On the occurrence of biogenic amines in pet-food for cats and dogs

Concentrations of the biogenic amines tryptamine, phenylethylamine, putresc ine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, spermidine and spermine were analysed in 55 samples of canned pet (dog and cat) food. Depending on the type of a mine, the 75% levels of the results varied from 5.4 to 21.9 mg/kg. For cada verine, histamine, phenylethylamine, putrescine and tyramine this was only approximately a sixth of the contents in raw materials (especially fish) us ed for pet food production: 75% of these results ranged from below the dete ction limit (2 mg/kg) to 133.1 mg/kg, as determined in this study and as re ported in the literature. The results suggest that amine concentrations in non fish components are lower than in fish components for pet food, resulti ng in a "dilution" effect. Assessment of biological effects of the amine co ncentrations determined was not possible.