Your Cat or Dog Could Be Eating Endangered Shark Meat, New Study Finds
Pet food brands are misleading customers by using generic labeling terms such as “ocean fish”, despite containing shark DNA.
Scientists at the National University of Singapore have found endangered shark meat present in popular brands of pet food, despite not being listed as an ingredient.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, used DNA barcoding to identify shark DNA found in 45 different pet food products purchased from 16 different brands within Singapore. The results revealed that around one-third of the 144 samples sequenced contained DNA from sharks.
None of the products labeled shark as an ingredient. Instead, they used generic terms such as “fish”, “ocean fish”, “white bait” or “white fish”, with some specifically listing tuna or salmon. Others did not include fish at all. Researchers stressed that this vague terminology, and in some cases, deliberate mislabelling, hinders pet owners from making informed and environmentally conscious decisions.
“The majority of pet owners are likely lovers of nature, and we think most would be alarmed to discover that they could be unknowingly contributing to the overfishing of shark populations,” said the study authors, Ben Wainwright and Ian French, of Yale-NUS College, Singapore.
The most commonly identified shark species in the study were the blue shark, silky shark, and whitetip reef shark. The silky shark and the whitetip reef shark are listed as “vulnerable” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The silky shark also is listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), meaning its trade must be controlled to avoid overconsumption.
DNA from other vulnerable shark species, including the sicklefin weasel shark, the Caribbean sharpnose shark and the sand tiger shark, was also found in some of the pet food products.
A similar study in 2019 identified shark DNA in 78 pet food samples collected in the United States.
As apex predators, sharks play a vital role in ocean ecosystems and function as indicators of ocean health, but over the last 50 years, global shark numbers have been slashed by more than 70%, with three-quarters of all species currently considered at risk of extinction. The industrial fishing industry is the biggest culprit, harvesting on average 100 million sharks every year.
Although shark fin sales have received widespread attention, another more silent culprit is the either deliberate or accidental mislabelling of seafood products, according to the researchers. DNA barcoding has highlighted the presence of endangered shark species frequently occurring in pet food products and cosmetics with consumers left oblivious due to generic labeling.
Scientists are calling for stronger ingredient labeling to help combat the overexploitation of endangered species and allow consumers to make more informed choices about the food they give to their companion animals.
Rise of Vegan Dog and Cat Food
Many of us don’t realize just how much our companion animals are fuelling the demand for meat. A staggering 30 percent of the meat consumed in the United States is eaten by our pets.Thankfully, innovative companies and tech start-ups reimagine food for our companion animals in more sustainable and healthy ways.
Last year, Bond Pet Foods announced a partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a biology-based pet nutrition company, to produce pet food formulas using fermented proteins. Together, Hill’s and Bond will develop a sustainable, nutritious alternative to one of Hill’s most popular meat proteins for both cats and dogs.
Elsewhere, Wild Earth and Because, Animals are also working to champion new technologies to provide more sustainable ingredient solutions for pet nutrition. Wild Earth recently secured $23 million in funding to develop cultivated meat and fish. Because, Animals' first cultured meat product, Harmless Hunt Mouse Cookies for Cats, will be on the market this year.
Find out more, by listening to Species Unite’s episode Ryan Bethencourt: This is the Future of Dog Food.
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