may include dead, diseased, disabled or dying prior to slaughter
- Animal (Generic) Fat: a fat source that may include rendered animal fat, restaurant grease, or rancid oils
- Aspartame: an artificial sweetner and potential carcinogen
- Azodicarbonamide: a bleaching agent and potential carcinogen
- Beef Tallow: a low quality fat source
- Benzoyl Peroxide: a bleaching agent and potential carcinogen
- BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole): a preservative and potential carcinogen
- BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene): a preservative and potential carcinogen
- Bleached Flour: a flour treatment linked to diabetes
- Bromated Flour (Calcium Bromate/Potassium Bromate): flour treatmet and potential carcinogen
- BVO (Brominated Vegetable Oil): a stabilizer linked to memory loss and nerve/skin damage
- Calcium Saccharin: an artificial sweetner and potential carcinogen
- Cyclamates: an artificial sweetner and potential carcinogen
- Dimethylpolysiloxane: a preservative that is a skin & eye irritant and toxic in its raw form
- DSS (Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate): an emulsifier known to have a laxative effect
- EDTA (isodium calcium/Disodium Dihydrogen): a preservative linked with low blood pressure, kidney failure, and seizures
- GMP (Disodium Guanylate): flavoring enhancer linked with certain neurological diseases
- IMP (Disodium Inosinate): flavoring enhancer linked with certain neurological diseases
- Ethylene Oxide: a preservative and potential carcinogen
- MSG (Monosodium Glutamate): flavoring agent linked with certain neurological diseases
- Parabens: a preservative that's a potential carcinogen and linked with reproductive issues
- Partially Hydrogenated Oil: a trans fat found to increase bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol
- Polydextrose: an artificial fiber typically composed of genetically modified sources
- Potassium Benzoate: a preservative that can temporarily inhibit function of digestive enzymes and may deplete levels of the amino acid glycine
- Propyl Gallate: a preservative and potential carcinogen
- Propylene Glycol: a toxic perservative
- Saccharin: an artificial sweetner and potential carcinogen
- Sucralose: an artificial sweetner that can cause gastrointestinal problems
- Sucrose Polyester: a fat source that may cause gastrointestinal disturbances
- Sulfites (sulfur dioxide): a preservative that may cause fatal Thiamine deficiency
- TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone): a preservative and potential carcinogen
Topicals
Topical products like shampoos, conditioners, and ointments are directly absorbed by your pet’s skin. Since the skin is your pet’s largest organ, it’s important to be aware of what goes into these products. We ensure that none of our topical items contain any harsh or harmful chemicals, so you can care for your pet’s whole body — inside and out — with peace of mind.
Here are topical ingredients not allowed in any product we carry:
- Ammonium Chloride: a thickener and skin irritant
- Glycolic acid: an alpha-hydroxy acid that is a skin irritant and hazardous at concentrations over 10%
- Parabens: a preservative that is a potential carcinogen and linked with reproductive issues
- Phthalates: a softening agent that is linked to birth defects in lab studies
- Propyl Gallate: a preservative and potential carcinogen
- Propylene Glycol: a toxic preservativeTEA, MEA, DEA (Ethanolamines): an emulsifier and potential carcinogen
- Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates: a surfactant and potential carcinogen
- Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate: a surfactant that is highly alkaline and poisonous if swallowed
- Talc: a moisture absorber and potential carcinogen
