ECFR 573 food coloring

Color additives in pet food are not governed by 21 CFR 573 (that part covers food additives permitted in animal feed and drinking water) — colors fall under FDA's color-additive regulations in 21 CFR parts 73 and 74 (listing of color additives exempt from, and subject to, certification), which are outside the currently parsed corpus; the label-side declaration duty sits in 21 CFR 501.22 (labeling of animal food with regard to spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives). General rules that do apply: a color additive may only be used if it is listed for that use, and colors may not be used to deceive about quality (e.g., to make a product appear more meat-like), since a misleading presentation renders the food misbranded (21 CFR 501.18). Within the parsed feed-additive part (21 CFR 573), the color-relevant entries are limited; pet food formulators should verify each color's listing, permitted species and maximum level directly in parts 73/74 before use.