In mid-July, the FDA released an announcement that they are investigating a potential link between foods with peas, lentils, other legumes or potatoes as their main ingredients, low taurine, and the suspected increased occurrence of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).

The Honest Kitchen has been in business for more than sixteen years and during that time we have never been contacted by any customer or veterinarian, with a suspicion that our recipes are in any way linked to a case of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). We are not part of the current FDA investigation, nor have we ever been contacted by the FDA on the subject of DCM or a taurine deficiency associated with our foods.

Both legumes and potatoes add a beneficial punch of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and there are no published studies linking consumption of potatoes and legumes to DCM. Not all Honest Kitchen recipes contain white potatoes or legumes, but when they do, they’re used in moderation. Our white potatoes are steamed, and pressure cooked to neutralize lectins, prior to being blended into our dehydrated foods. And our legumes are soaked, pressure cooked and dehydrated to also neutralize lectins in our dehydrated foods.

In addition, gentle production methods like dehydration are also believed to help maintain the natural taurine levels in meat, which is why some holistic vets recommend The Honest Kitchen’s foods for dogs who’ve been diagnosed with DCM. The Honest Kitchen regularly tests its recipes for a wide array of nutrients including taurine, methionine, and cysteine (the amino acids used to synthesize taurine in the dog’s body).

At The Honest Kitchen, we incorporate quality, safety, and integrity into our formulation and manufacturing processes to ensure that our products provide the best possible nutrition. As always, if you have more questions on this topic, we’d love to answer those for you. In the meantime, we’ll continue to keep abreast of the most current scientific research and will provide our customers with updates if and when needed. You can reach us at Questions@thehonestkitchen.com or 1 866 437 9729.

For further reading, may we also recommend this article from the Morris Animal Foundation: https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/researchers-getting-closer-understanding-dietary-taurine-and-heart-disease-dogs

Meet the Author: Lucy Postins

Lucy Postins is founder of The Honest Kitchen as well as its Mother Hen and CEO. She is a companion animal nutritionist who started The Honest Kitchen in her kitchen in 2002. She is passionate about advanced nutrition and holistic health including complementary modalities such as herbalism and homeopathy. Considered an expert in her field, Lucy frequently writes articles for local and national media, conducts radio interviews and educational spots, and occasionally holds educational seminars for pet owners on the importance of good nutrition. She also recently authored Dog Obsessed, a guide to a happier, healthier life for the pup you love.