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Ethoxyquin is a synthetic antioxidant and food preservative that is used in some countries to prevent the spoilage of fish meal and animal feed during transportation. While it is approved for use in the United States and some other countries, it has been banned in Australia and the European Union for use in food sources due to potential health concerns. Despite this, traces of ethoxyquin have been found in Tasmanian salmon, raising concerns about the potential health risks to consumers. This has led to calls for tighter regulations and more comprehensive scientific studies on the effects of ethoxyquin on humans and the environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use | Food preservative, antioxidant, pesticide |
| Countries where it is banned as a food additive | Australia, South Africa, Chile, Portugal, Canada, Spain, European Union |
| Countries where it is allowed as a feed additive | Australia, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, USA |
| Health concerns | Buildup of protoporphyrin IX in the liver, elevations in liver-related enzymes in some animals, possible carcinogenicity, potential genotoxicity and mutagenicity |
| Regulator in Australia | Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority |
| Maximum residue limit in Australia | 1mg per kg of salmon |
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What You'll Learn
- Ethoxyquin is a chemical preservative used in pet food and fish feed
- It is potentially harmful to humans and animals, affecting the liver, kidneys and fat tissues
- Its use as a food additive is banned in Australia and the EU
- It is still permitted as a feed additive in Australia, with maximum residue limits
- There are concerns about its carcinogenicity and genotoxicity, but data is lacking
Ethoxyquin is a chemical preservative used in pet food and fish feed
In the pet food industry, ethoxyquin is commonly used to preserve fish sources and prevent rancidity in fats. It is also used in spices to prevent colour loss due to oxidation. Some concerns have been raised about the potential health effects of ethoxyquin on humans and animals. For example, it has been linked to elevated levels of liver-related enzymes in some animals, and its metabolites and impurities may have possible genotoxic and mutagenic effects.
In Australia, ethoxyquin is permitted for use as a feed additive, with a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 1 mg/kg for fish and fish products. However, there have been reports of detectable levels of ethoxyquin in Tasmanian salmon, which has sparked discussions about the potential health and environmental impacts of this chemical. Dr Christian Narkowicz, an organic chemist, found significant levels of ethoxyquin dimer in Tassal and Petuna salmon, which has a longer half-life and is considered to have the same toxic potential as ethoxyquin.
The use of ethoxyquin in fish feed is controversial due to its potential health and environmental risks. While some studies have not found a direct link between ethoxyquin exposure and cancer, there are concerns about its long-term effects, especially as it accumulates in the body over time. Stuart McLean, an emeritus professor at the University of Tasmania, highlighted that ethoxyquin produces several other products, including the dimer, which are formed in fish feed, fish, and humans who consume the fish.
As a result of these concerns, some countries have taken steps to limit or ban the use of ethoxyquin. The European Union and the United Kingdom have withdrawn authorisation for its use, and Norway also made it illegal after the EU suspended its authorisation in 2017. While Australia has set maximum residue limits, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is considering the relevance of the EU's actions and the potential need for regulatory reviews of ethoxyquin.
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It is potentially harmful to humans and animals, affecting the liver, kidneys and fat tissues
Ethoxyquin is a potentially harmful chemical preservative used in some pet foods and animal feed to prevent the rancidity of fats. It is also used in the spice industry to stop colour loss caused by oxidation and as a pesticide to prevent the browning of pears. While it is approved for use in the United States, it has been banned in Australia, the European Union, South Africa, Chile, Portugal, Canada, and Spain from being used in any food sources.
The potential harm of ethoxyquin lies in its impact on the liver, kidneys, and fat tissues of both humans and animals. Laboratory studies on rats have shown that they absorb ethoxyquin from the gastrointestinal tract, with traces of the chemical detected in their livers, kidneys, and adipose tissues. While the exact mechanism of how ethoxyquin affects the body is not yet fully understood, it has been linked to a buildup of protoporphyrin IX in the liver and elevations in liver-related enzymes in some animals.
In 2017, reports from the Swiss Department for Regional Affairs Laboratory indicated that farmed salmon often exceeded the set limits for ethoxyquin contamination. This raised concerns about the potential health effects of the chemical on the human body, as the consumption of contaminated salmon could potentially lead to the accumulation of ethoxyquin and its metabolites in the body.
One of the metabolites of ethoxyquin, ethoxyquin quinone imine, has been identified as possibly genotoxic, while p-phenetidine, an impurity that can be present during the manufacturing process, is considered possibly mutagenic. P-phenetidine can make up up to 3% of ethoxyquin, and there are serious concerns about its potential carcinogenicity. The long-term effects of ethoxyquin exposure are still unclear, but its presence in food sources, particularly those intended for human consumption, is a cause for concern.
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Its use as a food additive is banned in Australia and the EU
Ethoxyquin is a synthetic antioxidant with chemical preservative properties. It is used to prevent the rancidity of fats and delay the degradation of fat-soluble vitamins. It is also used during the transportation of certain high-fat animal feed ingredients to protect the product against self-heating and manage the risk of spontaneous combustion.
In 2015, the European Food Safety Authority reviewed ethoxyquin and found a lack of data to assess its safety as a feed additive for target animals or its safety for consumers and the environment. The agency identified one of its metabolites, ethoxyquin quinone imine, as possibly genotoxic, and p-phenetidine, a manufacturing impurity, as possibly mutagenic. P-phenetidine can make up as much as 3% of ethoxyquin, and there are serious concerns about its potential carcinogenicity.
As a result of the European Food Safety Authority's findings, the EU withdrew authorisation for the use of ethoxyquin as a feed additive, and it is no longer permitted for use as a food additive in the EU or Australia. The EU's decision was based on the fact that the re-evaluation of the chemical did not meet contemporary data standards. This means that there is no longer a maximum residue limit (MRL) for fish and fish products in the EU and the UK.
Despite the ban in the EU and Australia, ethoxyquin is still permitted for use in other countries, including the United States, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Norway (until 2019). In the US, it is approved for use as an animal feed additive and as a food additive in spices like chili powder, paprika, and ground chili.
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It is still permitted as a feed additive in Australia, with maximum residue limits
Ethoxyquin is a chemical compound with antioxidant properties. It is used to prevent the rancidity of fats and delay the degradation of fat-soluble vitamins. While it is banned from use in food sources in Australia, it is still permitted as a feed additive, with maximum residue limits in place.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has set a maximum residue limit for ethoxyquin of 1 mg per kg of salmon. This limit is in line with Australia's export legislation, which requires that fish and fish products exported from Australia meet the requirements of the importing country. As the use of ethoxyquin is not permitted in the European Union and the United Kingdom, Australian exports to these markets must not contain ethoxyquin residues.
The decision to ban ethoxyquin in the EU and UK was based on concerns about its safety. A 2015 review by the European Food Safety Authority indicated that data to assess the safety of ethoxyquin as a feed additive for target animals or its safety for consumers and the environment were lacking. One of its metabolites, ethoxyquin quinone imine, was found to be possibly genotoxic, and an impurity, p-phenetidine, was identified as possibly mutagenic.
Despite the ban in the EU and UK, ethoxyquin is still permitted for use in several other countries, including Australia, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States. In Australia, the use of ethoxyquin is regulated by the APVMA, which is responsible for setting the maximum residue limits and ensuring compliance with importing country requirements.
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There are concerns about its carcinogenicity and genotoxicity, but data is lacking
Ethoxyquin is a chemical compound with antioxidant properties that has been used to preserve fish meal and prevent it from spontaneously combusting during transportation. It is also used as a preservative in pet foods and spices. While ethoxyquin is allowed in some countries, it is not permitted as a food additive in Australia or the European Union.
There are concerns about the potential carcinogenicity and genotoxicity of ethoxyquin, particularly due to the presence of its metabolite ethoxyquin quinone imine and the impurity p-phenetidine, which can make up to 3% of the compound. P-phenetidine has been identified as possibly mutagenic. However, data on the health effects of ethoxyquin is lacking, and studies on laboratory rats and animals have not found a direct link between ethoxyquin exposure and cancer.
The European Food Safety Authority indicated in 2015 that there is insufficient data to assess the safety of ethoxyquin as a feed additive for animals or its safety for consumers and the environment. Similarly, the Swiss Department for Regional Affairs Laboratory reported in 2017 that the health effects of ethoxyquin on the human body have not been sufficiently studied.
Despite the lack of conclusive data, there are still concerns about the potential carcinogenic and genotoxic effects of ethoxyquin. Traces of ethoxyquin have been detected in the livers, kidneys, and adipose tissues of laboratory rats, indicating that it is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. While no direct link to cancer has been established, the potential health risks of ethoxyquin exposure remain a concern.
It is important to note that the regulation and assessment of ethoxyquin vary across different countries and organizations. While some countries have banned its use in food sources, others still permit it within certain limits. Further research and studies are needed to comprehensively understand the health and environmental impacts of ethoxyquin exposure.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, ethoxyquin is banned from being used in any food sources in Australia.
Ethoxyquin is a chemical compound that has antioxidant properties. It is used as a preservative in some pet foods and spices to prevent the rancidity of fats and colour loss due to oxidation.
Ethoxyquin is illegal in Australia due to concerns about its potential health effects. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only found a link between ethoxyquin and elevated liver enzymes in some animals, there are concerns about its potential carcinogenicity and genotoxicity.
Yes, ethoxyquin is also banned from being used in any food sources in South Africa, Chile, Portugal, Canada, Spain, and the European Union.
Since the ban of ethoxyquin, other antioxidants such as rosemary oil extract, tocopherols (vitamin E and vitamin E-like substances), and synthetic preservatives have been used to stabilise fish feed during transportation.
