What about artificial colors and chemical additives?
Artificial colors, synthetic preservatives, and chemical flavor enhancers serve no nutritional purpose for cats and some have raised health concerns. The scoring system penalizes their presence.
Cats cannot see the red and orange colors in their food - they're put there to appeal to cat parents, not cats. Artificial coloring is purely cosmetic and adds zero nutritional value.
What gets penalized and why
BHA and BHT are petroleum-derived antioxidants used to prevent fat from going rancid. Ethoxyquin was originally developed as a pesticide and rubber stabiliser. All three have raised health concerns in animal studies. Natural alternatives like mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E) and rosemary extract work just as well.
Added purely for visual appeal to the cat parent. Cats are partly colorblind and don't respond to food color. Some artificial dyes have been linked to hypersensitivity reactions in animals.
Chemical compounds are added to make lower-quality ingredients more palatable. A signal that the base ingredients aren't appealing enough on their own - which often indicates lower overall quality.
Mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E), rosemary extract, and citric acid are natural preservatives that don't trigger Rule 5 deductions. They're effective and far better tolerated than synthetic alternatives.
Look for "preserved with mixed tocopherols" on the label - that's a good sign. If you see BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, expect a Rule 5 deduction.
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Last updated Feb 18, 2026
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