Sensient's Innovative Natural Color Applications in Pet Food

As pet owners increasingly demand natural, clean-label products, replacing synthetic coloring in pet food has become a top priority for leading brands. Sensient leads the way in offering natural color solutions for pet food that maintain the vibrant, appealing colors consumers expect—without the use of synthetic colors.

Color has long been used to add uniformity and visual appeal to dry kibble, wet food, and treats. With growing scrutiny and evolving pet food labeling regulations, brands are seeking safe, effective natural color solutions to enhance products or replace artificial colors. That’s where Sensient steps in.

With decades of expertise in food-grade colorants, Sensient’s Pet Food Application Team provides customized solutions to achieve consistent brown hues across a variety of protein and flavor profiles—including beef, chicken, salmon, and bacon. Our natural color portfolio includes heat-stable, pH-sensitive, and clean-label solutions tailored for different processing methods like extrusion and baking.

From formulation to compliance, our experts support pet food developers with regulatory insight, label-friendly options, and industry-leading safety through our Certasure™ program. Whether you’re targeting a meaty red, savory brown, or creamy poultry hue, Sensient helps you find the right colors without compromising performance or consumer appeal.

Ready to go natural in your pet food color strategy?