Natural Salmon Flavor
Our ingredient score: 2 / 5 · Flavoring · How We Score
Natural salmon flavor is a flavoring made from salmon, usually a concentrated broth or powder. Unlike a plain "natural flavor", the label names its source, so you know it comes from salmon. It is added to make the food taste better and adds little nutrition. For a cat with a fish allergy, the named source makes it easier to spot.
Common Questions
How is natural salmon flavor different from natural flavor?
The source is named. "Natural flavor" does not say what it is made from, while natural salmon flavor comes from salmon.
Is natural salmon flavor safe for cats?
Natural salmon flavor is a concentrated flavoring made from salmon without chemically synthetic processing. It is added so food tastes like fish and contributes little nutrition. AAFCO lets a flavor be named when a listed ingredient provides it. No authority we found flags it at typical amounts. If your cat has a fish allergy or another medical condition, talk with your veterinarian before choosing the food.
Source: aafco.org
Why is natural salmon flavor in cat food?
It gives food a salmon taste and smell that many cats like. Makers use small amounts to help dry kibble appeal to picky eaters. Because the label names salmon, owners know the flavor comes from fish. It is a taste ingredient and does not stand in for salmon as a main protein.
Does natural salmon flavor mean the food contains salmon?
It means a listed ingredient provides a salmon flavor, but not a set amount of salmon. AAFCO lets a label name a flavor when a listed ingredient provides it, with no minimum percentage. A food named "with salmon" must contain at least 3% salmon, and "salmon dinner" at least 25% before added water. Check where salmon itself falls in the ingredient list to see how much is there.
Source: aafco.org
Should cats with a fish allergy avoid salmon flavor?
That is a call for your veterinarian, but fish allergy is common enough in cats to take seriously. The Merck Veterinary Manual names fish among the top food allergens in cats. It also advises avoiding flavored products during an elimination diet trial, since small amounts of a protein can affect the results.
Source: merckvetmanual.com
How does Pettings score natural salmon flavor?
Pettings gives natural salmon flavor 2 out of 5 and lists it as a flavoring. It appears on 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Naming salmon as the source helps owners, but the ingredient adds taste rather than nutrition. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.
How Foods With Natural Salmon Flavor Compare
Natural Salmon Flavor is on the label of 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list.