Ethoxyquin

History and origin

Ethoxyquin was originally synthesised in the 1950s as an antioxidant for rubber manufacturing. It entered animal feed as a preservative for fish meal and fat-soluble vitamins. In pet food, it became notorious after a 1990s consumer campaign linked it to liver and kidney damage in dogs. The EU banned ethoxyquin from pet food in 2017 (Commission Implementing Regulation 2017/962). The US has not banned it but the FDA lowered the maximum allowed concentration. Today it is extremely rare in finished pet food sold in Europe but may still be present in imported fish meals used as ingredients.