Update | Cancer-causing toxin found in Hong Kong pet food sparks alarm
Consumer Council calls for regulations on animal food after it finds carcinogen and other contaminants in one-fifth of products tested
A cancer-causing toxin has been found in seven types of pet food sold in Hong Kong.
The Consumer Council said its findings would cause concern among Hong Kong's 286,300 pet-keeping households about the lack of laws regulating animal-food safety.
The council's recent tests on 39 dry pet products - 20 dog foods and 19 cat foods - showed the amounts of aflatoxin B1 found in four dog foods and three cat foods ranged from one to two micrograms per kilogram. They include Purina One Smart Blend chicken and rice formula adult premium dog food, and Kitekat tuna flavour for adult cats.
There are no local laws that specify the level of carcinogens permitted in pet foods, but the level falls within the European Union regulations' safety limits.
Vets told the council that short-term consumption was unlikely to cause a health risk, but long-term consumption could increase the risk of liver impairment, liver tumours and suppression of the immune system.