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Ingredient file // Other

Vegetable Juice

A color choice, not a vegetable serving

Vegetable juice on a kibble label usually supplies color. It comes from edible vegetables and lets manufacturers adjust how the food looks to buyers. The name does not identify the vegetable, and a coloring amount is not a meaningful serving of vegetables for the dog.

What it is
Juice pressed from edible vegetables or extracted from dried vegetables with water, then used as food coloring.
Made from
Edible vegetables such as carrots or beets
Main job
Coloring the kibble
Typical amount
Many natural colors use under 1% of a formula
Watch for
Unspecified source during an elimination diet
Not the same as
Whole vegetables

Straight answer

Is Vegetable Juice safe for dogs?

Read past the color to judge the food

Find vegetable juice on the ingredient list, then look above it at the ingredients doing the nutritional work. Its position gives no exact dose, and its name gives no vegetable source. Judge the food by its main ingredients and nutritional adequacy. Ask about the juice if your dog needs a restricted diet.

Why it is in the food
Coloring the kibble

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 29 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

3%

112 of the 3,205 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 2 brands. All dry dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 31. In the top five of 0 foods, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

8%

Usually listed after the salt, which caps it at roughly 1% of the recipe in 92% of foods.

Price per lb

Foods with it $2.87
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 104 priced foods, 12% below the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

95%

of the foods that list it are from Blue. 2 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Color suppliers collect juice from fresh vegetables or draw it from dried vegetables with water. They may concentrate or dry the liquid so a pet food maker can add color without adding as much water.3,6

  1. 01 // Source Edible vegetables Fresh vegetables provide juice; dried vegetables provide material for a water infusion.
  2. 02 // Process Extract the juice Pressing releases juice from fresh vegetables, while water draws color from dried ones.
  3. 03 // Process Concentrate or dry Removing water makes the color more concentrated before it reaches the pet food plant.
  4. 04 // Output Vegetable juice color The plant receives vegetable juice as a liquid concentrate or dried coloring ingredient.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

0.45

% fiber

Crude fiber in one unfermented, filtered vegetable juice sample from a fermentation study. The figure shows how little fibrous material that juice retained.

Crude protein 2.2%2
Ash 1.6%2
Crude fiber 0.5%2
Crude fat 0.5%2

These dry-matter figures are the non-fermented control from a kimchi-fermentation study, for one filtered cabbage, broccoli, carrot and beet juice blend made for the experiment, not a pet food colorant. Crop and concentration vary results.2,3

Why it is in the bag

What the manufacturer gets

  1. 01

    A legal route to add color

    FDA's rule lets vegetable juice color foods generally, used within good manufacturing practice, without specifying how much or which shade a formula must hit.3

  2. 02

    Appeals to buyers

    Owners in a consumer study reacted differently to kibble colors. Vegetable juice gives manufacturers another way to choose an appearance for the bag's buyer.1,3

  3. 03

    Offers a dye alternative

    Vegetable juice is exempt from color-additive batch certification. FDA says certified colors generally cost less and give stronger, more uniform color, so juice is not an obvious cost saving.3,4

How much Pet food formulation guidance says many natural colors are unlikely to exceed 1% of a formula; the needed amount depends on color strength.6

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Vegetable juice makes kibble more appealing to owners

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    In one study, 120 consumers rated 30 commercial dry dog foods and liked brown kibble best, so color matters to buyers. No colorant was tested, so nothing shows vegetable juice itself makes a food more appealing.1

  2. Brands say

    Vegetable juice gives dogs antioxidant protection

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A lab study compared juice fermented with kimchi lactic acid bacteria against a plain, unfermented control in test tubes. The plain juice still measured 206.29 micrograms gallic acid equivalent per gram total phenolics, the lowest of the three juices, and no dog was fed any of them.2

  3. Owners say

    Dogs enjoy food more when it has color

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    The study of 120 consumers measured owners' reactions to kibble appearance. It did not measure what dogs chose or ate. A color that appeals to a buyer is no evidence of greater enjoyment for the dog.1

  4. Brands say

    Plant-derived colors are safer than synthetic dyes

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    FDA requires certified colors and colors exempt from certification to meet the same safety standard before approval. Vegetable origin alone does not demonstrate a safety advantage in pet food.4,8

  5. Critics say

    Vegetable juice is just filler

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Its job is color. Pet food formulation guidance says many natural colors stay below 1% of a formula, an amount chosen for appearance rather than bulk. Calling this ingredient filler misses why it is added.3,6

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    It has a specific job: changing the kibble's color. An industry formulation guide says many natural colors use less than 1% of a recipe. Read this as a color ingredient, not a serving of vegetables.3,6

  2. Q02

    Which vegetables are in it?

    Label won't say

    The name does not identify the crop. FDA's color rule allows juice from edible vegetables in several forms. Ask the manufacturer for the source if a particular vegetable matters to your dog.3

  3. Q03

    Does its position tell me how much?

    Only roughly

    Ingredients appear in descending order by weight, but the list gives no amount for each one. A low position suggests a small addition; it cannot tell you the dose or whether the juice arrived concentrated.3,5

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Blue 106 / 186
  2. Purina 6 / 186

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #1 Blue Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  2. #5 Blue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  3. #27 Blue Life Protection Formula Senior Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  4. #30 Blue Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  5. #35 Blue Life Protection Formula Small Breed Senior Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  6. #51 Blue Wilderness Adult Chicken plus Grains Recipe Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Peas 75%
  2. Chicken Meal 60%
  3. Pea Starch 58%
  4. Natural Flavor 58%
  5. Oatmeal 54%
  6. Barley 52%
  7. Chicken 49%
  8. Mixed Tocopherols 49%
  9. Pea Protein 49%
  10. Dried Tomato Pomace 47%
  11. Flaxseed 46%
  12. Brown Rice 46%

On the shelf

Foods that list Vegetable Juice

112 foods in our catalog list it. These 60 list it highest on the label.

Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Beneful Healthy Puppy Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 20 on the labelPurina One Plus Whole Body Support Chicken Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina One Plus Whole Body Support Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelPurina Beneful Incredibites Small Dog Chicken Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Beneful Incredibites Small Dog Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelBlue Wilderness Small Bite Chicken Wholesome Grain Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Small Bite Chicken Wholesome Grain Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 27 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Adult Dog Grain-Free Lamb and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Adult Dog Grain-Free Lamb and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 27 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Adult Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Adult Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 27 on the labelBlue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Adult Bison Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Adult Bison Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 27 on the label
Show 53 more
Purina Beneful Originals Farm-Raised Beef Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Beneful Originals Farm-Raised Beef Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelPurina Beneful IncrediBites Small Farm-Raised Beef Dog Dry FoodPurinaPurina Beneful IncrediBites Small Farm-Raised Beef Dog Dry FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelPurina Beneful Healthy Weight Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Beneful Healthy Weight Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 27 on the labelBlue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Adult Rabbit Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Adult Rabbit Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 27 on the labelBlue True Solutions Small Breed Care Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe for Small Breed Adult Dogs Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue True Solutions Small Breed Care Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe for Small Breed Adult Dogs Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Beef Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Beef Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Lamb and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Lamb and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Puppy Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Puppy Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelBlue Wilderness Adult Small Bite Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Adult Small Bite Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelBlue Wilderness Small Breed Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Small Breed Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelBlue Wilderness Toy Breed Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Toy Breed Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelBlue Wilderness Adult Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Adult Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelBlue Wilderness Adult Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Adult Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelBlue Wilderness Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelBlue Wilderness Premier Blend Adult Chicken Tender Meaty Cuts Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Premier Blend Adult Chicken Tender Meaty Cuts Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Wilderness Adult Chicken-Free Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Adult Chicken-Free Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Freedom Adult Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Freedom Adult Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Freedom Adult Grain-Free Beef and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Freedom Adult Grain-Free Beef and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Salmon and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Salmon and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Dog Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Dog Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Duck and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Duck and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Dog Grain-Free Salmon and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Dog Grain-Free Salmon and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Small Breed Adult Red Meat Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Small Breed Adult Red Meat Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Wilderness Adult Small Breed Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Adult Small Breed Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Wilderness Adult Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Adult Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Wilderness Adult Red Meat Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Adult Red Meat Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelBlue Wilderness Adult Chicken plus Grains Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Adult Chicken plus Grains Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Dog Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Dog Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelBlue Freedom Small Breed Adult Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Freedom Small Breed Adult Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelBlue Freedom Adult Grain-Free Lamb and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Freedom Adult Grain-Free Lamb and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Senior Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Senior Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Large Breed Adult Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Large Breed Adult Turkey and Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelBlue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Puppy Red Meat Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Puppy Red Meat Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Bite Chicken and Brown Rice Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Bite Chicken and Brown Rice Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Small Breed Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Small Breed Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Baby Blue, High-Protein Chicken Puppy Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Baby Blue, High-Protein Chicken Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Freedom Adult Grain-Free Healthy Weight Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Freedom Adult Grain-Free Healthy Weight Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Freedom Puppy Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Freedom Puppy Grain-Free Chicken and Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Wilderness Senior Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Senior Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Adult Healthy Weight Red Meat Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Adult Healthy Weight Red Meat Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Wilderness Large Breed Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Large Breed Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Wilderness Small Breed Adult Chicken plus Wholesome Grains Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Small Breed Adult Chicken plus Wholesome Grains Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Wilderness Adult Salmon with Grains Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Adult Salmon with Grains Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Wilderness Puppy Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Puppy Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Breed Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Breed Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Small Breed Adult Fish and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Small Breed Adult Fish and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Fish and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Fish and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Wilderness Puppy Chicken-Free Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Puppy Chicken-Free Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 32 on the label

On labels as

Other names for this

Manufacturers do not all use the same wording. These all mean the same thing.

Vegetable Juice For Color

Sources

What we read

Checked October 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Acceptability of Dry Dog Food Visual Characteristics by Consumer Segments Based on Overall Liking: a Case Study in Poland Animals, 2018 // Journal
  2. 2 UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and GC-MS Characterization of Phytochemicals in Vegetable Juice Fermented Using Lactic Acid Bacteria from Kimchi and Their Antioxidant Potential Antioxidants, 2021 // Journal
  3. 3 21 CFR Part 73, Subpart A: Vegetable Juice U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2021 // Regulator
  4. 4 Color Additives in Foods U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2024 // Government
  5. 5 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  6. 6 Adding a little color to petfoods naturally PetfoodIndustry, 2014 // Industry
  7. 7 Cutaneous Food Allergy in Animals Merck Veterinary Manual, n.d. // Book
  8. 8 Animal Food Labeling and Pet Food Claims U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026 // Government
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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