Pet Safety / Compounds / PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine)

Is PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) safe for dogs and cats?

High risk for pets

PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) is acutely toxic (GHS Category 1-3). Dogs may access through household exposure. Contact veterinarian immediately if exposure suspected.

What is phip (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine)?

The IUPAC name is 1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-amine.

Also known as: 1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-amine, PhIP, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, 1-methyl-6-phenyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-amine.

IUPAC name
1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-amine
CAS number
105650-23-5
Molecular formula
C13H12N4
Molecular weight
224.26 g/mol
SMILES
CN1C2=C(N=CC(=C2)C3=CC=CC=C3)N=C1N
PubChem CID
1530

Risk for dogs

High risk

PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) is acutely toxic (GHS Category 1-3). Dogs may access through household exposure. Contact veterinarian immediately if exposure suspected.

Risk for cats

High risk

PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) is acutely toxic (GHS Category 1-3). Cats are particularly vulnerable due to grooming behavior and glucuronidation deficiency.

Regulatory consensus

6 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1993Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans)IARC Monograph 56 (1993). Sufficient evidence in experimental animals (mammary gland, colon, prostate tumors in rats); limited evidence in humans. PhIP is the most abundant heterocyclic amine (HCA) formed during cooking of meat and poultry at high temperatures. Epidemiologically associated with prostate cancer and colorectal cancer risk in well-done meat consumers. Metabolically activated by CYP1A2 and N-acetyltransferases to form N-OH-PhIP, which forms DNA adducts.
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 5 positive / 1 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 5 positive / 1 negative reports)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where pets encounter phip (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
  • Food — processed food, beverages, candy, baked goods

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine):

  • Natural preservatives; Clean-label ingredients; Minimally processed food
    Trade-offs: Consumer label appeal ('clean label'); variable efficacy depending on food matrix and target pathogen; may alter flavor/color; regulatory status varies by jurisdiction; often more expensive per unit of preservation effect.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is phip (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) safe for pets?

PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) is acutely toxic (GHS Category 1-3). Dogs may access through household exposure. Contact veterinarian immediately if exposure suspected.

What products contain phip (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine)?

PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); processed food (Food).

Why do regulators disagree about phip (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine)?

PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) has been classified by 6 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / CalEPA, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) in the pets app

Look up products containing phip (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in pets View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 56: PhIP and Other Heterocyclic Amines (1993) — regulatory
  2. NCI: Heterocyclic Amines and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Cooked Meats — Consumer Guidance (2022) — report
  3. WHO Safety Evaluation of Certain Food Additives and Contaminants: Heterocyclic Amines (1994) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →