Pea

2,068 foods contain this ingredient

Vegetable Legumes allergen group

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About Pea

Pea appears in pet food as whole peas, pea flour, or pea protein concentrate, contributing plant protein, fiber, and carbohydrate.

Pea is a plant-based ingredient used in pet foods as a source of protein, soluble and insoluble fiber, and micronutrients (often included as whole peas, pea flour, or pea protein concentrate) to boost protein content and improve texture. While peas can provide digestible carbohydrates, fiber, and some plant protein useful especially for dogs, they are not a complete protein for obligate carnivores like cats and — when overused, particularly in concentrated forms or as a major component of grain‑free diets — have been scrutinized for a possible association with canine dilated cardiomyopathy and can contribute to nutrient imbalances or excess calories, so balanced formulation and compliance with AAFCO nutritional profiles are important.

Related ingredients

Field Pea Green Pea Natural Pea Flavor Pea Fiber Pea Flavor Pea Flour Pea Protein Pea Starch Snow Pea Split Pea Yellow Pea Yellow Split Pea

Derived from: legume (Pisum sativum), used whole, as flour, fiber, or protein concentrate
Primary role: plant protein and fiber source, common in grain-free formulas

Why it's used

Formulators use peas to raise the protein and fiber content of a recipe while replacing grain-based carbohydrate sources, and pea starch also affects kibble texture and binding. Whole peas and pea fiber additionally supply some soluble and insoluble fiber that can factor into stool quality.

Common concerns

FDA inquiry into diet-associated DCM The FDA opened an investigation in 2018 into reports of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs eating diets, often labeled grain-free, that listed peas and other legumes prominently in the ingredient list, and as of its most recent public update the agency had not established a confirmed causal mechanism.
Concentrated pea protein versus whole pea Diets that use pea protein concentrate as a primary protein source differ nutritionally from those using whole peas, since the concentrate is higher in protein and differs in amino acid profile (including the sulfur amino acids that support taurine), starch, and digestibility, and researchers have looked at whether this distinction affects taurine status in some dogs.
Not a complete protein for cats Pea protein lacks the full amino acid profile obligate carnivores need, so it is used as a supplementary rather than primary protein source in feline diets.

Also relevant

Pea is grouped under legume allergen concerns in some ingredient databases because it belongs to the same plant family as lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans.

3 sources cited