Preservatives
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Preservatives are just one kind of additive used in pet food. Consumers
alarmed by nutritional gossip and hearsay may elect to avoid feeding “additives” to
their pets for the same reasons they avoid these compounds in their own
foods. Consumers wanting to avoid “additives” as a generic group are
often not well informed on the types or benefits of pet food additives
and the possible negative consequences of not using these compounds in
foods.
Additives such as flavorings, colorings, binders, and emulsifiers in
pet foods are the same as those approved for use in human foods
(21 CFR 573). In the USA, no additive may be used in foods unless and
until the FDA has been convinced that the additive is safe at the
intended level of use in the intended food using thorough scientific
evidence. The FDA usually requires at least 2-year feeding tests in two
different species of animals to reveal short-term and long-term effects.
The additives presently used in both human and pet foods are on the
“generally regarded as safe” list (GRAS; 21 CFR 582), and if there is
an indication of harmful effects, the compound is removed from both
human and pet foods. Propylene glycol, for example, has been removed
from the GRAS list for cats.
Pet owners interested in additive-free products must first specifically
identify which additive (intentional vs. unintentional) they wish to
avoid. There are commercially available products that do not contain
artificial colors, flavors, or synthetic preservatives, and with some
discussion, an acceptable commercially prepared product or homemade
diet usually can be found.
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Click on Chef if you would like us to help you formulate a homemade diet four your
pet that avoids any additives you don't want in your pet's food.
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