Does Applaws have carrageenan
Applaws Cat Food Review
Weve taken the deep dive on Applaws cat food, learning about its recall history, where Applaws is made, and more. Keep reading to get the scoop.
The Cats.com StandardRating Applaws on What Matters
Weve analyzed Applaws and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Heres how it rates in each of these six key areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness 7/10
- Ingredient Quality 9/10
- Product Variety 7/10
- Price 4/10
- Customer Experience 9/10
- Recall History 4/10
Overall Score: 6.6/10
We give Applaws cat food a 40 out of 60 rating or a B- grade.
About Applaws
Applaws first appeared in 2006, initially populating pet specialty retailers across the United Kingdom. Later, the brand started popping up around western Europe, North America, and Australia. Its parent company describes Applaws as high quality, 100% natural, ethically sourced premium pet food.
But those buzzwords dont mean much.
To decide if its a good choice for your cat, we have to take a closer look at Applaws.
Lets start at the source.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
Applaws sources ingredients from around the world.
Their suppliers adhere to relevant international safety and husbandry standards, including those set by Thailands Department of Livestock Development, the British Retail Consortium, and the International Labour Organization.
Applaws suppliers are required to be members of at least one of the following organizations:
- ISSF International Seafood Sustainability Foundation
- Marine Stewardship Council
- Earth Island Institute
- TTIA Thai Tuna Industry Association
US-sold Applaws dry cat food is manufactured in the United States, while their wet offerings are made in Thailand.
Has Applaws Cat Food Been Recalled?
In June of 2021, UK-manufactured Applaws dry cat food was recalled after foods manufactured by Fold Hill were potentially linked to a bone marrow condition called pancytopenia in cats. This was a voluntary recall, and the Royal Veterinary College is currently investigating the situation.
What Kinds Of Cat Food Does Applaws Offer?
The Applaws cat food lineup includes dry and wet foods.
Applaws dry food comes in five varieties. These recipes feature named meats and stay true to the brands promise of no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Theyre fortified to meet the nutritional requirements of a complete and balanced diet.
Their wet recipes are some of the simplest on the market. In addition to skipping animal by-products and artificial ingredients, Applaws wet food is made without any additives, including vitamins, minerals, and supplemental amino acids.
That means that Applaws wet food isnt considered a nutritionally complete and balanced diet.
Applaws dry food is appropriate for feeding as your cats sole source of nutrition, while Applaws wet food is best complemented by other foods.
Applaws Cat Food Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
What Do Customers Think Of Applaws Cat Food?
Applaws receives predominantly positive customer reviews. The brands simple, often single-protein, recipes make Applaws a popular choice among cats with food intolerances and health issues.
The biggest concern among people writing about Applaws is the fact that their wet foods arent nutritionally adequate for long-term feeding.
Positive Reviews
First let me say I have never written a review before and Ive been using Amazon for over 10 years. My cat has suffered with terrible allergies for the past year of his life. We have tried so many grain free limited ingredient cat foods without success including Wysong, Dr. Elseys, and Natural Balance. It seems my cat may be allergic to eggs, fish and salmon oil, and brewers yeast. All of the above have one of these ingredients included. I am so happy to finally find Applaws grain free chicken. The list of ingredients is so simple and my cat seems to be relieved. He has stopped itching and licking himself constantly. He is more playful and sleeps peacefully now like a cat should. What a difference! And as an added bonus he seriously loves the taste of this food. Thank you for making this productit is helping him so much! Jenna H., reviewing Applaws Chicken Recipe with Country Vegetables Dry Cat Food
My 18 year old Ragdoll has kidney disease and hardly ever bothers to eat wet food any more, other than the prescription dry food she is used to. But man, did she scarf down this product of yours! I will ration it to make sure she doesnt get bored with it, but like I said, so far so good! Great ingredients make this product valuable, no matter what the cost. G. Stucco, reviewing Applaws Tuna with Sardine Mousse
Negative Reviews
My cat has large cell lymphoma and has been sick for a while. Weve gone through oodles of flavors and brands because she would associate the food with not feeling well. She finished radiation and is looking cancer free, but is down to 6.5 pounds. This was recommended at the pet food store. After this was fed to her as her exclusive food for almost 2 weeks (this and other flavors), I noticed that while it is an additive-free food, it has no serving directions because it states one the can FOR INTERMITTENT AND SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING ONLY
It has no Taurine or any of the other vitamins or nutrients that a cat needs. A chronic Taurine deficiency wont show up on standard bloodwork (requires a specialized blood-test) and can cause blindness (among other things). While on only Applaws, Allies appetite yo-yoed and her health took a dive. Because she has problems with feeling other canned foods smell appetizing enough, I did buy some more of these and use a tiny spoonful to mix in with REGULAR cat food, and shell go right back and eat some more. PLEASE KNOW WHAT YOURE BUYING. Feeding just this to your cat would be dangerous, and Ive already put in a call to the manager of the store whose employee recommended this. If its supplemental, it shouldnt be called food. It should be called a treat or something. Its really misleading, and seriously endangered a very sick cat weve spent a lot to try and save. ArtemisDeFeisty, reviewing Applaws Tuna Fillet in Broth
First, I wanted the chicken but got the tuna. Second, the consistency is not the moist product pictured. It iYou may as well head to the grocery and buy an 80-cent can of tuna.s firm solid pack and coated in gel. My cat would not even try it . I donated to a shelter. Maybe your cat will like it but be prepared to cop it up, it cant be flaked. I had high hopes for this but was disappointed in the product, so was my cat. twopups, reviewing Applaws Tuna with Seaweed Mousse
How Much Does Applaws Cat Food Cost?
While Applaws dry food is moderately-pricedyoull spend about $0.70 per day to feed a 10-lb cattheir wet food isnt quite so easy on the budget.
At around $0.78 per ounce, Applaws is twice as expensive as a comparable food from some Tiki Cat or Weruva, a couple of the highest-priced brands on the market.
If that sounds pricey to you, consider that Applaws food isnt a nutritionally-complete diet. Youre paying pet specialty prices for something no more cat-specific than an 80-cent can of tuna from the grocery.
Overall, Is Applaws a Good Choice?
Applaws cat food is an interesting option.
In addition to a small variety of dry foods, Applaws brings you a vast selection of wet foods in textures and tastes that cats love. Though they make scrumptious, cat-approved treats or once-weekly meals, Applaws wet foods are both too expensive and too nutritionally incomplete to be a viable option for a long-term diet.
And their dry foods? Applaws dry food may be a good option for some cats, but theyre nothing special compared to other foods in the same category. If youre a kibble lover, Applaws dry food is worth trying, but it doesnt come with an enthusiastic recommendation.
Where To Buy Applaws Cat Food?
Applaws cat food is available in pet stores around the United States, England, Italy, France, Spain, and Australia. Click here to find an Applaws retailer near you. If youd rather shop for Applaws online, youll find it on Amazon, Chewy, Petco.com, PetSmart.com, PetFlow, and other web retailers.
Debunking The Myth About Carrageenan In Cat Food
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If you take a can of wet cat food, its highly likely that youll see carrageenan on its ingredient list. If you go online to learn more about it, however, youll see articles listing carrageenan as a no-no ingredient in cat food.
So, is carrageenan really that bad? The answer is a simple No.
In this article, well uncover the truth about carrageenan in cat food, as there is a ton of misinformation about it on the internet.
What Exactly Is Carrageenan?
In simple terms, carrageenan is a polysaccharide obtained from certain members of the class Rhodophyceae, otherwise known as red seaweeds.
Carrageenan has been FDA-approved since 1961, and its use is widespread in the food industry today.
You can find it in jelly, fudge, ice cream, soy sauce, ham, sausages, canned meat, and a bunch of other food items, including cat food.
Why Is It Added To Food?
If you look at the FDAs list of approved food ingredients, youll see its listed as:
a fat replacer as it mimics the texture and taste of fats
a stabilizer as it keeps all of the food components mixed together
a thickener as it increases the thickness of the food products consistency
a binder as it holds the product together
a texturizer as it creates a specific texture in the food product
Carrageenan is also an inert ingredient, meaning it has no nutritional value, nor does it add any flavor or odor to the food.
So, is it used in both human and cat food? The answer is yes!Essentially, you can find this ingredient everywhere!
Why Do People Think Carrageenan Is Bad?
Let me first note that there are three types of carrageenan.
| Type of carrageenan | Is it safe for consumption? | Is it used in the food industry? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Food-grade carrageenan (or just carrageenan) | Yes | Yes |
| 2. Degraded carrageenan | No | No |
| 3. Poligeenan | No | No |
As you can see, only one type of carrageenan is used in the food industry. However, not many people know this.
The debate around the use of carrageenan in food arises when people attribute the negative health effects of degraded carrageenan and poligeenan to the regular, safe carrageenan that is used in food.
Degraded carrageenan and poligeenan have been proven to cause negative side-effects for our health, and therefore they are not used in food products!
A 2019 scientific paper about the misconceptions regarding carrageenan states:
Human consumption of food-grade carrageenan as a food additive is completely safe with no demonstrated adverse effect.
Your kittys food definitely does not contain degraded carrageenan and poligeenan, but rather the safe type of carrageenan.
Therefore, I would say youve got nothing to worry about.
The Verdict: To Use Carrageenan-Free Food Or Not?
Now that you have all of the information about carrageenan, you can decide if youre going to continue giving your feline regular canned food, or opt for carrageenan-free cat food.
The choice is really up to you!
If youd like to have complete piece of mind and giving your cat food containing carrageenan is unsettling to you, then I suggest you switch to cat food that is free of carrageenan.
However, if youre confident in the research provided here, then you know its completely safe to continue giving your cat food that contains carrageenan.
I dont recommend cat owners to switch strictly to carrageenan-free cat food, as there is no scientific evidence that food containing carrageenan is bad for felines.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to have the facts presented to you, and then its up to you to decide whats best for your feline and you!
Should You Remove Carrageenan from Your Diet?
Carrageenan is a common food additive but it may cause digestive side effects and has a potential link to colon cancer. While more research is needed, you may want to remove it from your diet.
Carrageenan is an additive used to thicken, emulsify, and preserve foods and drinks. Its a natural ingredient that comes from red seaweed (also called Irish moss). Youll often find this ingredient in nut milks, meat products, and yogurt.
Since the late 1960s, theres been controversy surrounding the health effects of carrageenan. Some evidence suggests that carrageenan triggers inflammation, gastrointestinal ulcerations, and that it damages your digestive system. People have been petitioning for products with carrageenan to be labeled with a warning or removed entirely. Read on to learn more about this common food additive and why you may want to avoid it.
Products with carrageenan may be labeled as natural, but limited studies show that carrageenan may promote or cause:
Increased inflammation can lead to a greater likelihood of other diseases, such as:
One
But many of the studies conducted on the dangers of carrageenan were on animals and cells. Reports of bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, and other digestive issues are mostly self-reported. People also report relief when they drop carrageenan from their diet.
There need to be more human studies to confirm any link between carrageenan and digestive problems. In the meantime, you may want to limit how much carrageenan you consume.
The Food and Drug Administration still approves this ingredient. But in 2016, the National Organic Standards Board voted to remove carrageenan from their approved list. This means foods made with carrageenan can no longer be labeled USDA organic.
Carrageenan tends to be in vegan and vegetarian products. Since its a plant, manufacturers use it to replace gelatin, which is made from animal parts.
Carrageenan has no nutritional value, so you dont have to worry about missing anything when you remove foods containing it. Finding replacements for vegetarian or vegan foods without carrageenan is possible. Just remember that carrageenan-free milks may separate. This is natural. All you have to do is shake well before pouring.
To see which brands are carrageenan-free, take a look at Cornucopias shopping guide. Carrageenan is also found in pet foods, especially canned ones. Choose a brand that does not contain this additive.
If youre worried about the side effects of carrageenan, take it out of your diet and see if theres any improvement in how youre feeling. Its legally required to be listed under a products ingredients, so it should be easy to start to figure out what foods to eliminate.
Talk to a doctor if you continue to experience inflammation or digestive issues after removing carrageenan. This may signal that carrageenan isnt responsible for your symptoms.
Read more: The ultimate guide to every kind of milk
