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FOOD CHEMICALS: AVOID ADDITIVES IN CAT FOOD

Additives To Avoid In Cat Food and Supplements | Cats & Co

It’s a good idea to read all cat food labels carefully. If you see any of the following ingredients on the label, you might want to consider switching to a healthier brand.
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BHA & BHT*: Carcinogens (confirmed in rat studies to cause liver damage)
Carrageen: A food thickener that can cause ulcerative colitis and other stomach problems

Ethoxyquin: A rubber preservative and pesticide

Mannitol, Xylitol & Sorbitol: Can cause severe digestive upset and possibly kidney problems

Potassium sorbate: Can irritate skin and eyes

Propylene Glycol: Can cause Heinz Body Anemia**, and type of damage to red blood cells

Sodium Benzoate: Can adversely affect the central nervous system and cause allergic reactions as well as stomach irritations.

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* BHA: Butylated hydroxyanisole.
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is an antioxidant consisting of a mixture of two isomeric organic compounds. 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. The primary use for BHA is as an antioxidant and preservative in food, food packaging, animal feed, cosmetics, rubber, and petroleum products. BHA also is commonly used in medicines, like isotretinion, lovastatin, simvastatin.

* BHT: Butylated hydroxytoluene
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), also known as butylhydroxytoluene, is a lipophilic (fat-soluble) organic compound that is primarily used as an antioxidant food additive as well as an antioxidant additive in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, jet fuels, rubber, petroleum products, electrical transformer oil and embalming fluid.

** Heinz Body
Heinz Bodies are inclusions within red blood cells composed of denatured hemoglobin. In veterinary medicine Heinz bodies are associated with the consumption of onions by cats, dogs and various primates, and a symptom of paracetamol poisoning in cats.

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