Food colorants are substances that are added to food to apply pigments to the feed itself. There are many types of color additives like certified colors according to the FDA, these are processed additives that are used to provide uniform color and are able to blend well allowing for the creation of different shades. Colors that are considered exempt from certification are sourced from natural sources like vegetables, plants, algae, and other animals. Salmonids are typically fed pellets for feeding during the grow out phase and they are typically fed pellets with Astaxanthin and Canthaxanthin added to their feed. These are both synthetic pigments to allow for the pink color to develop in the muscle tissue.