10 additives to avoid in your pet's food
BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, artificial colorants: the list of controversial additives in dog and cat food.
Why be wary of them
Additives in pet food are less regulated than in human food. Some are banned in our products but allowed (even common) in those for our pets, often because chronic consumption over years has never been evaluated long-term.
Here are the 10 to avoid as a priority, in decreasing order of risk.
1. Ethoxyquin (non-E)
Banned in EU human food since 2017, but still present in some imported fish meals. Suspected carcinogenic. If your dry food contains "fish meal" without specifying "ethoxyquin-free", be careful.
2. BHA (E320) and BHT (E321)
Synthetic antioxidants used to preserve fats. Classified as possible carcinogens (IARC group 2B for BHA). Healthy alternatives: tocopherols (natural vitamin E), rosemary extract, ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
3. Sodium nitrites (E250)
Used in wet food to fix the red colour. Turn into carcinogenic nitrosamines during cooking. Really unnecessary in pet food.
4. Artificial colorants
- E110 (orange yellow S), E127 (erythrosine), E131 (patent blue V): linked to hyperactivity and allergic reactions
- Animals don't see colours the way we do. Colorants serve ONLY to make the dry food more attractive to the human owner.
5. Monosodium glutamate (E621)
Flavour enhancer. Can cause reactions in sensitive animals.
6. Propylene glycol
Humectant used to keep semi-moist dry food moist. Banned for cats (risk of Heinz body hemolytic anaemia). Tolerated in dogs but controversial.
7. Sodium sulphite
Preservative that destroys thiamine (vitamin B1). B1 deficiency in cats can cause severe neurological problems.
8. Added sugars (corn syrup, caramel)
No nutritional benefit, promote overweight and dental cavities. Present in 40% of commercial treats from supermarkets.
9. Carrageenan (E407)
Gelling agent common in wet food. Suspected of irritating the intestinal tract with prolonged use. Alternatives: guar gum, pectin.
10. Unidentified by-products
Not an additive in the strict sense, but problematic: "meats and animal by-products" without specification can hide feathers, beaks, hooves, skins — legal but very poorly digestible.
How to check quickly
On SokoScan, every product is analysed against our database of 171 referenced additives (EFSA, FEDIAF, veterinary studies). A banned or high-risk additive automatically caps the product score.
Scan your current food to find out in 5 seconds if it contains an additive to avoid for your pet.
Healthy alternatives
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