LABEL LINGO

For our four-legged friends, we all want the best, especially when it comes to their food. Rachel Barrack, a veterinarian and the founder of Animal Acupuncture in New York, helped us separate the good ingredients from the bad and even the downright dangerous. ARTIFICIAL COLORING AGENTS, SWEETENERS & PRESERVATIVES Although some artificial colors are approved by the FDA for consumption by humans, questions remain about their safety for animals. Rachel also recommends avoiding dog foods with artificial sweeteners. Many, including aspartame, saccharin and sucralose, can be dangerous to dogs when ingested in large quantities. Also, leave food with preservatives such as BHA, BHT or ethoxyquin on the shelf, says Rachel. Some research indicates that consuming large amounts of ethoxyquin, in particular, might contribute to various health problems among pets. GENERIC MEAT BYPRODUCTS Some experts…