We are pet people but we are also art people, and one thing we love around here is a pretty lil treat! And with that comes questions, and we love to answer questions! So, what's the deal with food dyes? Are they all the same? The answer is no, not at all!

What Are the Health Risks of Artificial Dyes? What's the Big Deal?

Artificial food dyes are commonly found in many of our own and our pets treats and foods and contain many harmful synthetic chemicals that can wreak havoc on our bodies as well as our pets. Companies choose these additives, often derived from petroleum, because they are cost-effective and shelf-stable for manufacturing for maximum profit. Not only do they lack nutritional value entirely and exist solely for aesthetics, there are many health considerations to consider regarding the safety of consuming synthetic food dyes. It has been an ongoing controversial topic in human foods however due to the way animals process chemicals differently, the impacts on our pets can be much worse and consumption can contribute to:

Allergic Reactions: itchy & irritated skin, ear infections, licking paws, fur-loss, gastrointestinal upset

Behaviour Issues: some studies suggest artificial dyes linked to hyperactivity in children and similar effects being observed in dogs

Cancer Risks: prolonged consumption may contribute to tumours, organ damage and stress on the body

What Ingredients Should We Avoid When Buying Our Pets Treats?

To best protect your pets health it's always important to scan the ingredients. Some companies will dance around being direct and can label items with alternate names or number codes, example E110 for Yellow No. 6 / Sunset Yellow. Always do your own research and avoid any treats and foods with the following:

-Red No. 40: also Allura Red, dark red 

-Red No. 3: also Erythrosine, cherry red 

-Yellow No. 5: also Tartrazine, lemon yellow

-Yellow No. 6: also Sunset Yellow, orange-yellow

-Blue No. 1: also Brilliant Blue, greenish-blue

-Blue No. 2: also Indigotine, royal blue

-Green No. 3: also Fast Green

So What Can Our Pets Have Then? What Food Dyes Are Safe?

 There's lots of good to look for when picking pet treats and foods free from artificial dyes, plus they come with added health benefits due to being naturally derived from fruits, vegetables and plants. If baking treats for your bestie at home, be mindful of taste profiles when adding them to your pups pantry (ex. too much turmeric may be off-putting and strong). Listed below are some natural fruit, veggie and plant powders that are safe to use and you'll find them in a lot of our My Bestie Barks treatos:

 

-Red & Pink: beets, raspberries, strawberries

-Orange: carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin

-Yellow: turmeric

-Green: spinach, moringa leaf, chlorella, wheatgrass

-Blue: spirulina, butterfly pea flower

-Purple: purple potato, blueberries, blackberries

-Brown: carob powder, blackstrap molasses (use sparingly)

-Black: activated charcoal (use with caution)

 

Our Air Dried Rainbow Rockfish, naturally dyed in beautiful colours using fruit, veggie and plant powders! Check below for what we used:

Red/Pink Rockfish: red beet powder

Green Rockfish: moringa leaf powder & chlorella

Aqua Blue: blue spirulina powder

Deep Blue Purple: butterfly pea flower powder

Happy to have you and your bestie on this health conscious journey with us!

Next time we'll take a deep dive into the health properties and benefits of choosing natural dyes and how they actually help our pets!