Rosemary Extract

The two are usually used together as a pair, and together they keep the food fresh throughout its shelf life.

Rosemary extract is a concentrate from the rosemary plant, used as a natural antioxidant to keep fats from going rancid. FDA lists rosemary as GRAS for animal feed both as a spice and among essential oils and natural extractives (21 CFR 582.10 and 582.20). Cat foods use it in very small amounts. If your cat has a medical condition, ask your veterinarian about the ingredients in its food.

Source: govinfo.gov

Rosemary extract is added as a natural antioxidant. Compounds in rosemary slow the oxidation of fats, so the food stays fresh longer. Using it lets makers skip synthetic preservatives such as BHA or ethoxyquin. It is very often paired with mixed tocopherols, and the two are listed near the fat in the ingredient list.

Not quite. Rosemary extract is a concentrate of the plant's antioxidant compounds, made for preserving fat. The dried herb is a seasoning, and rosemary essential oil is a strongly scented oil. FDA lists rosemary as a spice and also among essential oils and natural extractives for animal feed. The extract in cat food is there for its antioxidant effect, not for flavor.

Source: govinfo.gov

Generally not. Tufts veterinary nutritionists list rosemary extract among natural preservatives and say natural preservatives are not as potent as synthetic ones such as BHA, so their protection does not last as long. Like other preservatives, it is there to slow fat spoilage. Manufacturers should account for this in the best by date, so check that date and store an open bag sealed in a cool, dry place.

Source: sites.tufts.edu

Pettings gives rosemary extract 4 out of 5 and lists it as a natural preservative. It appears on 95 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. That is close to two out of every three dry foods in our list. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.