Corn Syrup
Our ingredient score: 0 / 5 · Added sugar · How We Score
Corn syrup is a sugar syrup made from corn starch, and it is added to cat food to hold moisture and give a soft texture. In cats, the gene for the receptor that detects sweet taste does not work, so this sugar is most likely not even a flavor to them; the cat's liver also makes very few of the enzymes that process sugar. Extra sugar means unnecessary calories, and excess weight is one of the known risk factors for diabetes in cats. Sugar that sticks to the teeth also makes tartar and gum problems more likely. Because it has no benefit at all for the cat, it is an ingredient to avoid.
Common Questions
Can cats taste sweet things?
In cats, the gene for the receptor that detects sweet taste does not work, so sugar is most likely not even a flavor to them.
Is corn syrup bad for cats?
Corn syrup is a sweet syrup made by breaking down corn starch into glucose, used in some pet foods to keep pieces soft. Tufts veterinary nutritionists say cats can digest properly cooked carbohydrates but have no specific requirement for them as adults, and they note that cats cannot metabolize fructose. For a cat with diabetes or another condition, ask your veterinarian about sugars in its food.
Source: sites.tufts.edu
Why is corn syrup in cat food?
Corn syrup is added for texture and moisture. It holds water, which keeps soft pieces from drying out, and it helps bind ingredients together. It also adds sweetness and calories. Pettings scores it 0 out of 5 and lists it as an added sugar because it supplies no nutrient that a cat needs from its food.
Is corn syrup the same as high-fructose corn syrup?
No. Regular corn syrup is mostly glucose made from corn starch. High-fructose corn syrup goes through an extra step that turns part of that glucose into fructose. The difference matters for cats, because Tufts veterinary nutritionists note that cats cannot metabolize fructose and excrete it unchanged in their urine. Check the full ingredient list to see which sweetener a food uses.
Source: sites.tufts.edu
Is corn syrup a preservative in pet food?
Not in the usual sense, but it helps slow spoilage. Corn syrup binds water, which leaves less free water for microbes in soft and semi-moist foods. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes semimoist pet foods as preserved using humectants, and sugars such as corn syrup work that way. It does not protect fats from going rancid, which is a job for antioxidants.
Source: merckvetmanual.com
How does Pettings score corn syrup?
Corn syrup gets 0 out of 5 from Pettings, which lists it as an added sugar. It shows up on 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Each food's page shows how the whole recipe scores, so one ingredient score is only part of the picture.
How Foods With Corn Syrup Compare
Corn Syrup is on the label of 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list.