Pet food formulations are getting fortified too.
source: FOOD PROCESSING Magazine, November 2000
by Lauren Romero

The color of pet health

Dogs are rumored to be color-blind. Nevertheless, the colorings industry is important to pet food makers because pet owners are important to pet food makers. The food has to look like what the label describes—red meat should look red, corn should look yellow. Unfortunately, some FDA-certified colorings, such as red #40, blue #1 and yellow #6, have raised health concerns in humans as well as animals.

“Everybody is concerned about certified colorings because they are so concentrated,” says Owen Parker, vice president of research and development for D.D. Williamson in Louisville, Ky. His company is now focusing its product development efforts on colorings derived from natural sources. As consumers become more aware of health concerns associated with synthetic colorings, food manufacturers are under pressure to find uncertified alternatives—that is, colorings derived from natural food sources that don’t require FDA certification for use in food.

There are challenges, according to Parker. “Extrusion is tough on products. We’ve actually gone out to the heart of the pet food industry and worked with them to produce kibbles that actually mimic ones made with red and blue dyes.” These alternatives tend to be caramel colorings derived from ingredients like annatto, beet and beta-carotene. These soup-ready ingredients should satisfy even the most demanding dog owners and the food companies that supply their chow.

Lauren Romero is a consumer research consultant and principal of Park Bench Research, Chicago. She can be reached at romero@parkbenchresearch.com.