Investigative Report on Ethoxyquin ("E")
By
Alicia McWatters, Ph.D., C.N.C.
Ethoxyquin ("E") was first used as a rubber stabilizer and has also been used as an effective pesticide for fruit and to preserve color in
chili powder, paprika, and ground chili. "E" was developed by Monsanto in the 1950s and was permitted in feeds as a stabilizer for alfalfa,
clover, and grasses to be fed to livestock at 150 ppm. Pet food wasn’t considered in the original permit, but since pet food falls under the
legal category of animal feed, the use of "E" is permissible in dog foods. (Consider the weight and digestive processing of a sheep or other
ruminant compared to, for example, a forty-pound dog, a seven-pound cat or a two-pound ferret!)
Originally, the FDA approved "E" as a preservative of grain for animals that are raised to be killed for food, and it was to be used no longer
than 2 years. The safety of feeding it to dogs that live 10, 12, 15 or more years has never been proven.
Dog food labels must state the presence of "E"; however, no concentration or potency needs to be stated. Since "E" is classified as a
pesticide it is not approved for use as a preservative in human food.
Fish meal must be stabilized with "E" at a level of 400-1000 ppm, which is considerably higher than the amount used in animal feed.
Fish meal is sometimes used as an ingredient in dog feed.
FDA officials clearly recognized "E" as a toxic substance and permit a minute quantity in animal feed because it is the cheapest
and most potent preservative available. FDA and Monsanto researchers initially thought that "E" degraded at around 160 to 190 C, so that
when a feed product containing "E" was cooked, the "E" simply disappeared. Later research confirmed that it didn't disappear, it mutated into
oxidized "E".
The FDA kept allowing more usage in pet foods because they were less concerned about the animals that were not part of the human food chain.
Since Americans do not consume companion animals there was little worry on the part of the FDA. Today, many dog and cat feeds are preserved with
"E" or other chemical preservative in some way, although you won't always find it on the label, since "E" is frequently added before it reaches
the pet feed factory.
Monsanto has been requested to retest the safety of "E", in part based on a petition filed by Carol Barfield (co-founder of the United
Animal Owners Association), who became alarmed after one of her pets, was diagnosed as hopelessly allergic to practically everything.
We must acknowledge that many dangerous chemicals have been used for years in our food products without being tested thoroughly,
then later were banned due to their cancer-causing properties. Most "scientific" studies are performed by the manufacturers, which result
in totally biased conclusions. Thereafter, once a product has been marketed, few criteria exist to evaluate consumer-initiated reports of
adverse effects. Also, the government’s approach for regulating each chemical compound individually fails to recognize the combined effect
of different chemical compounds in one product. While the FDA personnel are well intentioned, they do not have the financial or scientific
resources to prevent all potentially harmful food additives from reaching the market.
Nearly all commercial dog foods contain chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT, "E", artificial color and artificial flavor.
If you feed your dog the same food every day these ingredients accumulate in its body. BHA, BHT and "E" have been associated with cancer,
liver and kidney disorders.
If you feed a commercial dog food, look for one that uses natural preservatives, such as vitamins C & E and that is preservative-free.
Or better yet… prepare your own dog food at home with fresh whole ingredients.
