Clean Bowl Certified is the independent, non-profit certification that tests pet food against 1,200+ contaminants and adulterants — from mycotoxins and heavy metals to synthetic preservatives and undeclared fillers. If it wears our seal, every ingredient has been proven safe and every nutritional claim has been verified.
Clean Bowl Certified covers the full range of commercial pet food — because your dog, cat, bird, or ferret all deserve the same rigorous scrutiny.
Complete screening of protein meals, grain sources, preservatives, and extrusion byproducts.
BPA/BPS can-lining testing, gravy and gel binders, pH stabilizers, and sodium analysis.
Microbiological screening for Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and Campylobacter plus parasite testing.
Hide sourcing verification, artificial dye screening, glycerin purity, and dental safety analysis.
Six pillars. A pet food must pass all six. There is no partial certification, no tiered system, no "good enough." It either meets the standard or it doesn't.
Zero detectable levels — at parts-per-billion sensitivity — of mycotoxins (aflatoxins B1/B2/G1/G2, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, vomitoxin, zearalenone), heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic), pesticides (200+ compounds), acrylamide, melamine, cyanuric acid, and pentobarbital. Every ingredient lot is tested before production.
Full species-of-origin verification via PCR DNA testing for all animal proteins — no undeclared species, no rendered euthanized animals, no 4-D meat (dead, dying, diseased, disabled). "Meat meal" and "animal by-product" must be fully specified. Grain sources tested for GMO content and glyphosate residue. No artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners.
Every production batch tested for Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium perfringens, and total Enterobacteriaceae. For raw products: additional testing for Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. Processing must demonstrate a 5-log pathogen reduction step.
Guaranteed analysis claims are independently verified — protein, fat, fiber, moisture, ash, and micronutrient profiles tested against label claims. AAFCO or FEDIAF nutrient profile compliance confirmed through complete amino acid, fatty acid, vitamin, and mineral panel. Taurine levels verified for grain-free formulations (dilated cardiomyopathy risk screening).
Every production facility undergoes an unannounced on-site audit. Requirements: dedicated clean lines, HACCP plan verification, cold-chain integrity for raw/frozen products, allergen cross-contact prevention, equipment sanitation logs, and full batch traceability from ingredient receipt to finished product. Co-packers are audited separately for each brand they manufacture.
Certification is not permanent. Every production batch must pass contaminant screening before release. Annual full-panel re-certification at ISO 17025 labs. Quarterly retail spot-checks — CBC purchases products anonymously from stores and online, tests them, and publishes results. A single failed spot-check triggers immediate public suspension and a consumer alert.
The regulatory gap between what pet food labels say and what's actually in the bag is wide — and it's your pet who pays the price.
Pets eat the same food every day — bioaccumulation is real
of commercial pet foods tested failed CBC contaminant screening on their first attempt
The term is a marketing invention with zero regulatory backing. Any brand can claim "human-grade" regardless of sourcing, processing, or facility conditions. CBC verifies actual ingredient quality through independent testing — not marketing copy.
Rendering plants process shelter animals, roadkill, and livestock that died of disease. Pentobarbital — the drug used for euthanasia — has been detected in commercial pet foods. CBC requires PCR species verification and pentobarbital screening for every animal-protein ingredient.
Aflatoxins and fumonisins are common in grain-based pet foods, especially those using corn, wheat, or rice by-products. Chronic low-level exposure is linked to liver damage, immune suppression, and cancer in dogs and cats. Most pet foods are never tested for the full mycotoxin panel.
Grain-free formulations often replace grains with legumes and potatoes, which have been associated with canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in FDA investigations. CBC verifies taurine levels, amino acid bioavailability, and doesn't penalize or favor any ingredient category — we test the outcome, not the philosophy.
AAFCO sets minimums. "Organic" only covers farming. Most labels test for a handful of things — if they test at all. Here's how CBC compares.
| What's tested | AAFCO | USDA Organic | GFSI | CBC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full contaminant panel | ✕ | ✕ | Partial | 1,247 substances |
| Mycotoxins (full panel) | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ 8 mycotoxins |
| Species-of-origin DNA testing | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ PCR verified |
| Pentobarbital screening | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ Required |
| Pathogen testing (per batch) | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ Every batch |
| Nutritional label verification | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ Full panel |
| Unannounced factory audits | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ On-site |
| Quarterly retail spot-checks | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ No notice |
| Public compliance data | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ Open registry |
| Non-profit / independent | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ 501(c)(3) |
A rigorous, transparent, five-phase process that takes 8–16 weeks from application to certification.
Brand submits a complete dossier: every ingredient, every supplier, every processing aid, every co-packer. CBC reviews for completeness and identifies high-risk ingredients for intensified testing.
Multiple production batches are sent to one of our 9 partner labs (all ISO 17025 accredited). Full contaminant panel — 1,247 substances — using LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, ICP-MS, PCR, and ELISA. Nutritional verification via AOAC methods. Results go directly to CBC, never to the brand first.
Unannounced on-site inspection of every production facility and co-packer. Auditors verify HACCP plans, sanitation logs, cold-chain records, allergen controls, and batch traceability. Photographs and findings become part of the public certification record.
If all six pillars are met, the product is awarded the CBC seal and listed in our public registry. Each certified product receives a unique ID. The full compliance report — including lab results, audit findings, and nutritional verification — is published.
Every production batch must pass contaminant screening before release. Annual full-panel re-certification. Quarterly anonymous retail purchases tested against the full standard. Results published. A single batch failure triggers immediate public suspension and a consumer safety alert.
Our certification criteria are developed and reviewed by an independent board of veterinary nutritionists, food safety scientists, toxicologists, and animal health researchers.
From small-batch raw food producers to major kibble brands, the cleanest pet foods in the world carry the Clean Bowl Certified mark.
Straight answers about what our certification means — and what it doesn't.
Search our public database to verify if a pet food holds a current, active CBC certification. Every certified product has a unique ID printed next to the seal on its packaging.