Category: preservative
⚠ Controversial ingredient
A synthetic antioxidant used as a preservative, primarily in fish meals and some pet foods.
Originally developed as a rubber stabilizer and pesticide. Banned for use in human food. The European Union significantly restricted its use in animal feed in 2017 due to insufficient safety data and concerns about a metabolite (ethoxyquin dimer) with potential genotoxic properties. While the FDA still permits it in US pet food, many manufacturers and consumers avoid it. Often present in fish meals even when not directly added to the final product.