It’s easy to see why so many pet owners purchase plastic food containers for their pets’ food.

They’re convenient, there is an assumption the food will stay fresh longer, and there’s typically a pour spot to make food distribution easier. Plus, plastic pet food containers are available at pet stores, big box stores and of course, online. However, using these food storage containers can result in serious pet health issues.

Because we have grown up to often store food in plastic containers like Tupperware, we typically don’t give it a second thought when we do the same for our pets’ food. However, with the amount of research that has been published on eating food out of plastic and the potential health issues it can create, the era of using plastic food storage containers has changed dramatically. Families are ditching the plastic and switching to safer alternatives.

But what about our pets? Are they receiving the same consideration when it comes to food storage? According to research, not so much.

How Animals Become Sick from Plastic Containers
When the fats and oils of kibble make contact with the walls of a pet food container, they begin to oxidize.

In other words, over time, the residual fats and oils that have settled along the inside of the storage container start to grow rancid and develop invisible molds that can wreak havoc on your pet’s health. Each new batch of food poured into the containers also grows rancid due to not washing the container.

The Problem with Plastic Pet Food Containers
Research has proven that certain plastic containers leach chemicals into food. Chemicals in plastic like BPA have been shown to have hormone-like, estrogenic and cancer-producing properties. But BPA has been removed from some plastic storage containers and replaced with a different chemical called bisphenol-S (BPS), right? Wrong. According to scientific research, BPS appears to be just as toxic (if not more so) than BPA. Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch discovered that even minute concentrations—less than one part per trillion—of BPS can disrupt cellular functioning back in 2013. Metabolic disorders like obesity, diabetes, and even cancer, are potential ramifications of such disruptions.

But the Problems with Plastic Pet Food Containers Don’t End There
Phthalates, which are used as plasticizers, including pet food storage containers, have shown to “Disrupt the endocrine systems of wildlife, causing testicular cancer, genital deformations, low sperm counts, and infertility in polar bears, deer, whales, and otters, just to name a few.” – Doctor Karen Becker

What are My Options?
• Keep the food in its original bag – recommended
• Keep the food in the bag and place inside of the plastic container
• Switch to a glass food storage container and wash regularly
• Don’t buy a bag larger than a 30 day supply for your pet

If you have questions regarding the storage of your pet’s food, please do not hesitate to contact us or chat with any Barkery employee when you stop in to either our Brookside or Lee’s Summit stores.