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Worth knowing · Synthetic vitamin

Menadione (vitamin K3)

Also appears on labels as: menadione sodium bisulfite complex, dimethylprimidinol sulfate

A lab-made form of vitamin K, cheap and shelf-stable, usually tucked inside a vitamin premix.

Watched ingredients get highlighted on every product panel you open.

Where it comes from
Chemical synthesis.
Why it's in the product
Supplies vitamin K activity for blood clotting.
Safety and toxicity
At pet food levels it has not been shown to cause harm. High-dose studies associate it with oxidative stress on the liver and red blood cells, which is why it was pulled from human supplements. We flag it as a caution, not an avoid.
Interactions and who should be careful
None established at food levels.

What the research says

Menadione is a lab-made vitamin K used because it's cheap and shelf-stable. At the levels found in most pet foods it hasn't been shown to cause harm, but high-dose studies associate it with oxidative stress on the liver and red blood cells, which is why it was pulled from human supplements.

Our take: the dose in any single food is small, but it's an easy ingredient to avoid entirely, and foods that use named natural sources (or none) tend to be better-formulated overall. We flag it as a caution, not an avoid.

Placeholder Sources: Source citations for this entry will be linked here once the citations feed is connected. Until then, ask us for the reading list any time: [email protected].

General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.

Found in 73 scored products

We flag it by name on 73 of them. Lowest scores first.

Panel Score 44 out of 100, grade F: We'd skip it
9LivesPlus Careimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 47 out of 100, grade F: We'd skip it
Meow MixTender Centers Salmon & Chicken

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 52 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
9LivesDaily Essentials Dry Cat Food

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 60 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Purina Puppy ChowTender & Crunchy With Real Beef & Riceimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 67 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Fancy FeastClassic Paté Chicken Feast

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 67 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
PurinaDog Chow Complete Adult With Real Chicken

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 67 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Purina Dog ChowTender & Crunchy With Real Lamb & Turkey Flavorimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 68 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
9LivesHearty Cuts With Real Turkey, Chicken & Cheese In Gravyimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
PurinaFriskies Seafood Sensations Dry Cat Food

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Fancy FeastCreamy Delights Chicken Feast with a Touch of Real Milkimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Fancy FeastKitten Tender Chicken Feastimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Fancy FeastKitten Tender Salmon Feastimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Fancy FeastSeafood Classic Paté Collectionimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Fancy FeastKitten Tender Ocean Whitefish Feastimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Meow MixTenders In Sauce With Real Chicken & Beefimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
FriskiesTasty Treasures Accented With Bacon Turkey Dinner In Gravyimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
FriskiesWarm'd & Serv'd Grill'd Bites With Chicken In Gravyimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 72 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Special KittyGourmet Formula Seafood Blend

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 72 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Hill's Prescription DietKidney Care k/d Chicken & Vegetable Stewimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Purina Cat ChowComplete Chicken Dry Cat Food

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PurinaBeneful Originals With Farm-Raised Beef

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Fancy FeastFlaked Chicken & Tuna Feastimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
FriskiesExtra Gravy Chunky With Beef In Savory Gravyimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 76 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Hill's Prescription Dietk/d Feline Pâté with Tunaimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

49 more scored products list this ingredient. Showing the 24 lowest-scoring.