Amidst our busy schedules, many of us might have overlooked a crucial detail concerning our extended family members—our pets. If you have some furry family members or are considering adding one to your brood, you’ll want to know about this thing called ethoxyquin.
So, What Exactly is Ethoxyquin?
Originally used as a stabilizer to prevent rubber from deteriorating, ethoxyquin found its way into our food chain because of its antioxidant properties. Over time, its role expanded from preserving the color of spices to preventing fats in animal feeds from going rancid.
Connecting the Dots: Pet Health, Diet, and Ethoxyquin
I couldn’t help but notice the increasing stories of pets facing various health issues. We’re talking about conditions ranging from arthritis to some really serious ailments like tumors. Now, while there could be many factors contributing to this, there’s been chatter about a link between these health concerns and additives in pet foods, like ethoxyquin.
A Note on Commercial Pet Foods
It’s fascinating (and a bit alarming) how the commercial pet food industry has evolved. While many of us are doing our best to provide a balanced diet for our families, sometimes the details about what goes into these commercial pet foods might escape our scrutiny.
Ethoxyquin: The Hidden Ingredient?
The tricky part? Even if you’re like me, meticulously reading every label, ethoxyquin might not be listed. It’s often added by ingredient suppliers, not the pet food companies themselves. So, while it’s not on the label, it could very well be in the bag.
A Collective Step Forward
As parents, our priority has always been the well-being of our family, be it two-legged or four-legged. Understanding more about what we feed our pets, including the potential risks and benefits of ethoxyquin, is just an extension of that care. While we can hope for more transparency from pet food companies in the future, for now, it’s essential to stay informed and make the best choices we can for our furry family members.
Stay well, and give those pets an extra cuddle from me today!
References:
- Błaszczyk, Alina et al. “Ethoxyquin: An Antioxidant Used in Animal Feed.” International journal of food science vol. 2013 (2013): 585931. doi:10.1155/2013/585931
- Medicine, Center for Veterinary. “Osteoarthritis in Cats: More Common than You Think.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/osteoarthritis-cats-more-common-you-think.
- Wall, Tim. “Australia Feeds More Raw Pet Food; Canada Conventional.” Petfood Industry, 25 Sept. 2020, www.petfoodindustry.com/news-newsletters/pet-food-news/article/15467150/australia-feeds-more-raw-pet-food-canada-conventional.
- E. (2004, November). EPA R.E.D. facts. Retrieved May 12, 2020, from https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/web/pdf/0003fact.pdf
- [3]IARC monograph on Glyphosate. (n.d.). Retrieved May 12, 2020, from https://www.iarc.fr/featured-news/media-centre-iarc-news-glyphosate/
- Feely, J. et al. (2020, May 25) Bayer Reaches Verbal Deal to Settle Up to 85,000 RoundUp Cancer Lawsuits. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://fortune.com/2020/05/25/bayer-roundup-cancer-lawsuit-settle
- E. (2004, November). EPA R.E.D. facts. Retrieved May 12, 2020, from https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/web/pdf/0003fact.pdf
- Medicine, C. (2017, June 11). Labeling and use of Ethoxyquin in animal feed. Retrieved May 12, 2020, from https://www.fda.gov- /animal-veterinary/ingredients-additives/labeling-and-use-ethoxyquin-animal-feed