When it comes to pet food ingredients, corn gets a bad rap. But is that really justified?

Some folks think corn and other grains are common pet allergens. Truth is, food allergies are uncommon in pets, and most involve animal proteins, not plant proteins or grains.

Corn meal or ground corn — the kinds of corn often found in pet foods — are highly digestible grains. They’re a good source of energy and a great source of linoleic [lin-oh-LAY-ick] acid, an essential fatty acid required by dogs and cats. Corn also contains several B vitamins, potassium and magnesium. It’s also rich in carotenoids [cah-ROTTEN-oids], which have health benefits in dogs.

It often pays to look beyond the buzz. By objective measures, corn is a safe food ingredient that has a lot to offer our pets.