Bean

218 foods contain this ingredient

Vegetable Legumes allergen group

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About Bean

Bean is a catch-all term for legume seeds (navy, kidney, pinto, and related varieties) added to pet food for plant protein, starch, and fiber.

Beans are legume ingredients used in pet foods mainly as a source of plant protein, complex carbohydrates and soluble and insoluble fiber, and they also supply vitamins and minerals like folate and iron; they can be helpful in dog diets for added fiber and as a carbohydrate or meat extender but are not a complete protein source for obligate carnivores such as cats. Properly cooked and processed beans can support digestive health and weight management, but raw or undercooked beans contain anti-nutritional factors (e.g., lectins) that are reduced by cooking, and excessive bean content may cause gas, digestive upset, added carbohydrates, or sodium concerns in canned varieties, so formulations should balance them with animal proteins and monitoring for individual intolerances.

Related ingredients

Black Bean Green Bean Lima Bean Pinto Bean Faba Bean Protein Garbanzo Flour Navy Bean Navy Bean Flour

Derived from: seeds of Phaseolus, Dolichos, and Vigna genus legume plants
Primary role: plant protein, starch, and fiber source; protein extender

Why it's used

AAFCO ingredient definitions require dried beans to be identified by variety on the label (e.g., navy bean, kidney bean), and formulators use them to stretch or complement animal protein while adding starch and fiber at lower cost. Some bean varieties, like fava bean, are treated more cautiously in AAFCO's ingredient review process and are not yet broadly recognized without additional feeding-study data.

Common concerns

Lectins and raw preparation Raw or undercooked beans naturally contain lectins and other anti-nutritional compounds (phytic acid, enzyme inhibitors) that dogs cannot digest well, which is why extrusion or thorough cooking is used to inactivate them before inclusion in pet food.
Methionine limitation Legume proteins, including beans, are naturally low in the amino acid methionine, so diets relying heavily on bean protein are typically formulated alongside other protein sources to round out amino acid balance.
Novel bean ingredients under review Certain bean types, such as fava bean, have not been placed on AAFCO's generally-recognized ingredient list and require a feeding study before broader approval, reflecting ongoing evaluation of newer legume ingredients in pet diets.

Also relevant

Research on fava-bean-based diets in dogs has looked at effects on glucose tolerance and cardiovascular parameters compared with standard commercial diets, an active area of legume-in-pet-food study rather than a settled conclusion.

4 sources cited