The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has issues a reminder to industry about the labeling and safe use requirements for ethoxyquin, an approved food additive used in animal feed.

Ethoxyquin is added to an animal feed either directly or indirectly as a component of an ingredient. In either case, one of the following statements must be included on the product label: “Ethoxyquin, a preservative,” or “Ethoxyquin added to retard the oxidative destruction of carotene, xanthophylls, and vitamins A and E.” This label is necessary to help ensure the safe use of ethoxyquin, since there are established tolerances and a maximum use rate for this food additive.

The established tolerances for ethoxyquin are as follows: 5 ppm in or on the uncooked fat of meat from animals (except poultry); 3 ppm in or on the uncooked liver and fat of poultry; 0.5 ppm in or on the uncooked muscle meat of animals; 0.5 ppm in poultry eggs; zero in milk. The maximum quantity of ethoxyquin “to be used and to remain in or on the treated article shall not exceed 150 parts per million (ppm).”

The approved uses of ethoxyquin in animal feeds are addressed in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 21, Parts 573.380 and 573.400, and established tolerances are in Part 172.140.

More information:

21 CFR PART 573 - Food Additives Permitted in Feed and Drinking Water of Animals

21 CFR PART 172 - Food Additives Permitted for Direct Addition to Food for Human Consumption