Caramel: natural brown color for pet food with a hint of controversy

Caramel is a natural coloring agent that helps provide consistency and product appeal in pet foods.

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Caramel as a coloring is a sugar that has been heated to “caramelize” and develop various shades of brown. | © Luchschen, Dreamstime
Caramel as a coloring is a sugar that has been heated to “caramelize” and develop various shades of brown. | © Luchschen, Dreamstime

It is common for standard extruded pet food to be described as “brown and round.” This is supposed to be sarcasm for a boring or mundane product; however, brown seems to be a favored color in pet food. For example, in canned chunks-in-gravy products, the meats may be light gray to tan and the starch-based gravy a white paste. Adding some caramel coloring can be very important to make these foods more acceptable.

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