{
  "schema": "vpfd-ingredient-index-v1",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "Verified Pet Food Data — https://verifiedpetfooddata.com",
  "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/",
  "generated": "2026-08-28",
  "evidence_file_generated": "2026-07-17",
  "corpus_size": 2354,
  "counting_note": "Counts what manufacturers print on the label. An ingredient present via another component (e.g. a preservative already in fish meal) need not be declared separately, so every count is a floor, not a ceiling. Labels never disclose inclusion rate.",
  "count": 39,
  "ingredients": [
    {
      "id": "taurine-supplemental",
      "display_name": "Taurine (supplemental)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/taurine-supplemental/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/taurine-supplemental.json",
      "category": "functional",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "mixed",
      "foods_containing": 1664,
      "corpus_pct": 70.69,
      "dog_foods": 621,
      "dog_pct": 55.85,
      "cat_foods": 1043,
      "cat_pct": 83.98,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 0,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "mixed-tocopherols",
      "display_name": "Mixed tocopherols (natural vitamin E)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/mixed-tocopherols/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/mixed-tocopherols.json",
      "category": "preservative",
      "stance": "favorable",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 1172,
      "corpus_pct": 49.79,
      "dog_foods": 749,
      "dog_pct": 67.36,
      "cat_foods": 423,
      "cat_pct": 34.06,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 83,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "peas",
      "display_name": "Peas",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/peas/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/peas.json",
      "category": "legume",
      "stance": "controversial",
      "evidence_strength": "mixed",
      "foods_containing": 962,
      "corpus_pct": 40.87,
      "dog_foods": 671,
      "dog_pct": 60.34,
      "cat_foods": 291,
      "cat_pct": 23.43,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 445,
      "citation_count": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "flaxseed-ala",
      "display_name": "Flaxseed (ALA omega-3)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/flaxseed-ala/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/flaxseed-ala.json",
      "category": "functional",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 857,
      "corpus_pct": 36.41,
      "dog_foods": 591,
      "dog_pct": 53.15,
      "cat_foods": 266,
      "cat_pct": 21.42,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 27,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "fish-oil-epa-dha",
      "display_name": "Fish oil (EPA + DHA omega-3)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/fish-oil-epa-dha/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/fish-oil-epa-dha.json",
      "category": "functional",
      "stance": "favorable",
      "evidence_strength": "strong",
      "foods_containing": 749,
      "corpus_pct": 31.82,
      "dog_foods": 410,
      "dog_pct": 36.87,
      "cat_foods": 339,
      "cat_pct": 27.29,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 5,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "guar-gum",
      "display_name": "Guar Gum",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/guar-gum/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/guar-gum.json",
      "category": "thickener",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 723,
      "corpus_pct": 30.71,
      "dog_foods": 268,
      "dog_pct": 24.1,
      "cat_foods": 455,
      "cat_pct": 36.63,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 36,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "prebiotics-inulin-fos",
      "display_name": "Prebiotics (chicory root / inulin, FOS)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/prebiotics-inulin-fos/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/prebiotics-inulin-fos.json",
      "category": "functional",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 719,
      "corpus_pct": 30.54,
      "dog_foods": 399,
      "dog_pct": 35.88,
      "cat_foods": 320,
      "cat_pct": 25.76,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 1,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "named-meat-meal",
      "display_name": "Named Meat/Poultry Meal (e.g., Chicken Meal, Lamb Meal)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/named-meat-meal/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/named-meat-meal.json",
      "category": "protein-meal",
      "stance": "favorable",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 711,
      "corpus_pct": 30.2,
      "dog_foods": 473,
      "dog_pct": 42.54,
      "cat_foods": 238,
      "cat_pct": 19.16,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 571,
      "citation_count": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "potato",
      "display_name": "Potato",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/potato/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/potato.json",
      "category": "grain",
      "stance": "controversial",
      "evidence_strength": "mixed",
      "foods_containing": 623,
      "corpus_pct": 26.47,
      "dog_foods": 361,
      "dog_pct": 32.46,
      "cat_foods": 262,
      "cat_pct": 21.1,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 257,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "rosemary-extract",
      "display_name": "Rosemary extract",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/rosemary-extract/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/rosemary-extract.json",
      "category": "preservative",
      "stance": "favorable",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 600,
      "corpus_pct": 25.49,
      "dog_foods": 405,
      "dog_pct": 36.42,
      "cat_foods": 195,
      "cat_pct": 15.7,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 0,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "beet-pulp",
      "display_name": "Beet Pulp",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/beet-pulp/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/beet-pulp.json",
      "category": "functional",
      "stance": "favorable",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 487,
      "corpus_pct": 20.69,
      "dog_foods": 365,
      "dog_pct": 32.82,
      "cat_foods": 122,
      "cat_pct": 9.82,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 7,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "xanthan-gum",
      "display_name": "Xanthan Gum",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/xanthan-gum/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/xanthan-gum.json",
      "category": "thickener",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 483,
      "corpus_pct": 20.52,
      "dog_foods": 152,
      "dog_pct": 13.67,
      "cat_foods": 331,
      "cat_pct": 26.65,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 20,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "probiotics",
      "display_name": "Probiotics (live microbials)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/probiotics/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/probiotics.json",
      "category": "functional",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "mixed",
      "foods_containing": 421,
      "corpus_pct": 17.88,
      "dog_foods": 280,
      "dog_pct": 25.18,
      "cat_foods": 141,
      "cat_pct": 11.35,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 0,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "yucca-schidigera",
      "display_name": "Yucca schidigera extract",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/yucca-schidigera/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/yucca-schidigera.json",
      "category": "functional",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 388,
      "corpus_pct": 16.48,
      "dog_foods": 253,
      "dog_pct": 22.75,
      "cat_foods": 135,
      "cat_pct": 10.87,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 0,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "sweet-potato",
      "display_name": "Sweet potato",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/sweet-potato/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/sweet-potato.json",
      "category": "grain",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 384,
      "corpus_pct": 16.31,
      "dog_foods": 251,
      "dog_pct": 22.57,
      "cat_foods": 133,
      "cat_pct": 10.71,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 103,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "by-product-meal",
      "display_name": "By-Product Meal (Meat / Poultry By-Product Meal)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/by-product-meal/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/by-product-meal.json",
      "category": "by-product",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 337,
      "corpus_pct": 14.32,
      "dog_foods": 210,
      "dog_pct": 18.88,
      "cat_foods": 127,
      "cat_pct": 10.23,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 323,
      "citation_count": 4
    },
    {
      "id": "tapioca",
      "display_name": "Tapioca",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/tapioca/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/tapioca.json",
      "category": "grain",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 312,
      "corpus_pct": 13.25,
      "dog_foods": 87,
      "dog_pct": 7.82,
      "cat_foods": 225,
      "cat_pct": 18.12,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 169,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "brewers-rice",
      "display_name": "Brewers Rice",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/brewers-rice/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/brewers-rice.json",
      "category": "grain",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 290,
      "corpus_pct": 12.32,
      "dog_foods": 211,
      "dog_pct": 18.97,
      "cat_foods": 79,
      "cat_pct": 6.36,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 192,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "named-muscle-meat",
      "display_name": "Named Muscle Meat (e.g., Deboned Chicken, Beef, Salmon)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/named-muscle-meat/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/named-muscle-meat.json",
      "category": "protein",
      "stance": "favorable",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 284,
      "corpus_pct": 12.06,
      "dog_foods": 203,
      "dog_pct": 18.26,
      "cat_foods": 81,
      "cat_pct": 6.52,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 283,
      "citation_count": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "carrageenan",
      "display_name": "Carrageenan",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/carrageenan/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/carrageenan.json",
      "category": "thickener",
      "stance": "caution",
      "evidence_strength": "mixed",
      "foods_containing": 269,
      "corpus_pct": 11.43,
      "dog_foods": 134,
      "dog_pct": 12.05,
      "cat_foods": 135,
      "cat_pct": 10.87,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 2,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "powdered-cellulose",
      "display_name": "Powdered Cellulose",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/powdered-cellulose/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/powdered-cellulose.json",
      "category": "additive",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 267,
      "corpus_pct": 11.34,
      "dog_foods": 102,
      "dog_pct": 9.17,
      "cat_foods": 165,
      "cat_pct": 13.29,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 31,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "pea-protein",
      "display_name": "Pea protein",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/pea-protein/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/pea-protein.json",
      "category": "legume",
      "stance": "controversial",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 266,
      "corpus_pct": 11.3,
      "dog_foods": 153,
      "dog_pct": 13.76,
      "cat_foods": 113,
      "cat_pct": 9.1,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 68,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "wheat-gluten",
      "display_name": "Wheat Gluten",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/wheat-gluten/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/wheat-gluten.json",
      "category": "protein",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 257,
      "corpus_pct": 10.92,
      "dog_foods": 123,
      "dog_pct": 11.06,
      "cat_foods": 134,
      "cat_pct": 10.79,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 123,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "chondroitin-sulfate",
      "display_name": "Chondroitin sulfate",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/chondroitin-sulfate/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/chondroitin-sulfate.json",
      "category": "functional",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 209,
      "corpus_pct": 8.88,
      "dog_foods": 161,
      "dog_pct": 14.48,
      "cat_foods": 48,
      "cat_pct": 3.86,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 77,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "glucosamine",
      "display_name": "Glucosamine",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/glucosamine/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/glucosamine.json",
      "category": "functional",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 167,
      "corpus_pct": 7.09,
      "dog_foods": 145,
      "dog_pct": 13.04,
      "cat_foods": 22,
      "cat_pct": 1.77,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 2,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "chickpeas",
      "display_name": "Chickpeas (garbanzo beans)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/chickpeas/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/chickpeas.json",
      "category": "legume",
      "stance": "controversial",
      "evidence_strength": "mixed",
      "foods_containing": 154,
      "corpus_pct": 6.54,
      "dog_foods": 92,
      "dog_pct": 8.27,
      "cat_foods": 62,
      "cat_pct": 4.99,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 103,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "cassia-gum",
      "display_name": "Cassia Gum",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/cassia-gum/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/cassia-gum.json",
      "category": "thickener",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 133,
      "corpus_pct": 5.65,
      "dog_foods": 73,
      "dog_pct": 6.56,
      "cat_foods": 60,
      "cat_pct": 4.83,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 3,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "lentils",
      "display_name": "Lentils",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/lentils/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/lentils.json",
      "category": "legume",
      "stance": "controversial",
      "evidence_strength": "mixed",
      "foods_containing": 129,
      "corpus_pct": 5.48,
      "dog_foods": 80,
      "dog_pct": 7.19,
      "cat_foods": 49,
      "cat_pct": 3.95,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 78,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "corn-gluten-meal",
      "display_name": "Corn Gluten Meal",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/corn-gluten-meal/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/corn-gluten-meal.json",
      "category": "protein-meal",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 115,
      "corpus_pct": 4.89,
      "dog_foods": 61,
      "dog_pct": 5.49,
      "cat_foods": 54,
      "cat_pct": 4.35,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 69,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "meat-and-bone-meal",
      "display_name": "Meat and Bone Meal",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/meat-and-bone-meal/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/meat-and-bone-meal.json",
      "category": "protein-meal",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 28,
      "corpus_pct": 1.19,
      "dog_foods": 22,
      "dog_pct": 1.98,
      "cat_foods": 6,
      "cat_pct": 0.48,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 19,
      "citation_count": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "bha",
      "display_name": "BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/bha/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/bha.json",
      "category": "preservative",
      "stance": "controversial",
      "evidence_strength": "mixed",
      "foods_containing": 12,
      "corpus_pct": 0.51,
      "dog_foods": 11,
      "dog_pct": 0.99,
      "cat_foods": 1,
      "cat_pct": 0.08,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 7,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "generic-meat",
      "display_name": "Generic \"Meat\" (unspecified species)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/generic-meat/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/generic-meat.json",
      "category": "protein",
      "stance": "caution",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 7,
      "corpus_pct": 0.3,
      "dog_foods": 1,
      "dog_pct": 0.09,
      "cat_foods": 6,
      "cat_pct": 0.48,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 7,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "bht",
      "display_name": "BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/bht/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/bht.json",
      "category": "preservative",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 4,
      "corpus_pct": 0.17,
      "dog_foods": 4,
      "dog_pct": 0.36,
      "cat_foods": 0,
      "cat_pct": 0,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 0,
      "citation_count": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "ethoxyquin",
      "display_name": "Ethoxyquin",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/ethoxyquin/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/ethoxyquin.json",
      "category": "preservative",
      "stance": "controversial",
      "evidence_strength": "mixed",
      "foods_containing": 1,
      "corpus_pct": 0.04,
      "dog_foods": 0,
      "dog_pct": 0,
      "cat_foods": 1,
      "cat_pct": 0.08,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 0,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "generic-meat-meal",
      "display_name": "Generic \"Meat Meal\" / \"Poultry Meal\" (unspecified species)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/generic-meat-meal/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/generic-meat-meal.json",
      "category": "protein-meal",
      "stance": "caution",
      "evidence_strength": "moderate",
      "foods_containing": 1,
      "corpus_pct": 0.04,
      "dog_foods": 1,
      "dog_pct": 0.09,
      "cat_foods": 0,
      "cat_pct": 0,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 1,
      "citation_count": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "animal-by-product",
      "display_name": "Animal By-Product / Animal Derivatives (unspecified species)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/animal-by-product/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/animal-by-product.json",
      "category": "by-product",
      "stance": "caution",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 0,
      "corpus_pct": 0,
      "dog_foods": 0,
      "dog_pct": 0,
      "cat_foods": 0,
      "cat_pct": 0,
      "in_first_five_ingredients": 0,
      "citation_count": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "animal-digest",
      "display_name": "Animal Digest",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/animal-digest/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/animal-digest.json",
      "category": "additive",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 0,
      "corpus_pct": 0,
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    },
    {
      "id": "propyl-gallate",
      "display_name": "Propyl gallate",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/propyl-gallate/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/propyl-gallate.json",
      "category": "preservative",
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    },
    {
      "id": "tbhq",
      "display_name": "TBHQ (tert-butylhydroquinone)",
      "url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/tbhq/",
      "data_url": "https://verifiedpetfooddata.com/ingredients/tbhq.json",
      "category": "preservative",
      "stance": "neutral",
      "evidence_strength": "limited",
      "foods_containing": 0,
      "corpus_pct": 0,
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  ]
}