Have you ever opened a bag or can of your pet’s favorite food and been struck in the olfactory senses by an distasteful aroma? That smell is certain to be rancid fat. It is not a secret a number of the formula ingredients in pet foods are left overs of our own slaughter houses that are regarded as unacceptable for human consumption. To be truthful these types of by products should really be determined unsuitable for pets to consume as well.
Pet food manufacturers utilize animal and poultry fat to provide oils required for healthy skin and coats. The issue arises in the fact that the majority of fats have begun to turn rotten. They're then preserved by using ingredients like BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), which are phenolic compounds combined with food products to maintain fat. One more standard additive utilized as a preservative is ethoxyquin.
Fats become rancid for several reasons nonetheless the final result is the same, when the fat breaks down free radicals will be formed and causes a health concern itself. When the preservatives BHA, BHT, as well as ethoxyquin are added this certainly compounds the health troubles.
There are actually studies which have associated BHA and BHT to medical conditions which can include dry skin, dental disease, allergy symptoms, liver disease, kidney damage and additionally cancers in pets. In the U.S. BHT is disallowed from use in baby food. In Romania, Sweden, and Germany it is not permitted for use by any means in human food products and Japan has banned using both BHA and BHT. It is incomprehensible why these ingredients, which have demonstrated known carcinogenic attributes, remain permitted for use in pet food products.
In researching information with regards to the additive ethoxyquin only limited facts seemed to be available. This is what is known in regards to this substance. Monsanto originally created it during 1950’s. It was registered with the Environmental protection agency as a pesticide in 1965. There is also some documentation listing it as an herbicide. You can review the EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document pertaining to ethoxyquin here, http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/fac...s/0003fact.pdf Please take a minute to study this information. It is notable that, as suggested by this file, the EPA has not studied ethoxyquin for its carcinogenic characteristics.
Although the EPA has not made these kinds research studies many other groups have. A variety of studies, including a recent one at the Nagoya City University Medical School in Japan, have linked this substance to kidney and bladder carcinogenesis. Cell Carcinogenesis, is the mechanism through which ordinary cells are transformed into cancer cells. This study additionally linked ethoxyquin to a higher incidence of stomach growths.
Although studies on these chemical additives may be limited a question that begs to be asked is, why use them at all? Certainly the fats must be shielded from oxidation and rancidity; never the less, there are a number of all-natural preservatives available that could serve that objective. A couple of examples of these could be tocopherols, that contain vitamin E and ascorbic acid or vitamin C.
The greatest disadvantage of all-natural preservatives is storage. As such many pet food companies have chosen the synthetic preservatives. Chemical ingredients usually are less costly as well. If, being a pet owner you would like to give your dog or cat foods that only include all-natural preservatives you must be sure that the food is eaten in 4 to 6 months from the date of production. You should be able to locate a manufacturer code on the package, if the code is not easy to understand or is listed as code number without any understandable delineation of the production date get in touch with the manufacturer with all your inquiries.
In the long run, no matter what you choose to feed your pet, as a caring pet owner it is best that you perform your due diligence to make certain that your companion’s dietary requirements are being met in every way.
