A Taiwanese citizen recently reported on Facebook that their pet cat died from hypokalemia after consuming a Taiwan-made cat food brand. The New Taipei City Animal Protection Department sent samples of the suspected product for testing. Results showed that the cat food met legal safety limits, but the manufacturer failed to provide key information, including the product batch number, sales channels, and inventory data.
According to the Animal Protection Act, the company was fined NT$30,000 for obstructing the investigation. In addition, the department found discrepancies between the product's labeling and actual test results for moisture, omega-3, and omega-6 content. Because these figures did not match the product's packaging—some differing by up to twelve times—the company was fined another NT$30,000 for false labeling.
The Animal Protection Department reported that the case involved one company based in New Taipei City. Despite multiple requests, the company did not provide the requested production data, sales records, or inventory quantities. These actions violated Article 29, Paragraph 1, Item 11 of the Animal Protection Act, which penalizes any act that evades, obstructs, or refuses inspection and sampling by authorities.
Laboratory results from the National Animal Industry Foundation revealed that the discrepancies in product labeling exceeded acceptable margins of error. The department ordered the company to correct the labeling but later found that the business had relocated from New Taipei City by the end of May.
Up to May this year, authorities conducted 50 inspections covering dry food, canned food, snacks, health supplements, packaging labels, shelf lives, and production facilities. Two violations resulted in fines. Last year, proactive inspections of 25 pet food retailers led to 263 product tests and fines issued to nine businesses.
The department emphasized that as pet ownership continues to rise, Taiwan must establish unified national safety standards for pet food. The Ministry of Agriculture is planning to draft a dedicated "Pet Food Act," which will include provisions on harmful substances and safety ingredients to strengthen product oversight.
Pet owners are advised to stop using any cat food immediately if their pets show symptoms of hypokalemia—such as loss of appetite, fatigue, muscle weakness, excessive thirst, or frequent urination—and seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Owners should also retain the full product packaging, purchase records, and medical documents for further investigation.
