BHT
Our ingredient score: 0 / 5 · Synthetic preservative · How We Score
BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) is a synthetic antioxidant used to keep fats and oils from going rancid. It is a related compound to BHA, and labels sometimes list the two together, as in "soybean oil (BHA/BHT used as a preservative)". FDA lists BHT among the chemical preservatives allowed in animal food when a food's total antioxidants stay at or below 0.02 percent of its fat content.
Veterinary nutritionists at Tufts University name BHT, BHA and ethoxyquin as synthetic preservatives and report that no health effects from them have been scientifically documented, while consumer demand has moved nearly all pet foods to natural preservatives such as mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract. On Pettings, BHT counts toward the Avoid List. For more on how preservatives are named on a label, see Preservatives in Cat Food.
Related Guide
Common Questions
Is BHT the same as BHA?
No. Both are synthetic antioxidants that protect fat, and FDA sets the same limit for them: total antioxidants at or below 0.02 percent of a food's fat content. Labels sometimes list the two together.
Is BHT safe for cats?
BHT, short for butylated hydroxytoluene, is a synthetic antioxidant that keeps fats from going rancid. FDA lists it as generally recognized as safe in animal feed when the total antioxidant content is no more than 0.02% of the fat or oil content. If your cat has a medical condition, ask your veterinarian about its food.
Source: govinfo.gov
What is BHT in cat food?
BHT is butylated hydroxytoluene, a synthetic antioxidant used as a preservative. It is added to fats and oils, or to the fat coating on kibble, to slow oxidation. On a label it may appear as BHT or spelled out, often in parentheses after a fat, as in "preserved with BHT".
Source: sites.tufts.edu
How much BHT is allowed in cat food?
Under 21 CFR 582.3173, BHT is allowed in animal feed when the total content of antioxidants is not over 0.02% of the fat or oil content of the food. That cap covers all antioxidants together, so a food that uses BHT with BHA has to fit both under the same limit. Labels show that BHT is present but not how much.
Source: govinfo.gov
What can replace BHT in cat food?
Natural preservatives can do the same job. Tufts veterinary nutritionists name vitamin E, also listed as tocopherols, vitamin C, also listed as ascorbic acid, and rosemary extract as natural options. Many dry cat foods use mixed tocopherols with rosemary extract instead of a synthetic preservative.
Source: sites.tufts.edu
How does Pettings score BHT?
Pettings gives BHT 0 out of 5 and lists it as a synthetic preservative, the same score as BHA and ethoxyquin. It appears on 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.
How Foods With BHT Compare
BHT is on the label of 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list.