Sweet Potato

Common concerns

• FDA's grain-free diet and canine DCM investigation The FDA's investigation into a possible link between certain diets and non-hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs looked at grain-free diets containing peas, lentils, other pulses, and potatoes (including sweet potatoes) as prominent ingredients. Of reported case diets, the FDA found peas and/or lentils in about 93 percent and potatoes/sweet potatoes in about 42 percent, meaning legumes were the more consistently implicated ingredient category. The FDA stated the potential association is a complex scientific issue likely involving multiple factors, ended routine public updates in December 2022, and has not established that any specific ingredient causes DCM.
• Cats' inability to use beta-carotene as a vitamin A source Published research (Journal of Nutrition) documents that cats absorb beta-carotene but do not convert it to vitamin A, unlike dogs and other omnivores. This means sweet potato's beta-carotene content does not supply usable vitamin A for cats, who require preformed vitamin A from animal-source ingredients.
• Carbohydrate load for overweight or diabetic pets Because sweet potato is a starch-based ingredient, sources discussing its use in pet food note that portion awareness is relevant for pets managing weight or blood glucose, consistent with general guidance around carbohydrate-dense ingredients.