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Ingredient file // Preservative

Spearmint Extract

A food preservative, not a breath treatment

Spearmint extract concentrates substances drawn from spearmint leaves. In kibble, manufacturers use it in antioxidant blends to slow fat rancidity. The evidence for fresher breath, cleaner teeth or health benefits from eating it is thin or absent.

What it is
A concentrated preparation of spearmint leaves used in food to slow oxidation or add flavor.
Made from
Spearmint leaves
Main job
Slows fat rancidity
Typical amount
Not published
Watch for
Concentrated mint oil is a different preparation
Not the same as
Spearmint essential oil

Straight answer

Is Spearmint Extract safe for dogs?

Read it as part of the preservation system

Near the end of a label, especially beside rosemary or tocopherols, spearmint extract points to an antioxidant blend. Judge the food by its main ingredients and nutrient analysis. Treat breath, dental and health claims as unproven unless the maker has tested that finished formula in dogs.

Why it is in the food
Slows fat rancidity

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 25 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

4%

130 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 6 brands. 125 dry dog food, 5 dog food topper.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 47. In the top five of 0 foods, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

0%

Usually listed after the salt, which caps it at roughly 1% of the recipe in 100% of foods.

Price per lb

Foods with it $2.89
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 111 priced foods, 11% below the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

42%

of the foods that list it are from Wellness. 6 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Spearmint leaves supply both flavorings and food preservatives. For the extract studied here, freshly cut leaves are microwave dried within an hour of harvest, then extracted with acidified water to concentrate phenolic compounds.2,3

  1. 01 // Source Spearmint leaves Freshly harvested spearmint leaves are the raw material for the extract.
  2. 02 // Process Microwave dried Leaf is microwave dried within one hour of harvest, per the method used for the tested extract.
  3. 03 // Process Water extracted The dried leaf is then extracted with acidified water, a step linked to its rosmarinic acid and phenolic content.
  4. 04 // Output Dry extract The finished extract is a dry powder, measured at about 4.4% moisture in one tested batch.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

161

g/kg

Rosmarinic acid in one supplier's dry water extract, calculated from its measured moisture. This is an ingredient concentration, not a dose shown to benefit dogs.

Rosmarinic acid 161.1 g/kg2
Total phenolics 29%2
Carbohydrate 66.8%2
Ash 21.2%2
Dietary fiber 11.5%2
Protein 11%2
Fat 1%2

All rows come from one proprietary powder and were divided by its measured dry fraction. Carbohydrate already includes the fiber and sugar listed below it, so the rows do not add to 100 percent.2

Why it is in the bag

What the manufacturer gets

  1. 01

    Protects stored fats

    Spearmint's water-soluble compounds go into antioxidant blends. In a supplier's kibble storage test, a blend containing spearmint produced fewer fat oxidation products than a comparison blend.5

  2. 02

    Meets label demand

    A supplier says pet food makers seek botanical preservatives to meet buyer preferences, while higher cost and uncertain performance complicate the switch from synthetic antioxidants.7

  3. 03

    Limits unwanted mint taste

    A supplier offers a spearmint extract with essential oils removed, allowing it to protect fats in foods where a strong mint flavor would be unwelcome.8

How much The published kibble test gives the antioxidant blend's makeup but does not disclose the amount of spearmint extract in finished food.5

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

    Spearmint blends keep kibble fats from turning rancid

    Evidence

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

    In a supplier's 12-week kibble storage test at 37C, aldehydes measured 38 ppm with a spearmint-containing blend and 186 ppm with a comparison blend. Both contained other antioxidants, so the test cannot isolate spearmint's effect.5

  2. Brands say

    Its antioxidants protect the dog's health

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

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

    An analysis measured about 263 g/kg of phenolics in one dried extract as sold. That shows what was in the powder, not how much a dog absorbs from kibble or any health benefit.3

  3. Brands say

    It fights plaque and mouth bacteria

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

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

    A laboratory test applied 0.5% spearmint essential oil directly to bacterial growth on bovine enamel. The test did not feed dogs spearmint extract or measure plaque in a dog's mouth.4

  4. Brands say

    Spearmint extract freshens a dog's breath

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

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

    A blinded trial in 20 dogs tested a gel containing menthol and thymol after dental cleaning. It did not test spearmint extract in food, so it provides no evidence for a breath claim on a kibble bag.1

  5. Owners say

    Any spearmint in dog food is toxic

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

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

    ASPCA associates large mint ingestions with vomiting and diarrhea and identifies essential oils as the concern. A supplier-backed rat study tested a dry water extract without adverse tissue findings. Neither source identifies a poisoning risk from a formulated food addition.2,6

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    Manufacturers use it to slow fat oxidation during storage. A supplier's test found less oxidation in kibble made with a spearmint-containing blend. The label does not reveal how much extract the food contains.5

  2. Q02

    Does it clean my dog's teeth?

    No proof

    The dental laboratory study applied spearmint essential oil diluted to 0.5% directly onto a tooth model. Spearmint extract mixed into food is a different preparation and exposure. That test does not support a dental claim for kibble.4

  3. Q03

    Is extract the same as mint oil?

    No

    The studied extract came from microwave-dried leaves pulled through acidified water. Essential oil is the aromatic fraction, and one supplier removes it from its extract. The ingredient name alone does not specify the preparation.3,8

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Wellness 54 / 118
  2. Victor 21 / 26
  3. Bil-Jac 21 / 32
  4. Natural Balance 19 / 48
  5. Holistic Select 10 / 16
  6. Eagle Pack 5 / 6

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

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #32 Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
  2. #57 Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Dry Dog Food
  3. #79 Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice 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. Flaxseed 68%
  2. Chicken Fat 48%
  3. Chicken Meal 43%
  4. Peas 42%
  5. Mixed Tocopherols 42%
  6. Dried Plain Beet Pulp 38%
  7. Oatmeal 38%
  8. Chicken 35%
  9. Brewers Dried Yeast 32%
  10. Natural Flavor 31%
  11. Brown Rice 24%
  12. Menhaden Fish Meal 21%

On the shelf

Foods that list Spearmint Extract

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

Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 18 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 18 on the labelWellness Core Six Free-Range Lamb Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Six Free-Range Lamb Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelWellness Core Six Cage-Free Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Six Cage-Free Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelEagle Pack Power Adult Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Power Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelEagle Pack Original Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula Adult Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Original Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelVictor Raw Blend Farm Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Raw Blend Farm Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 32 on the labelVictor Raw Blend Ranchers’ Beef Recipe Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Raw Blend Ranchers’ Beef Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 32 on the labelNatural Balance Gentle Balance Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Gentle Balance Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 37 on the labelNatural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal & Duck Meal Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal & Duck Meal Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 37 on the labelBil-Jac Senior Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Senior Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 42 on the labelBil-Jac Senior Select Formula Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Senior Select Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 42 on the label
Show 48 more
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Large Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Large Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 18 on the labelWellness Core Six Small Breed Sustainably-Sourced Salmon Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Six Small Breed Sustainably-Sourced Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelWellness Core Six Sustainably-Sourced Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Six Sustainably-Sourced Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Dry Puppy Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Dry Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Bison Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Bison Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 23 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Beef Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Beef Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 23 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Beef Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Beef Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 23 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 23 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 23 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 23 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Salmon & Brown Rice Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Salmon & Brown Rice Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 23 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Venison Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Venison Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 24 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Salmon & Brown Rice Puppy Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Salmon & Brown Rice Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 25 on the labelEagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelEagle Pack Reduced Fat Adult Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Reduced Fat Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelEagle Pack Original Chicken Meal & Pork Meal Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Original Chicken Meal & Pork Meal Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelNatural Balance Fat Dogs Low Calorie Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Fat Dogs Low Calorie Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 36 on the labelWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 40 on the labelWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 41 on the labelWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Lamb & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Lamb & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 42 on the labelBil-Jac Sensitive Solutions Healthy Weight Support Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Sensitive Solutions Healthy Weight Support Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 43 on the labelBil-Jac Large Breed Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Large Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 43 on the labelBil-Jac Large Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Large Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 43 on the labelBil-Jac Reduced Fat Formula Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Reduced Fat Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 43 on the labelBil-Jac Picky No More Medium & Large Breed Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Picky No More Medium & Large Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 44 on the labelVictor Classic Multi-Pro Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Classic Multi-Pro Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 44 on the labelBil-Jac Adult Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 44 on the labelBil-Jac Puppy Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 44 on the labelWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Duck & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Duck & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 44 on the labelBil-Jac Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 44 on the labelBil-Jac Adult Select Formula Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Adult Select Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 44 on the labelBil-Jac Picky No More Medium Breed Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Picky No More Medium Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 44 on the labelBil-Jac Picky No More Small Breed Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Picky No More Small Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 44 on the labelBil-Jac Puppy Select Formula Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Puppy Select Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 44 on the labelVictor Purpose Sensitive Skin & Stomach Grain Free Lamb Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Purpose Sensitive Skin & Stomach Grain Free Lamb Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 45 on the labelVictor Purpose Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Purpose Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 45 on the labelVictor Select Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Select Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 45 on the labelVictor Classic High Energy Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Classic High Energy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 45 on the labelBil-Jac 30/20 Performance - Bil-Jac Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac 30/20 Performance - Bil-Jac Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 45 on the labelWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 45 on the labelVictor Purpose Grain Free Active Dog & Puppy Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Purpose Grain Free Active Dog & Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 46 on the labelVictor Select Ocean Fish Formula with Salmon Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Select Ocean Fish Formula with Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 46 on the labelVictor Select Grain Free Yukon River Canine Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Select Grain Free Yukon River Canine Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 46 on the labelVictor Classic Professional Dry Dog FoodVictorVictor Classic Professional Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 46 on the labelBil-Jac Sensitive Solutions Skin & Stomach Support Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Sensitive Solutions Skin & Stomach Support Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 46 on the label

Sources

What we read

Checked October 24, 2026.

  1. 1 Evaluation of a topical gel containing a novel combination of essential oils and antioxidants for reducing oral malodor in dogs American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2014 // Journal
  2. 2 The safety of a dry spearmint extract in vitro and in vivo Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2015 // Journal
  3. 3 Phenolic and Volatile Composition of a Dry Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) Extract Molecules (PMC), 2016 // Journal
  4. 4 Inhibitory Activity of Essential Oils of Mentha spicata and Eucalyptus globulus on Biofilms of Streptococcus mutans in an In Vitro Model Antibiotics, 2023 // Journal
  5. 5 Antioxidant formulations World Intellectual Property Organization, Kemin Industries application, 2013 // Industry
  6. 6 Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Mint ASPCA Animal Poison Control, n.d. // Nonprofit
  7. 7 Switching From Synthetic to Natural Antioxidants in Pet Food Kemin, 2024 // Industry
  8. 8 Spearmint Extract Kemin, 2020 // Industry
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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