Natural preservatives and antioxidants in dog food

A preservative is any ingredient added to a food to slow down spoilage. Antioxidants are an important branch of preservatives as they inhibit the oxidisation process which turns fats rancid. Virtually all dry foods contain some form of preservatives. Some continue to use highly controversial artificial preservatives but increasingly, manufacturers are turning to natural alternatives.

The most common natural preservatives are vitamin E (often labelled as mixed tochopherols), vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and rosemary oil, all of which are able to dramatically slow down the rate at which fats go rancid. Of course, natural preservatives will never be as efficient as their artificial counterparts but most naturally preserved dry foods still maintain a shelf life of 12 months.

Find foods containing Natural preservatives and antioxidants See the full Ingredient Glossary