Marigold Extract
Our ingredient score: 3 / 5 · Natural color · How We Score
Marigold extract gives the food a natural yellow color. It contains an antioxidant called lutein. In one cat study lutein changed immune responses; its benefit for eye health comes from research in people and has not been shown in cats. Unlike artificial dyes, it comes from a natural source, and no harm to cats is known.
Common Questions
What is lutein in cat food?
Lutein is an antioxidant found in marigold extract. One study in cats linked it to stronger immune responses, and in people it is linked to eye health.
Is marigold extract safe for cats?
Marigold extract comes from the petals of the Aztec marigold and carries yellow pigments called xanthophylls, mainly lutein. FDA lists tagetes (Aztec marigold) meal and extract as color additives exempt from certification, approved for chicken feed to deepen the yellow of skin and eggs. That listing covers chicken feed and is not a cat study. If your cat has a medical condition, ask your veterinarian about its diet.
Source: govinfo.gov
Why is marigold extract in cat food?
Makers add marigold extract as a source of lutein and as a yellow coloring. Lutein is an antioxidant pigment that people associate with eye health in humans. In cat food it usually appears in small amounts near the end of the ingredient list. Its eye effects have not been shown in cats.
Is marigold extract a natural color?
Pettings lists it as a natural color because it comes from flower petals rather than chemical synthesis. AAFCO's definition of natural allows plant ingredients processed by methods such as extraction, but not chemically synthetic additives beyond trace amounts. FDA describes tagetes extract as a hexane extract of Aztec marigold petals mixed with vegetable oil and up to 0.3 percent ethoxyquin, and lists it among colors exempt from certification, for use in chicken feed.
Source: aafco.org
Why is marigold used in animal feed?
In poultry farming, marigold is used to make chicken skin and egg yolks a deeper yellow. FDA's color additive rules list tagetes meal and extract specifically for chicken feed for this purpose. Pet food makers use marigold extract mainly as a lutein source. The same pigment that colors yolks gives the extract its yellow tone.
Source: govinfo.gov
How does Pettings score marigold extract?
Pettings gives marigold extract 3 out of 5 and lists it as a natural color. It appears on 5 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. It scores above synthetic dyes because it is plant-derived and no risk to cats is known, though its benefits in cats are unproven. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.
How Foods With Marigold Extract Compare
Marigold Extract is on the label of 5 of the 149 dry cat foods we list.