Sodium Bicarbonate

Chemical plants make sodium bicarbonate from soda ash, usually produced from mined trona or from salt and limestone. Carbon dioxide converts the refined soda ash into bicarbonate crystals for food and feed use.⁷

1. 01 // Source Trona or salt Mined trona or a salt and limestone process provides the raw material for soda ash.
2. 02 // Process Make soda ash The raw material is processed and refined into sodium carbonate, also called soda ash.
3. 03 // Process Add carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide passes through a soda ash solution, causing sodium bicarbonate crystals to form.
4. 04 // Process Separate and dry The crystals are filtered from the liquid, washed, dried and screened.
5. 05 // Output Bicarbonate powder The dry powder ships to food and feed plants for measured addition to recipes.

1. 01

   Adjusts recipe acidity

   Bicarbonate reacts with acids in a food mixture and changes its pH. FDA lists pH control as one of its food-processing uses.^6,7

2. 02

   Changes baked texture

   Its leavening reaction releases gas. A pet food supplier describes encapsulated bicarbonate that releases during processing to change kibble density and porosity.^6,10

3. 03

   Supplies sodium

   The powder contributes sodium without the chloride in table salt. The amount it adds to a dog's diet depends on the recipe's unpublished inclusion rate.^5,12

4. 04

   Uses bulk mineral supply

   A USDA report cites about 2.8 million tons of global bicarbonate production in 2008. Manufacturers buy a standardized industrial ingredient for this formulation job.⁷

How much A greyhound crossover gave 400 mg/kg orally before racing; no kibble inclusion rate was published in the reviewed sources.¹

1. Brands say

   Steadies acidity in the recipe

   Evidence

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

   FDA lists pH control as a use, and a laboratory titration of 30 dog foods found that buffering differs by recipe. That supports a formulation role. The study did not test bicarbonate's effect on a dog's health.^3,6

2. Brands say

   Helps baked dog food rise

   Evidence

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

   FDA lists leavening as a use. A pet food supplier describes encapsulated bicarbonate released during processing to change kibble porosity. That explains a manufacturing function, but the ingredient line does not reveal why a particular maker added it.^6,10

3. Owners say

   Keeps a dog's body healthfully alkaline

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   In a crossover study, 6 greyhounds received 400 mg/kg before racing. The experiment addressed acute alkalosis and found no faster racing times. It provides no evidence that bicarbonate in food maintains a beneficial body pH.¹

4. Brands say

   Supports urinary tract health

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   A company-authored 13-week drug-safety study gave dogs up to 800 mg/kg of bicarbonate alone. Its abstract reports no stone-prevention outcome. Veterinary guidance sets different urine goals for different stones, so a general urinary-health claim goes too far.^2,4,11

5. Brands say

   Eases a dog's digestive upset

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

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

   A brand suggests digestive relief. Researchers acid-titrated 30 dog foods in a laboratory, but did not feed bicarbonate or measure symptoms. Buffering a food mixture does not show that this ingredient relieves a dog's stomach upset.^3,11