High riskHeavily penalizedDogs and cats
BHT
Also labeled as
butylated hydroxytoluene
Why it matters
Synthetic preservative with mixed long-term safety evidence in animal studies. Frequently paired with BHA. Natural preservation alternatives exist, so its presence signals cost-cutting.
How PawScore treats it
Foods containing BHT are heavily penalized when we grade the label. We don't publish the exact numeric weights so scores stay honest as the rubric evolves.