SnoutScanAre artificial colours safe for dogs?
Approved colours are not poisons, but they do nothing for your dog, so SnoutScan marks any added colour down.
Dogs choose food by smell, not by colour, so added colour is only there to look good to the owner. Dyes such as Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 are approved for pet food. In human food, the EU requires a warning that six dyes may affect activity and attention in children, and it banned titanium dioxide as a food additive in 2022.
How SnoutScan scores artificial colours
- Points
- −8
- Highest possible score
- No cap
Any added colour takes 8 points off the 20-point additives part and shows as a red chip, even when it comes from a natural source, because the colour is for the owner rather than the dog. If no named animal protein comes first, the score also cannot go above 30.
Where it turns up
Multi-coloured kibble, bright treats, dental sticks and semi-moist food. Caramel colour and iron oxide are common in brown or red food.
SnoutScan looks for these words on a label:
- color
- colour
- colors
- colours
- coloring
- colouring
- colorant
- colorants
- colourant
- colourants
- dye
- red 40
- red 3
- yellow 5
- yellow 6
- blue 1
- blue 2
- titanium dioxide
- caramel
- iron oxide
- red 102
- red 104
- red 105
- red 106
- yellow 4
- erythrosine
- allura red
- tartrazine
- sunset yellow
- brilliant blue
Related ingredients
Read more
Common questions
Is caramel colour the same as caramel?
No. Caramel colour is a brown dye made by heating sugars, used to make food look meatier. SnoutScan counts it as an added colour.
Based on EU food additive rules (Regulation 1333/2008 and 2022/63) and FDA color additive listings. This is a guide to labels, not a substitute for your vet.
Check whether your dog's food contains artificial colours.
Scan your dog's food