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Ingredient library

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 76 scored products

We flag it by name on 25 of them. Lowest scores first.

Panel Score 60 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
9LivesPlus Carecommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 67 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
PurinaPurina Dog Chowcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Fancy FeastClassic Paté Chicken Feast

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Fancy FeastCreamy Delights Chicken Feast with a Touch of Real Milkcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PurinaFancy Feast Kitten Tender Chicken Feastcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PurinaFancy Feast Kitten Tender Salmon Feastcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PurinaFancy Feast Seafood Classic Paté Collectioncommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
PurinaFancy Feast Kitten Tender Ocean Whitefish Feastcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 76 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Special KittyGourmet Formula Seafood Blend

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 79 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 79 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
ShebaPerfect Portions Cuts in Gravy Roasted Chicken

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Purina Pro PlanComplete Essentials Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
ShebaPerfect Portions Cuts in Gravy Entree with Sustainable Salmon

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Fussie CatPremium Tuna With Chicken Formula In Aspic

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
EarthbornWild Sea Catchcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
HillsPrescription Diet k/d Feline Pâté with Tunacommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Simply NourishOriginal Adult Cat Dry Food, Chicken & Peacommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 86 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
MerrickGrain Free Real Chicken & Sweet Potato

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 86 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
InstinctOriginal Grain-Free Real Chicken (Cat)

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 87 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
ShebaKitten Pate Salmon

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 88 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Purina ONESmartBlend Chicken & Rice Adult

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 90 out of 100, grade A: Pretty good
Tiki CatHana Grill Ahi Tuna & Crab in Broth

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 90 out of 100, grade A: Pretty good
Tiki CatManana Grill Ahi Tuna & Prawns in Broth

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 90 out of 100, grade A: Pretty good
Tiki CatTuna and Mackerel Recipe In Tuna Brothcommunity import

flagged on this product's score page

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