Pet Food Ingredients - E = Ethoxyquin

E

Ethoxyquin


Why couldn't I just have picked Eggs?


Ethoxyquin is used as a preservative in pet food. It helps prevent oxidization and rancidity in fats.

If you have been playing along, chances are you will already assume that half of the people hate it and the other half think it's just fine and dandy..

Who knew posts on pet food ingredients would become more like a choose your own adventure series.

The door on the left = Confusion
The door on the right = It's locked - Monsanto hid the key. You're screwed.

 Looks like we need to make another door. 


Other door

Scary Room with no lights

If you would like to skip those chapters - I don't blame you!

The gist of that babble - Ethoxyquin is used as a pesticide - it stops pears from browning..

It is used to keep the preserve the colour of chilli pepper and paprika 

It is used as a preservative in animal feed and pet foods

It is used to stop rubber from breaking down due to degradation

* It has never been tested for exposure to outdoor environment or water because apparently when it is used on pears their water drainage is recycled.

This does not seem like a valid reason not to test..but that's just me.

* It has never been tested for its carcinogenic potential.

Why not? 
 
I wonder if the EPA believes if they do not test it then it can't be possible? 
Magic!

-Its chemically super close buddy - like lives next door kinda close - is :
1,2- Dihydro -2,2,4-Trimethylquinoline 

Ethoxyquin is - 1,2- Dihydro-6-Ethoxy-2,2,4-Trimethylquinoline
 
Granted I have no idea what either of them actually mean ...but the EPA said it was close - and visually...it's damn close!

Why does that matter?
 Because the Buddy is considered Carcinogenic  
( meaning a possible cause of Cancer)

I have been seeing different sites listing Ethoxyquin as 'Highly Carcinogenic'

So far I have not seen that listed anywhere accept sites that probably mean well, but also probably have a pet food bone to pick with some of the players in the game. 
 

Then again... if it has never been tested for its Carcinogenic possibilities ??? It could be the absolute worst in the world...or the least.. it's a chemical mystery.. Mostly because most of us do not understand Chemicals.

If a pet food has fat in it.. and they all do, they need a preservative.
Without one a pet food can become toxic - and that will kill your pet. 


Think of an Avocado - you cut it open and in no time at all it turns all yucky and brown. 

They are not the same but the idea of a food destabilizing is the same.

There are natural and synthetic forms of preservatives - it seems like that natural ones in the food tend to maintain a shorter shelf life than the synthetic.

BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin would be considered synthetic. They tend to extend the shelf life due to their ability to do the job without depleting any of the Vitamin E. 


**It is important to note that all items containing fat have been preserved prior to their arrival to the place allocated to make the pet food.**

Your naturally preserved pet food most likely is not. 

In order for a natural preservative to be used in the meat, it would have to be done at a certain stage in the game.

By the time it gets to the pet food making destination it would be useless. Rancidity would have already set in and natural stabilizers can not reverse what has happened.



What do people think Ethoxyquin guilty of causing?

Skin issues
Liver problems
Kidney problems
Problems with a females ability to go into heat
Problems with becoming pregnant
Problems in utero
Deformed puppies
Still born pups
There is a long list of reproduction issues  
Cancer 
Issues leading to death



Why do these things never cause beneficial things like - Dog will learn to scoop its own poop. 
Cat now sees owner as equal. 


This may be another case of risk over reward. 

The companies have their own idea on how many sick animals they would be okay with - actually same with the EPA, FDA and many other 3 letter people.


They risk your pet for their reward.

I have to just state again that education is key. 
Learn for yourself what is good or bad - try and stay off the band wagon - it's difficult when they have so many shiny things!

Shiny pretty things...
 
 I need to get out more..