Preservatives: Taste of the Wild specifically states on their site that they source all of their protein meals from sellers who do not
use ethoxyquin as a preservative.
Not surprisingly, the second study, completed in 1996, found no problems associated
with ethoxyquin in pet food.
Diamond Pet Foods, which makes 4Health for Tractor Supply Company, has stated that they only use fish meals that are free
of ethoxyquin as of 2010 and this seems to be true with food such as Taste of the Wild and other products they make.
We do note that the fish meal that Iams uses
contains ethoxyquin, an artificial preservative, so if this concerns you, you should avoid this food.
Many conventional cat foods are treated with preservatives
like Ethoxyquin, BHA, and BHT, chemicals that have been linked to organ disease, cancer, and skin problems.
The
preservative ethoxyquin used in dog food has never been tested for safety in cats, one more reason cats should not raid the dog's bowl.
Fish meal is preserved with mixed tocopherols; certified to be
ethoxyquin free.
Since ethoxyquin helps to prevent fats from becoming rancid, many pet food companies use it as a preservative.
This is important because dog food companies are not required to
list ethoxyquin on the label unless they have added it themselves.
If ethoxyquin sounds familiar, it is because the manufacturer Monsanto Company conducted a test that resulted in liver damage in dogs that were fed foods with high amounts of the additive.
Ethoxyquin doesn't have to be listed on the label because the fish meal is preserved with with this ingredient before it reaches the pet food plant so, technically, Iams doesn't add the ingredient.
But significant controversy surrounds issues related to the safety of
ethoxyquin when chronically fed at permitted amounts in dog and cat foods.
Synthetic preservatives such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), and
ethoxyquin stop fats from turning rancid and keep food fresh for long periods of time.
Unless the fish meal's manufacturer presents a permit or states «human grade» fish or fish meal,
probably ethoxyquin (preservative banned from use in foods for human consumption) is present in the food even if it is not listed.
Unless the fish meal's manufacturer presents a permit or states «human grade» fish or fish meal is used, you can be almost
certain Ethoxyquin (preservative banned from use in foods for human consumption) is present in the food even if it is not listed.
However, any dog food which contains any type of fish meal should be evaluated
whether ethoxyquin has been used as preservative.
Note: Rather than listing it as an ingredient on the packaging, some dog food manufacturers simply print «E» to
represent ethoxyquin.
While ethoxyquin can not be used in human foods, it continues to be used in many pet food brands.
Ethoxyquin came under scrutiny in the 1990s after complaints of skin allergies, reproductive problems, cancer, and organ failure in some dogs given food with this preservative.
In 1997, the FDA asked dog food makers to halve the maximum allowed amount of
ethoxyquin after tests conducted by manufacturer Monsanto Company showed possible liver damage in dogs fed high levels of the preservative.
But an independent report from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) claims that dogs are more susceptible to
ethoxyquin toxicity than the rats Monsanto used in their study.
So unless the manufacturer either presents a permit or states «human grade» fish or fish meal is used, you can be pretty
sure Ethoxyquin is present in the food even if it is not listed.
We could find nothing on TOTW «s website about the use of
ethoxyquin by their suppliers.
Wellness has a special permit on file, allowing their fish meal to be preserved with natural antioxidants instead of the
carcinogenic ethoxyquin.
A prime example is fish meal, which, according to US Coast Guard regulations, must be preserved
with Ethoxyquin if it is not destined for human consumption.
Fish meal, unless noted on a dog food company's web site, will
contain ethoxyquin as a preservative.
Despite the high cost, some prescription diets continue to include preservatives
like ethoxyquin!
Artificial antioxidants
include ethoxyquin, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).
Worse is that by - products are preserved with a nasty chemical pesticide known
as Ethoxyquin (see below).
The
preservative ethoxyquin used in dog food has never been tested for safety in cats, another reason cats should not eat dog food.
Although the current legal limit of
ethoxyquin in pet food is set at 150 ppm (0.015 %), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested pet food manufacturers to voluntarily limit their use to 75 parts per million as it has been found to increase the build up of protoporphyrin IX in the liver as well as increase levels of liver - related enzymes in some animals.
Monsanto, manufacturer
of ethoxyquin (a rubber stabilizer), in 1993 was ordered to conduct a new study of this preservative due to faulty test protocols and alleged doctoring of data in its initial report.
Look for pet foods without the chemical preservatives BHA, BHT, and
ethoxyquin and make sure to vary your cat's diet to limit exposure to mercury in seafood.
BHA / BHT /
Ethoxyquin - Free Added to oils to slow deterioration, synthetic preservatives can cause dry skin, allergic reactions and dental disease.
Poor quality food could also be an issue if you feed Kibble (dry food) make sure it is of a high quality and not full of additives preservatives, colourants, and
ethoxyquins.
Ethoxyquin: This deadly preservative is banned for use in human foods but is commonly added in commercial dog foods.
Natura, the maker of EVO, says that they do not use
ethoxyquin in any of their fish meals.
Any pet food containing by - products contains
Ethoxyquin.