Dyes in Pet Food

[dyeman]

I mentioned this topic in another post about pet shops and thought I would throw it out to everyone since my position on this was challenged.

My main employment is as Sales Manager for a small dye company based in Ohio. My wife runs our pet shop and I work there mostly on weekends or when I can. I have been in the dye business for over 20 years and like to think I know something about them.

My statement was that dyes in any pet food was a BAD idea. I mentioned Zupreem by name and that seemed to ruffle some feathers. My objection to dyes in food is that most of the FD&C dyes that are used for coloring pet and people food have been shown to cause various tumors, chromosonal damage, kidney damage and FD&C Red #3, which has since been banned for food contact, is a known carcinogen.

I don't like the use of dyes in human food, but for the most part it seems, we are able to purge the low amounts used through our systems fairly well, but the jury is still out on that.

However, the problem with birds in particular is their relatively small organs and relatively long life spans. I am not a vet, but my understanding is that they have a much harder time purging the dyes and because of their long life spans, we are just now starting to see the affects in some of our older pets in failed kidneys and other ailments.

In a moments of surprising honesty, most of the manufacturers that use dye have admitted that it is for the attraction of the consumer, not the animal.

I want all my birds to grow old with my son, so I figure why take the risk.

Additionally, someone mentioned that the founder of Zupreem was a Ph.D and by inference must know what he is doing. For the record, I applaud Zupreem's new natural product and will offer it in my store. However, I will not offer the "fruity pebbles" kind that contains dye. See below a link to an article by another Ph.D that apparently disagrees with Zupreem, Kaytee, Sunseed etc.

www.naturallyhealthypet.com/chemical_dyes.htm

I would be happy to discuss synthetic dye chemistry with anyone who want to get that technical as to why these dyes are bad for your birds, but I thought that might be a little too in depth for this board.

Scott

[Joel]

Thanks for all that detailed info. Scott, really appreciate it....I myself like to go as natural as possible. Don't like the use of chemicals in anything. Thanks again....

[CKD]

I agree I do not use any pellets that have dyes. Natural is the best way to go.

[birdyland]

Agreed here too.... When it turns their poop the color of the pellets, it can't be good IMHO.

Besides, have you ever eaten colored frosting on a birthday cake? Especially Red? It tastes so bad, nothing that foul can be good for you; it TASTES "chemical-ish". I've always had the thought that those pellets have to taste the same way. Ok so call me crazy, but after thinking that, I tasted one. It did taste that way. I didn't buy them again.

[kensbuns]

I Agree Here To

[ilaurya]

Wow, what a great resource! I've been debating switching Riven to non-dyed food, and I'd like to know more about it. I've heard from both sides, and I'd like to know the science behind the harmful dye components, which ones are commonly used, what amounts of the harmful components are used in bird food, and what amounts were used in the studies. (and, if you have time, the amounts used in people food. :icon_mrgr )

Thanks a bunch!

[Merkuri]

Originally Posted by Christy

Natural is the best way to go.

Sorry, this is a pet peeve of mine. "Natural" is not always better than "artificial." Most of the time, yes, this is true, but don't blindly trust things that claim "all natural coloring and flavoring." Heroin, after all, is "natural." So is avocado, and we know what that can do to birds.

There's a huge coloring and flavoring industry in the US, mostly for human food but I imagine it applies to bird food as well. I've read a few articles on this, and the difference between "natural" colors and "artificial" colors is simply the source. To make artificial colors, scientists create a chemical in a lab. Most people understand this basic fact. The thing that most people miss is where "natural" colors come from. The same scientists need to extract that chemical from something "natural." Basically, they take something, smash it, and strain out the chemical they need. The something they smash, though, isn't always what you'd think. For a certain shade of yellow, for example, they may need a chemical located in the exoskeleton of a honeybee. So they take honeybee legs, smash them up, and extract the same exact chemical that was created in the lab for the "artificial" coloring.

Not everything artificial is bad, and not everything natural is good.

[dyeman]

Originally Posted by ilaurya

Wow, what a great resource! I've been debating switching Riven to non-dyed food, and I'd like to know more about it. I've heard from both sides, and I'd like to know the science behind the harmful dye components, which ones are commonly used, what amounts of the harmful components are used in bird food, and what amounts were used in the studies. (and, if you have time, the amounts used in people food. :icon_mrgr )

Thanks a bunch!

Since you asked I will post it in the near future. I will have to dig some of it up. I researched this a few years back when I first got into birds. Knowing what I did about dyes, I didn't like the amount I was seeing in the more popular brands. I will also give you a brief description of the chemistry involved if thats interesting. I will be traveling next week, so it might be a week or so before I post it.

[ilaurya]

Originally Posted by dyeman

Since you asked I will post it in the near future. I will have to dig some of it up. I researched this a few years back when I first got into birds. Knowing what I did about dyes, I didn't like the amount I was seeing in the more popular brands. I will also give you a brief description of the chemistry involved if thats interesting. I will be traveling next week, so it might be a week or so before I post it.

Thanks! Yes, definitely throw in the chemistry info! (I'm such a science dork.)

Take as much time as you need; it's better to have accurate data than a quick response.

Yay :icon_smil

[The Outlaw]

Scott:

I NEVER feed colored pellets. I did once and my otherwise healthy and lovely ekkie started plucking, and the worst part is that I had be warned.I just THOUGHT I knew better. I was wrong.

If you go to www.landofvos.com, take a look at some of the oddly colored parrots that were fed colored pellets. There is one there that actually looks polka dotted!

I do think that birds are attracted to bright colors: that's one of the reasons I feed a fresh diet.

THE OUTLAW