AAFCO Ch6 vitamin E antioxidant

AAFCO Ch6 definition 90.12 Vitamin E Supplement is a feeding material used for its vitamin E activity; it must contain a minimum vitamin E activity equal to 10,000 International Units of vitamin E per pound (Published 1953, Amended 1967). Related entries cover a-tocopherol acetate and mixed tocopherols (21 CFR 582.5890/582.5892 GRAS). In pet food, vitamin E serves a dual function: (1) an essential fat-soluble vitamin — the AAFCO 2014 dog food nutrient profile sets the vitamin E minimum at 12.5 IU per 1000 kcal ME (equivalent to 50 IU/kg DM at the reference 4000 kcal ME/kg DM caloric density); (2) an antioxidant protecting polyunsaturated fats (fish oil, poultry fat) from peroxidation during storage — when an antioxidant is used in a fat ingredient, AAFCO 33.1 requires the common name(s) to be declared followed by the words "used as a preservative", and mixed natural tocopherols are the common choice behind "preserved with mixed tocopherols" label claims. The AAFCO profile sets no vitamin E maximum for dogs; note that vitamin E is expressed in IU of tocopherol activity — "retinol equivalents" apply to vitamin A, not vitamin E.