Natural colors in super premium pet food: a sign of quality and commitment to pet health

By Clivio Solutions

In today’s pet food market, the super premium category has become synonymous with nutritional excellence, high-quality ingredients, and a clear focus on animal well-being. Within this context, the visual appearance of the food - particularly its color - becomes a key indicator of authenticity and purity. That’s why more and more responsible manufacturers are choosing to maintain natural colors in their formulas, eliminating the use of artificial colorants altogether.

Why is it important to avoid artificial colorants?

The use of colorants in pet food has traditionally been linked to low-cost products aiming to simulate variety or improve visual appeal for humans - not animals, who perceive color very differently and are not influenced by these aesthetic details.

However, several studies have warned that some colorants may cause adverse reactions, such as allergies, gastrointestinal irritation, or intolerances. Additionally, the presence of these additives can mask lower-quality ingredients or poor manufacturing processes.

Natural colors: transparency and quality

Super premium foods stand out for their commitment to health and transparency. Choosing to maintain the natural colors of raw materials - such as fresh proteins, vegetables, and selected grains - conveys trust, purity, and respect for animal nutrition.

These foods don’t need to be “dressed up”: their quality is evident from the formula to the final presentation, with no visual tricks.

The role of industry and technology

At Clivio Solutions, we support pet food companies across Latin America that are committed to innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement. We work with technologies that help preserve the food’s natural attributes without the need for artificial additives, optimizing processes and ensuring quality from ingredient reception to final packaging.

Promoting the use of high-quality raw materials, controlled extrusion techniques, and efficient post-processing solutions is part of the commitment we share with our partners.

Conclusion

In a world where consumers are increasingly informed and committed to their pets' well-being, maintaining natural colors in super premium pet food is not just an aesthetic choice - it’s a statement of values. It means choosing health, transparency, and quality over artificial enhancements. At Clivio Solutions, we continue working alongside our clients to make this vision a reality in every product that reaches a pet’s bowl.