"Sodium chloride, an essential electrolyte, used in pet food both as a nutrient and a flavor enhancer."
Dogs and cats do need some dietary sodium for nerve and fluid balance — this isn't optional in a raw ingredient sense. The concern is dose and purpose: pet food often contains more salt than the nutritional minimum requires, because it also makes food taste better to the animal. Not dangerous at normal pet food levels for a healthy animal, but worth watching for pets with heart or kidney conditions where sodium intake matters more. Score: 5/10.
A real but unresolved concern: often an ongoing FDA/AAFCO research question (like the grain-free/DCM investigation), a common allergen, or a vague-but-not-alarming label claim. -2.5 pts deducted.
Rated C (-2.5 pts) by PetPro-tectors™. Dogs and cats do need some dietary sodium for nerve and fluid balance — this isn't optional in a raw ingredient sense. The concern is dose and purpose: pet food often contains more salt than the nutritional minimum requires, because it also makes food taste better to the animal. Not dangerous at normal pet food levels for a healthy animal, but worth watching for pets with heart or kidney conditions where sodium intake matters more. Score: 5/10.
Sodium chloride, an essential electrolyte, used in pet food both as a nutrient and a flavor enhancer.