Bha Bht In Dog Food
The national toxicology program of the department of health and human services warns that bha is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen cancer causing agent 2.
Bha bht in dog food. Bht is also a carcinogen and causes kidney and liver damage in rats. Butylated hydroxyanisole bha and butylated hydroxytoluene bht bha is primarily used in preserving human and dog cat foods and is one of the most widely known dog food ingredients to avoid among dog owners and nutritional specialists. In other words bht can extend the shelf life of a fat in a food product. Bha and bht are two of those additives that you might find listed on the package label of many popular foods.
These foods almost always contain some sort of food additives designed to enhance flavor or increase the shelf life of the product. Bha butylated hydroxyanisole and bht butylated hydroxytulene are two additives that prevent the oxidation of fatty substances and the alteration of colour and other qualities of the products to which they are added. Butylated hydroxyanisole also known as bha is an antioxidant primarily used as a preservative in food animal feed cosmetics rubber and petroleum products. He adds that ethoxyquin is suspected of causing cancer and that propylene glycol a pet food ingredient closely related to anti freeze causes destruction of red blood cells.
Bht is the popular abbreviation for a common dog food additive known as butylated hydroxytoluene. The fda claims bha can be used safely as an additive in dog foods to preserve the shelf life of fats found in manufactured dog foods. The chemical is used in certain dog foods to prevent fats and oils from prematurely spoiling. Wendell belfield dvm practicing veterinarian for some 26 years both bha and bht are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction and are banned in some european countries.
Butylated hydroxyanisole bha and the related compound butylated hydroxytoluene bht are phenolic compounds that are often added to foods to preserve fats and oils and keep them from becoming rancid. More people are concerned about the quality of food their pups eat and pet food companies are responding by providing food without preservatives such as ethoxyquin butylated hydroxyanisole bha butylated hydroxytoluene bht propylene glycol tbhq and propyl gallate or corn wheat barley rice or other cereal grains. Butylated hydroxyanisole bha butylated hydroxytoluene bht and ethoxyquin are 3 nasty chemical preservatives bha and bht are chemicals added to oils fats as preservatives that can be found in pet foods and treats. Processed foods make up the bulk of grocery store offerings.
Though some dog food companies prefer a safer and natural preservative because the fda still claims bha is. Bha and bht are two different antioxidants authorized in both animal and human food and their use is regulated to be completely safe.