During the summer, my Cavalier, Phoebe (pictured above, before and after she became ill), developed serious eye problems after eating a dog food that was later recalled following reports of similar problems in other dogs. While the cause of Phoebe's condition has not been established, what happened to her led me to ask much wider questions about the standards behind the food we give our dogs and cats.

As a journalist and editor of Pets Magazine, I set out to investigate how the rules for dog and cat food compare with those protecting human food. Pet food is regulated, but I found important differences, including how unfamiliar ingredients are scrutinised, how much consumers are told about what is in a product, how contaminants are controlled and how suspected health problems are monitored.

It raised a simple question: could the protections for our pets be stronger?

Our investigation found that, in several important areas, they could.

That research led me to launch the Pet Food Standards Charter, an independent, evidence-led initiative calling for higher standards, clearer information and stronger safeguards for commercially manufactured dog and cat food.

WHAT DOES THE CHARTER CALL FOR?

• Greater scrutiny of unfamiliar ingredients and major formulation changes, including appropriate species-specific assessment.
• Clearer ingredient and formulation transparency, including meaningful information when recipes materially change.
• Transparent, risk-based testing, so owners can better understand what is tested, how often and why.
• Better national surveillance of suspected adverse events, capable of bringing reports together and detecting possible patterns.
• Evidence-led contaminant standards, including expert review of whether additional dog- and cat-specific statutory limits are justified.
• Clearer evidence behind nutrition, functional and quality claims, so consumers can understand what claims and certifications actually demonstrate.

These proposals build upon existing protections rather than replacing them.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

If several dogs or cats in different parts of the country develop an unusual problem, who joins the dots?

If an unfamiliar ingredient is introduced, what level of species-specific evidence should support its use?

If a recipe changes materially, what should owners and vets be told?

And when a manufacturer tells us a food is tested, scientifically formulated or superior, how easily can consumers see what sits behind those claims?

WHAT ARE WE ASKING FOR?

We are asking the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Defra and the relevant devolved administrations to engage with the Pet Food Standards Charter and examine where its six principles could strengthen existing UK protections for dogs and cats.

We are also establishing 12 November as National Pet Food Standards Day, beginning on 12 November 2026, to create an annual focus on the safety, transparency and standards governing the food our pets eat.

You can read our full findings and the evidence behind the Charter on the Pet Food Standards Charter portal.

If you believe our pets deserve the strongest safeguards the evidence can support, please sign the petition and help us make the case for change.

Higher standards. Clearer information. Stronger safeguards.

Founded by Pets Magazine.