Commonly Used Synthetic Vitamins & Minerals in Pet Foods - MSDS
This is a MSDS for Animal Feed Premix – as you can see, “some or all” of the ingredients listed may be used and if some of the listed components exceed 1% of the entire product it must be classified as toxic. Later in the document is states that those specific minerals may be found in levels of 1-99% of the entire mixture. It specifically shares extreme warnings for human exposure followed by, “for use in animal feed only.”
Vitamin A Supplement – “Toxic by inhalation,” (otherwise fairly safe). AAFCO limit of use 62,500IU*
Vitamin D3 Supplement – Likely sourced from irradiated 7-dehdrocholesterol, stabilized with BHT. Toxicity = 42mg/kg (rats) (Arsenic toxicity = 763mg/kg for comparison) otherwise “NO DATA AVAILABLE” UNDER #10 Toxicological information. AAFCO limit of use 750IU* (though if you Google “Vitamin D Pet Food Recall” you’ll see this is commonly overdosed, leading to deaths)
Vitamin E Supplement – See Section 11, Toxicological information – all data, “Not Available.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Ascorbic Acid – Section 11, Toxicity Data – “Chronic ingestion of large doses may cause gastrointestinal disturbances including nausea and diarrhea, urinary effects involving urine acidification, oxalate and uric crystallization in the bladder and kidney, and decreased reaction times and psychomotor coordination.” Toxicity – 11,900mg/kg (rat) . AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Niacin – Section 11. Toxicological Information – Oral toxicity 7g/kg. Toxicity data – “No information available… Other Adverse Effects – The toxicological properties have not been fully investigated….”. AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Calcium Pantothenate – Section 11, Toxicological Information. Toxicity – 10g/kg. Toxicity data - “No information available… The toxicological properties have not been fully investigated”, AAFCO limit of use, 6.25g.*
Riboflavin – Section 11, Toxicological Information. Toxicity – 10g/kg. Toxicity data - “No information available… The toxicological properties have not been fully investigated.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride – Section 11, Toxicological Information. Toxicity – 4g/kg. Toxicity data - “No information available… The toxicological properties have not been fully investigated.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Thiamine Mononitrate –Toxicity – 15,900mg/kg. Toxicity data – “Considered a hazardous substance according to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200.” Section 11, Toxicological Information, “Thiamine mononitrate unless otherwise specified data extracted from RTECS – Register of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Biotin – Section 11, Toxicological Information. Toxicity – not listed. Toxicity data - “No information available… The toxicological properties have not been fully investigated.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Folic Acid – Section 11, Toxicological Information. Toxicity – 10g/kg. Toxicity data - “No information available… The toxicological properties have not been fully investigated.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Vitamin B12 Supplement- Section 11, Toxicological Information. Toxicity – not listed. Toxicity data - “No information available… The toxicological properties have not been fully investigated.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Choline Chloride – Section, 11 Toxicological Information. Toxicity – 3,400mg/kg (rat). Side effects – “none expected.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Beta-Carotene – Section 11, Toxicological Information. Toxicity – not listed. Toxicity data - “No information available… The toxicological properties have not been fully investigated.” AAFCO limit of use, See Vitamin A.*
Zinc Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate – No MSDS found. Acute oral toxicity listed – 2-8mg/kg of bw/day (this would be 45.4-181.6mg toxicity for a 50lb dog/day – Arsenic toxicity is 763mg/kg for comparison) AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Manganese Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate – No MSDS found for pet food use, AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Ferrous Glycine – The only link I can find on this states, “The MSDS-SDS Hazard Statement is being written.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Copper Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate – When this is Googled a vague document comes up with no specific toxicity limit and most toxicity data “not classified.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Selenium Yeast – This is so much safer that Sodium Selenite but on a MSDS all Toxicological Information is, “Not available.” AAFCO limit of use, 2.75mg/1,000kcals.*
Dl-Methionine – Section 11, Toxicological Information. Toxicity – not listed. Toxicity data - “No information found,” and, “Adverse reproductive effects have occurred in experimental animals.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
Taurine – Section 11, Toxicological Information. Toxicity – 5,000mg/kg. Toxicity data - “No information available… The toxicological properties have not been fully investigated.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.*
L-Carnitine – All information, “Not available.” AAFCO limit of use, NONE.
Remember, anything can be toxic. However, nature’s balanced and synergistic Vitamins, Minerals and Amino Acids do not endure processing chemicals, accidental dosing, heavy metal contamination, or lack of synergistic nutrients to properly balance and/or eliminate them from the body. An MSDS will always make things look bad in high doses but when they have no data the best you can know about the product safety is that, at the very least, you are dealing with associated chemicals and potential for human error.
*AAFCO OP page 154-155. "Limit of Use, None" = there is no maximum amount of this product that is limited, despite any known toxicities.