Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Food UK. What Should Not Be in Your Dog’s Bowl?

If you have ever searched for ingredients to avoid in dog food, you are asking the right question.

The front of the bag is marketing. The back of the bag is regulation. In the UK, pet food labelling follows strict legal frameworks under FEDIAF guidelines, yet manufacturers are allowed to use broad category terms instead of naming specific ingredients.

Those terms are legal. They are not always transparent.

If you want to understand what should not be in dog food, start with these three phrases.

1. Meat and Animal Derivatives. What Does It Really Mean?

One of the most common ingredients to avoid in dog food is the term “meat and animal derivatives”. Under UK pet food labelling rules, this is a legally permitted category term. It refers to all the fleshy parts of slaughtered warm-blooded land animals. The issue is not legality. The issue is clarity.

Why it matters

Protein inconsistency
If the label does not name the animal, the protein source can change depending on availability and cost. For dogs with diagnosed food allergies or intolerances, this creates risk. Consistency matters.

Variable digestibility
Animal derivatives can include a mixture of muscle meat, organs and connective tissue. Some of these are highly nutritious. Others vary in digestibility. Without specificity, you cannot assess the quality or amino acid profile.

What to look for instead
Named proteins such as chicken, turkey, lamb or salmon with a declared percentage.

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At Betty & Butch, we prioritise named proteins. If a recipe contains 50 percent lamb, we say so. Transparency supports long-term health.

2. Cereals. Are They a Bad Ingredient in Dog Food?

Another common search term is cereals in dog food UK.

When a label lists “cereals” without naming the grain, it means a blend can be used and changed. Common examples include wheat, maize and barley.

Why it matters

Energy stability
Refined or high glycaemic grains can cause faster rises in blood glucose compared to complex carbohydrates. In less active dogs, excess calories from these sources can contribute to weight gain.

Mineral absorption
Some grains contain phytates. These compounds can bind to minerals such as zinc and iron in the digestive tract. High-quality diets account for this in formulation, but unnamed cereal blends offer little transparency on proportion or quality.

What to look for instead
Clearly named carbohydrate sources such as sweet potato, brown rice or oats, used in balanced proportions alongside high-quality protein. Grain free is not automatically better. Clarity is better.

3. EC Permitted Antioxidants. What Are They?

If you are researching bad ingredients in dog food UK, you will likely encounter the term EC permitted antioxidants.

Dry food requires antioxidants to prevent fat from oxidising and becoming rancid. This category term can include synthetic preservatives such as BHA and BHT, which are authorised for use within regulated safety limits.

Why it matters

Owner preference
Although legally approved, many owners prefer to avoid synthetic preservatives in a daily diet.

Industry shift
There has been a clear movement towards natural preservation systems, including mixed tocopherols, which are forms of vitamin E, and plant extracts such as rosemary.

What to look for instead
Labels that specify natural antioxidants rather than relying on broad regulatory terms.

The 30 Second Label Audit

If you want to know what should not be in dog food, use this simple check.

• Check the protein
  Is the animal named clearly and specifically?
• Check the carbohydrates
  Are grains or vegetables listed individually?
• Check the preservation method
  Does it specify natural antioxidants, or use broad regulatory language?
• Reading the back of the bag gives you more power than any marketing claim on the front.
• At Betty & Butch, transparency is the baseline. Wellness begins in the bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Food

What does meat and animal derivatives mean in dog food?

It is a legally permitted category term under UK pet food regulations. It refers to the fleshy parts of slaughtered animals but does not require the manufacturer to name the specific species. This makes protein consistency harder to assess.

Are cereals bad for dogs?

Cereals are not automatically harmful. The issue is lack of transparency and quality. Clearly named, well-formulated carbohydrate sources are preferable to vague blends listed simply as cereals.

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Are BHA and BHT safe in dog food in the UK?

BHA and BHT are authorised preservatives and permitted within regulated limits. Some owners choose to avoid them due to personal preference and opt for foods preserved with natural antioxidants such as vitamin E.

Is grain free better for dogs?

Grain free is not inherently superior. What matters most is ingredient quality, balance and transparency. Some dogs thrive on well-formulated grain-inclusive diets. Others do better without certain grains.

The Link to Ultra-Processing (UPF)

Beyond just the ingredients themselves, avoiding these three vague terms is the most effective way to reduce Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF) in your dog’s diet. Ingredients like "Cereals" and "Derivatives" often undergo multiple stages of industrial refinement before they even reach the kibble extruder. By prioritising minimally processed, named whole foods, you are ensuring a more "biologically appropriate" meal that supports better metabolic health and long-term vitality.

Betty & Butch are passionate dog owners who want the best and our motto, "if it's not good enough for ours, it's not good enough for yours" has never changed.