There is extensive legislation in place covering the composition of pet food, which is designed to protect the health of pet animals. This includes maximum permitted levels for various contaminants and only substances that have undergone an official assessment for safety, quality and efficacy can be used as additives in pet foods. It is also an offence to sell pet foods that are deleterious to pet animals.
It is not necessary to ban sugar and salt as the use of such ingredients is controlled by this legislation. A wide range of ingredients, including sugar and salt, are used in manufactured pet foods to satisfy the nutritional requirements of animals and for palatability and technological reasons.