Many of the preservatives used in dog food are synthetic, meaning they are created in a lab. Synthetic preservatives are not natural and can be detrimental to your dog’s health.
Some of the most common synthetic preservatives in dog food include:
- BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)
- BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
- Propyl gallate
- Sodium metabisulfite
Banned in Japan
BHA is banned in Japan due to health concerns about its effects on humans. BHT has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals when given at high doses over an extended period of time. However, there have not been any studies done on this effect at lower doses over shorter periods of time or in humans with naturally occurring levels of these chemicals in their bodies due to their consumption of processed foods containing them as ingredients.