Ethoxyquin

Paper or plastic? Republican or Democrat? Chevy or Ford? Evolution or Intelligent Design? These and many others are "defining choices" we face in everyday life. For many petfood companies, synthetic or natural has been a defining choice that has dictated which side of the fence (market) that they will participate

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

May 15, 2007

Figure 1. Ethoxyquin (1,2-dihydro-6-ethoxy-2,2,4-trimethlyquinolin).

Figure 1. Ethoxyquin (1,2-dihydro-6-ethoxy-2,2,4-trimethlyquinolin).

Paper or plastic? Republican or Democrat? Chevy or Ford? Evolution or Intelligent Design? These and many others are "defining choices" we face in everyday life. For many petfood companies, synthetic or natural has been a defining choice that has dictated which side of the fence (market) that they will participate. At the controversial leading edge of this "defining choice" is ethoxyquin, a compound that has been given a great deal more credit for mayhem than it probably deserves.

Ethoxyquin (see Figure 1) is a synthetic preservative approved for use in animal feeds (including petfood), fish meal, human foods such as chili powder and paprika, meat (residual levels) and as a "pesticide" plant growth regulator to retard scald in pears and apples in the USA and many other countries around the globe. It also has industrial applications in the rubber and plastics industries.

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