Do you know about this common pet food preservative? You should.
My personal history with ethoxyquin.
In 1991 I was a typical pet owner, giving my dogs the most popular pet food sold. Almost overnight a tumor appeared on my dog’s pelvic bone. With a trip to the vet, we learned the worst news – bone cancer. My vet – who knew more about pet food in 1991 than most vets do today – told me her cancer was probably caused by a chemical preservative used in the pet food. He told me the chemical preservative was used to extend the shelf life of the pet food. The preservative was ethoxyquin.
In 1991 I didn’t really understand what ‘shelf life’ was, had no clue what a ‘chemical preservative’ was, and had never called a pet food company before. But after being told I had two weeks to say goodbye to my best friend, this was something I had to learn more about. I called this pet food company and only had the nerve to ask one question; “How long will the dog food stay fresh?” What they told me changed my life forever. This pet food company proudly stated the dog food “would stay fresh for 25 years“.
I had to euthanize my beloved dog 2 weeks later.
This website has written about ethoxyquin numerous times in the past, needless to say – this is an ingredient I am very sensitive to and aware of. It’s been several years since I’ve shared information about ethoxyquin – and thanks to a new White Paper published by GMO Free USA and Clean Label Project, we can provide new information about this dangerous pet food preservative again.
Titled “Ethoxyquin: Is there something fishy about your pet food?“, the paper provides a history to the “darker side of Ethoxyquin’s story.”
“Ethoxyquin was initially registered as a pesticide in 1965 as a deterrent of scald in pears through post-harvest indoor application. The Environmental Protection Agency’s own toxicity documentation states that “The primary target organs affected by ethoxyquin in experimental animals are the liver and the kidneys.”
Veterinarian Gloria Dodd warned the FDA about ethoxyquin in 1992.
“Her letter highlighted the epidemic of “chronic degenerative diseases such as generalized allergies, arthritis,dermatitis, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, liver pathologies, diabetes, tumors and cancer” she observed during her tenure as a veterinarian. Her letter went on to highlight the use of Ethoxyquin and the marked difference in domestic dog bones, muscles, and overall health compared to Australian pets,who at the time, were still largely being fed fresh meat as opposed to the American pet diet that had largely transitioned to commercial kibble and canned food.”
FDA ignored Dr. Dodds concerns, this preservative is still commonly used today. But…it’s hidden behind regulations that don’t protect our pets.
“It’s actually quite rare to find ethoxyquin mentioned on any pet food label at this point, but that doesn’t mean it’s not found in the finished product. In other words, just because you don’t see ethoxyquin on the label, it doesn’t mean it isn’t present in the finished product.”
Ethoxyquin is most often added by the ingredient supplier, not the pet food manufacturer. The FDA does not require manufacturers to disclose on pet food labels preservatives such as ethoxyquin that are added by the ingredient supplier. Your pet food manufacturer knows, but you don’t.
The most common ingredient that is preserved with ethoxyquin is fish meal. Over the years, industry representatives have shared with me that other meal ingredients (such as chicken meal or beef meal) and rendered fat ingredients (animal fat or chicken fat) could be preserved with ethoxyquin too. Again, ethoxyquin is added by the ingredient supplier, it is not required to be listed on the pet food label. Pet owners should ask their manufacturers – in writing – if ethoxyquin is added to any ingredient (by the ingredient supplier).
We encourage pet owners to send the FDA an email, asking them to require pet food labels to disclose all chemical preservatives used – even if the preservative was added by the ingredient supplier. You can email FDA at: AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov
Share the White Paper with your veterinarian, and encourage him/her to inquire if prescription pet foods or any brand they recommend includes ethoxyquin.
To read the full White Paper, Click Here.
From personal experience, ethoxyquin is NOT something you want in your pet’s food.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Beth Marousek
June 9, 2020 at 2:39 pm
I learned about ethoxyquin a few years ago. I thought that reading the pet feed label to be sure I wasn’t buying a product that contained it, would ensure that my pets did not consume it. Wrong. Thank you, Susan. I printed the white paper for myself and made a copy for my vet which I will hand deliver.
vicki hufstetler
June 9, 2020 at 7:58 pm
What a heartbreaking story! I’m so sorry this happened to you, but then again, I guess it’s set you on a path to help all of us too?
I was completely ignorant of anything about Pet food, and never even questioned treats or anything else. Until my 12 year old Shepherd mix Daisy died of Liver Cancer! My family has kept dogs (Mostly GSD’s, Mixes, Collies and a few Labs/Spaniel mixes). In all my life we Never lost an animal to illness unless or until they were well past 12!
It just so happens that my father was a true dog lover, and we always got them shots and took them for vet treatment when needed. (This was something most families did not do in the 1960’s-70’s) So though we were not “rich” by any means, in fact on the lower middle class scale, we were ahead of our time I suppose.
Anyway, my real point is, after our Daisy died so young, I too was heart broken, and I now had PC access, so I starting looking into it. Lucky for me, I found you! I then rescued Two beautiful full GSD’s, both of which were from bad situations. The last full breed GSD I had before these two, lived to 17 yrs of age! Max was both mostly deaf and mostly blind, but he still played a little and was healthy otherwise. It was when he became completely deaf, and he would just stand outside and bark, because he was afraid he could no longer warn us, that we knew it was time to say goodbye. He was suffering. But had no disease – Only Old age!
So in Daisy’s case, I had given her tons of Rawhide bones. They were cheap! I had a young family then, and $ was tight. So she loved rawhide, and I got if for her. I also gave her a lot of the “new” Meat Jerky. I had no idea it was made in China. I was pretty certain after doing a lot of homework, that is what made her sick, and killed her!
I was much more careful with the GSD’s. But continued to give them what I thought was a “high quality ” kibble” and and some treats, which I believed were USA made. Still, My boy Jager developed DM, and once he’d lost control of his bowels we had to say goodbye. He was only 12 years old and didn’t even have a gray hair on his muzzle! Now, I understand it might have been that we fixed him way to early, and I still have guilt over this. Then our girl, shortly after we’d lost Jager, Belle my beautiful girl developed Lymphoma. I was Not ready to lose her! She was only 10! She like many dogs, was prone to those fatty bumps (or what ever you call them) I had removed most of them, each time they got big. I missed the big one in her neck, and that’s what killed her. I also went to extremes of two Kemo treatments. I believe those treatments made her so weak, I lost her sooner than I would have otherwise. So, I don’t recommend it.
We’d got our little Border collie Rags, just before we had to say good bye to Jager. (Oct 2018). I found myself so concerned about all these potential problems, I went back to what my Dad used to do. He gave canned dog food and left overs to our dogs always. So I tried to do the same. This little Rags is a terror, he’s the pickiest dog I’ve ever seen in my life! Not food motivated at all. So, he refused any kibble, and the canned dog food. Since then, I’ve made him a batch of dog-food with a recipe I found online. I’ve messed with about 3-4 of these recipes so far, and now do my own. It’s a few hours every other week, and not a big deal for me to do. I’m still giving a few treats, but trying hard to be careful there too! If you’ve got the time, it might be worth it. I’ll let you know, hopefully in about 15 years! 🙂
(Sorry for the way too long post, just wanted to share the story in case it helps someone else).
Vicki H. Detroit MI.
Charles Wolfe
June 9, 2020 at 11:01 pm
Thank you — guess it’s time to start writing letters again….
Sarah
June 10, 2020 at 8:28 am
Thank you so much for this eye-opening introduction to ethoxyquin. We did not know. And we are deeply concerned so will definitely write some letters. I am beginning to wonder if this is behind one of our cats’ chronic cancer, the CKD and now thyroid disease. Thank you for all you do, we love seeing your posts, and we share them on our FB page to help raise awareness of the good fight you are fighting.
Deborah Stone
June 10, 2020 at 5:20 pm
Buyer beware this product ethoxyquin is also in Stevia the sweetener for people in some packets. Read labels-if you can’t pronounce it look it up. Extremely sorry the person and the dog had to go through this terrible thing in their lives.My animals are my children and I try as best as I can to protect them, because they cant do for themselves.
CK
June 16, 2020 at 5:41 pm
I asked Zignature about ethoxyguin, and this is their answer:
“Thank you for taking the time to contact us!
Our recipes are ethoxyquin free. Ethoxyquin is only used to preserve fish on seafaring vessels, but our fish is not transported that way. Our salmon comes from Alaska, our trout comes from Idaho, and our Whitefish recipe uses cod and pollock from North America.”
We have recently begun using their catfish formula instead of the turkey (dogs love it), which not being sea fish I assume are free of ethoxyquin.
PS We feed Zignature kibble in the morning and Honest Kitchen re-hydrated at night. Found both I believe through Susan’s List (definitely the Honest Kitchen). So happy having some peace of mind about feeding my dogs.