Sodium Aluminosilicate
Our ingredient score: 2 / 5 · Clay or anti-caking agent · How We Score
Sodium aluminosilicate is a clay-like mineral used to keep the food from caking, and it has no nutritional value. Although its name includes aluminum, studies in rats found very low aluminum absorption from this compound (around 0.1 percent). However, it has been reported that clays of this kind can bind some vitamins and minerals, and that similar clays raised blood aluminum in chickens. Because cats with kidney failure have a harder time excreting aluminum, it makes sense to keep these cats away from unnecessary aluminum. In the small amounts used in food, it is a technical additive with no known harm.
Sodium Aluminosilicate also appears on labels as Sodium Silico Aluminate.
Common Questions
Should cats with kidney disease avoid sodium aluminosilicate?
Cats with kidney failure have a harder time excreting aluminum, so it makes sense to keep them away from unnecessary aluminum sources like this one.
Is sodium aluminosilicate safe for cats?
Sodium aluminosilicate is a clay-like mineral compound that FDA includes on its GRAS list for animal feed as an anti-caking agent, at a level of no more than 2 percent. It keeps powders free-flowing and adds no nutrition. We found no studies of it in cats. If your cat has kidney disease or another medical condition, ask your veterinarian about its food.
Source: ecfr.gov
What is sodium aluminosilicate in cat food?
Sodium aluminosilicate is a fine mineral powder made of sodium, aluminum, silicon and oxygen. In dry cat food it stops powders and kibble coatings from clumping and helps them flow during manufacturing. It is used in small amounts and provides no nutrients. It belongs to the same broad family as natural clays.
Does sodium aluminosilicate contain aluminum?
Yes, aluminum is part of its structure, as the name says. The aluminum is bound inside the compound, and only a small amount of it is used as an anti-caking agent. Kidneys that work normally clear small amounts of absorbed aluminum, but kidneys that are failing cannot clear it as well. That is why owners of cats with kidney disease sometimes ask their veterinarian about it.
What is an anti-caking agent in cat food?
An anti-caking agent is an ingredient that keeps powders and coatings dry and free-flowing so they do not form lumps. In cat food these are usually mineral powders such as sodium aluminosilicate or clays. FDA keeps a separate group of anti-caking agents on its GRAS list for animal feed. They are technical ingredients and add no nutrition.
Source: ecfr.gov
How does Pettings score sodium aluminosilicate?
Pettings gives sodium aluminosilicate 2 out of 5 and lists it as a clay or anti-caking agent. It appears on 7 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. It scores in the middle because it is a technical ingredient with no nutrition, with questions only for cats with kidney failure. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.
How Foods With Sodium Aluminosilicate Compare
Sodium Aluminosilicate is on the label of 7 of the 149 dry cat foods we list.