ANTIOXIDANTS - ANIMAL NUTRITION

Antioxidants are substances that help to keep fats and fat-soluble ingredients (including vitamins A and E) from becoming oxidized. Once a fat is oxidized, it starts to taste rancid and loses much of its nutritional value. Dog and cat foods, which often contain significant levels of fat, are especially susceptible to oxidation. Canned foods are protected because they are airtight, but dry foods need to have antioxidants added to preserve them. If an antioxidant is used, then the common name of the antioxidant must appear on the label, along with a reference to the fact that it is being used as a preservative. There are both natural and artificial antioxidants, and they all work to preserve food from oxidation. The most common artificial antioxidants used in the pet food industry are ethoxyquin, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Commonly used natural antioxidants include tocopherols (vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid, and rosemary.