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Ingredient file // Other

Sodium Carbonate

A minor acidity tool, not a health ingredient

Sodium carbonate is an alkaline salt that food makers use to adjust acidity. It contributes sodium but no protein or calories. Regulators consider practical feed use safe, while a measurable buffering benefit in finished dog food remains unproven.

What it is
An alkaline mineral salt used in food formulas to react with acids and adjust acidity.
Made from
Salt brine and limestone
Main job
Acidity control
Typical amount
Not published
Watch for
Loose household powder can injure dogs
Not the same as
Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda

Straight answer

Is Sodium Carbonate safe for dogs?

Read the full formula, then move on

If sodium carbonate appears late in the ingredient list, read it as a minor formulation ingredient, not a promise of better nutrition. The list cannot tell you its dose or the food's total sodium. Judge the main ingredients and finished nutrient analysis; request the sodium figure if your dog needs one.

Why it is in the food
Acidity control

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 32 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

3%

99 of the 3,205 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 18 brands. 69 wet dog food, 19 dog food topper, 11 dry dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 19. In the top five of 0 foods, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

2%

Usually listed after the salt, which caps it at roughly 1% of the recipe in 98% of foods.

Price per lb

Foods with it $0.92
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 10 priced foods, 72% below the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

19%

of the foods that list it are from Royal Canin. 18 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Chemical plants make soda ash on purpose for several industries; it is not a leftover. The feed additive EFSA assessed was made from salt brine and limestone through the Solvay process, then supplied as a dry powder.4,6

  1. 01 // Source Brine and limestone The feed additive EFSA assessed starts with salt dissolved in water and limestone.
  2. 02 // Process Prepare the brine The brine is purified to remove calcium and magnesium before ammonia is absorbed into it.
  3. 03 // Process Form bicarbonate Carbon dioxide from heated limestone reacts with the brine, causing sodium bicarbonate crystals to form.
  4. 04 // Process Filter and heat The crystals are filtered out and heated, releasing water and carbon dioxide and leaving sodium carbonate.
  5. 05 // Output Soda ash powder EFSA described the feed additive as a white powder intended for mixing into feed.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

43.38

% sodium

Sodium's share of pure, dry sodium carbonate. The finished food's sodium level also depends on every other ingredient and the amount added.

Sodium carbonate purity 99.4-99.9%4
Sodium 43.4%5
Oxygen 45.3%5
Carbon 11.3%5

The elemental shares describe a pure, dry compound, not nutrients measured in kibble. In the feed additive EFSA assessed, purity varied across batches; the small remainder included other mineral salts.4,5

Why it is in the bag

What the manufacturer gets

  1. 01

    Adjusts acidity

    Its alkalinity reacts with acids during formulation. EFSA classed it as an acidity regulator but found no demonstration that it buffers feed materials in practice.4

  2. 02

    Adds sodium

    Sodium makes up 43.38% of pure sodium carbonate by weight. Formulators must count that contribution alongside salt and other sodium sources in the complete recipe.4,5

  3. 03

    Uses a large-scale supply

    US soda ash production reached 11.3 million metric tons in 2025. That shows industrial scale, though the bulk production figure does not reflect a food-grade price.8

How much An EFSA applicant proposed up to 400 mg/kg of complete feed; a typical amount in US dog food has not been published.4

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Sodium carbonate is safe at food use levels

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    EFSA judged practical feed use safe across animal species, drawing chiefly on existing food use rather than a controlled dog feeding trial. Its assessment examined 5 powder batches for composition; the judgment does not cover swallowing loose household powder.4,7

  2. Brands say

    It reliably buffers the finished dog food

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    EFSA recognized sodium carbonate as an acidity regulator but said its buffering capacity in feed materials had not been demonstrated. The assessment reported no finished dog food trial, so a reliable buffering claim goes beyond the evidence.4

  3. Owners say

    Its sodium raises a dog's blood pressure

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    An 8-dog crossover compared diets with 0.18% and 1.3% sodium and found no immediate blood pressure rise with higher sodium. The dogs had experimental kidney disease, and the study did not isolate sodium carbonate.1

  4. Owners say

    Any washing soda in food is poisonous

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    In a historical cohort, loose sodium carbonate crystals made 81% of 395 dogs vomit; a separate 5-dog case series described gut and respiratory harm. Those concentrated exposures cannot define the risk of a formulated feed amount.2,3,4

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    It is included for acidity control, not to add bulk. EFSA did not verify a buffering benefit in finished feed, but the proposed feed amount is too small to serve as a bulk ingredient.4

  2. Q02

    Is it baking soda?

    No

    Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. In the Solvay process, bicarbonate forms first and is heated into sodium carbonate. The names refer to different salts, so do not add household powder to your dog's food.4,6

  3. Q03

    Should kidney dogs avoid it?

    Check total sodium

    The ingredient list gives no dose, and sodium comes from the whole recipe. For a dog whose clinician has set a sodium target, ask the maker for the finished food's sodium per calorie.5,9,10

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Royal Canin 19 / 161
  2. Nulo 13 / 117
  3. Kibbles n Bits 11 / 11
  4. Cesar 9 / 45
  5. Blue 8 / 186
  6. Dave's Pet Food 6 / 22
  7. I and Love and You 6 / 23
  8. Orijen 4 / 25
  9. Instinct 4 / 98
  10. Natural Balance 3 / 48

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Plus 8 more brands.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #55 Kibbles n Bits Small Breed Mini Bits Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog Food
  2. #59 Kibbles n Bits Original Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Chicken 53%
  2. Chicken Liver 47%
  3. Carrots 35%
  4. Natural Flavor 33%
  5. Water Sufficient for Processing 32%
  6. Guar Gum 30%
  7. Beef 26%
  8. Dried Egg Product 26%
  9. Chicken Broth 26%
  10. Peas 24%
  11. Powdered Cellulose 20%
  12. Water 20%

On the shelf

Foods that list Sodium Carbonate

99 foods in our catalog list it. These 60 list it highest on the label.

Dave’s Pet Food Restricted Diet Sodium Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Restricted Diet Sodium Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 7 on the labelInstinct Original Healthy Cravings Toppers Real Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dog Food TopperInstinctInstinct Original Healthy Cravings Toppers Real Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 10 on the labelInstinct Original Healthy Cravings Toppers Real Salmon Recipe Dog Food TopperInstinctInstinct Original Healthy Cravings Toppers Real Salmon Recipe Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 11 on the labelBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Salmon Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Salmon Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 11 on the labelBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Duck Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Duck Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 11 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Restricted Diet Bland Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Restricted Diet Bland Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 13 on the labelI and Love and You Top That Gaze Grain-Free Dog Food TopperI and Love and YouI and Love and You Top That Gaze Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 13 on the labelI and Love and You Top That Wit Lamb Recipe in Gravy Dog Food TopperI and Love and YouI and Love and You Top That Wit Lamb Recipe in Gravy Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 14 on the labelWellness Complete Health Petite Entrees Shredded Medley Braised Lamb, Venison, White Sweet Potatoes & Carrots Wet Dog FoodWellnessWellness Complete Health Petite Entrees Shredded Medley Braised Lamb, Venison, White Sweet Potatoes & Carrots Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 15 on the labelHealth Extension food Grain Free Turkey Entree Wet Dog FoodHealth ExtensionHealth Extension food Grain Free Turkey Entree Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 15 on the labelRoyal Canin Veterinary Canine Selected Protein PR loaf Wet Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Veterinary Canine Selected Protein PR loaf Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 16 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Paté Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Paté Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 16 on the label
Show 48 more
Instinct Original Healthy Cravings Toppers Real Lamb Recipe Dog Food TopperInstinctInstinct Original Healthy Cravings Toppers Real Lamb Recipe Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 11 on the labelInstinct Original Healthy Cravings Toppers Real Beef Recipe Grain-Free Dog Food TopperInstinctInstinct Original Healthy Cravings Toppers Real Beef Recipe Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 11 on the labelBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Chicken Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Chicken Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 11 on the labelBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Beef Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Beef Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 11 on the labelBlue Delectables Tasty Chicken Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Delectables Tasty Chicken Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 14 on the labelI and Love and You Top That Shine Beef Recipe in Gravy Dog Food TopperI and Love and YouI and Love and You Top That Shine Beef Recipe in Gravy Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 14 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Beef & Rice Entrée For Dogs / Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Beef & Rice Entrée For Dogs / Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 15 on the labelBlue Delectables Tender Turkey Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Delectables Tender Turkey Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 15 on the labelI and Love and You Top That Boost Duck Recipe in Gravy Dog Food TopperI and Love and YouI and Love and You Top That Boost Duck Recipe in Gravy Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 15 on the labelI and Love and You Top That Move Beef With Bison Recipe In Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperI and Love and YouI and Love and You Top That Move Beef With Bison Recipe In Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 16 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Paté Turkey & Lentils Recipe Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Paté Turkey & Lentils Recipe Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 16 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Paté Chicken, Carrots & Peas Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Paté Chicken, Carrots & Peas Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 16 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Paté Turkey, Salmon & Chickpeas Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Paté Turkey, Salmon & Chickpeas Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 16 on the labelBlue Delectables Savoury Lamb Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Delectables Savoury Lamb Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 16 on the labelBlue Delectables Beef Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Delectables Beef Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 16 on the labelTruDog Grain Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe Small Breed ca Wet Dog FoodTruDogTruDog Grain Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe Small Breed ca Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelHalo Holistic Grain Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe Small Breed Wet Dog FoodHaloHalo Holistic Grain Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe Small Breed Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Paté Beef, Peas & Carrots Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Paté Beef, Peas & Carrots Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelI and Love and You Top That Tummy Chicken Recipe in Gravy Dog Food TopperI and Love and YouI and Love and You Top That Tummy Chicken Recipe in Gravy Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 17 on the labelKibbles n Bits Small Breed Mini Bits Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Small Breed Mini Bits Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 18 on the labelTruDog Grain Free Turkey & Duck Recipe Small Breed Wet Dog FoodTruDogTruDog Grain Free Turkey & Duck Recipe Small Breed Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 18 on the labelVictor Select Grain Free Chicken and Vegetables Stew Wet Dog FoodVictorVictor Select Grain Free Chicken and Vegetables Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 18 on the labelHalo Holistic Grain Free Turkey & Duck Recipe Small Breed Wet Dog FoodHaloHalo Holistic Grain Free Turkey & Duck Recipe Small Breed Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 18 on the labelKibbles n Bits Bistro Kibbles ‘n Bits : Roasted Beef, Vegetable & Apple Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Bistro Kibbles ‘n Bits : Roasted Beef, Vegetable & Apple Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 18 on the labelKibbles n Bits Triple Steak Flavor: High Protein Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Triple Steak Flavor: High Protein Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 18 on the labelKibbles n Bits Bistro Small Breed Mini Bits Oven Roasted Beef Flavor Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Bistro Small Breed Mini Bits Oven Roasted Beef Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 18 on the labelKibbles n Bits Bistro Oven Roasted Beef Flavor Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Bistro Oven Roasted Beef Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 18 on the labelKibbles n Bits Original Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Original Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 19 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Dave’s Stewlicious Surf & Turf with Chicken and Salmon for Dogs / 13.2 Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Dave’s Stewlicious Surf & Turf with Chicken and Salmon for Dogs / 13.2 Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 19 on the labelJinx Salmon & Vegetable Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodJinxJinx Salmon & Vegetable Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 19 on the labelNatural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 19 on the labelHealth Extension food Lamb Entrée Wet Dog FoodHealth ExtensionHealth Extension food Lamb Entrée Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 19 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Paté Small Breed Turkey & Lentils Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Paté Small Breed Turkey & Lentils Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 19 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Paté Small Breed Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Paté Small Breed Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 19 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Paté Small Breed Duck & Chickpeas Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Paté Small Breed Duck & Chickpeas Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 19 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Paté Lamb & Lentils Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Paté Lamb & Lentils Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 19 on the labelKibbles n Bits Meaty Middles Prime Rib Flavor Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Meaty Middles Prime Rib Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 19 on the labelKibbles n Bits Mini Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Mini Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 19 on the labelKibbles n Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 19 on the labelKibbles n Bits Homestyle Grilled Beef & Vegetable Flavors Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Homestyle Grilled Beef & Vegetable Flavors Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 19 on the labelJinx Beef Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodJinxJinx Beef Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 20 on the labelNatural Balance Limited Ingredient Whitefish, Brown Rice & Salmon Recipe Wet Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Limited Ingredient Whitefish, Brown Rice & Salmon Recipe Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 20 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Paté Weight Management Turkey & Cod Recipe Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Paté Weight Management Turkey & Cod Recipe Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 20 on the labelKibbles n Bits Beefy Bits Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Beefy Bits Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 20 on the labelRoyal Canin Comfort Care Loaf in Sauce Wet Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Comfort Care Loaf in Sauce Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 21 on the labelJinx Chicken & Vegetable Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodJinxJinx Chicken & Vegetable Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 21 on the labelRoyal Canin Shih Tzu Loaf In Sauce Wet Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Shih Tzu Loaf In Sauce Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 21 on the labelVictor Select Grain Free Cuts Gravy | Beef and Vegetables Stew Wet Dog FoodVictorVictor Select Grain Free Cuts Gravy | Beef and Vegetables Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 21 on the label

Sources

What we read

Checked October 25, 2026.

  1. 1 Effects of dietary sodium intake on blood pressure measurements in partially nephrectomized dogs American Journal of Veterinary Research, 1994 // Journal
  2. 2 Comparison of the use of sodium carbonate (washing soda crystals) and apomorphine for inducing emesis in dogs Australian Veterinary Journal, 2016 // Journal
  3. 3 Side effects of powdered sodium carbonate (washing or 'Lectric' soda) used as an oral emetic agent in five dogs Australian Veterinary Journal, 2019 // Journal
  4. 4 Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of sodium carbonate (soda ash) for all species EFSA Journal, 2010 // Journal
  5. 5 Composition of SODIUM CARBONATE National Institute of Standards and Technology, n.d. // Government
  6. 6 Reference Document on Best Available Techniques for the Manufacture of Large Volume Inorganic Chemicals - Solids and Others industry European Commission Joint Research Centre, 2006 // Government
  7. 7 21 CFR 582.1742 Sodium carbonate Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, n.d. // Regulator
  8. 8 Soda Ash in December 2025 U.S. Geological Survey, 2026 // Government
  9. 9 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  10. 10 ACVIM consensus statement: Guidelines for the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2018 // Journal
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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