Critters Choice - EEC Permitted Colourants

[Drago]

AP, I don't think what you've done is a "horrible thing" nor "ignorant". I know that they're considered "carcinogenic" but I'm not satisfied with just that. WHAT about them is carcinogenic? Which compound? Is it scientifically proven? Having close family that has worked for years in pharmaceuticals and similar FDA fields, I can tell you that regulations are much stricter than you'd think!

[AprilPearl]

Drago you’re so kind and have made me feel less guilty. I really don’t know how to answer those questions as unfortunately I am not science minded at all (for my sins)! Still, it is very comforting to hear that regulations are so good and clearly you would have a much better knowledge of these things than I. I always did asume that EEC approved = safe for that reason, so it was a shock to hear that they were not necessarily. Perhaps they are only dangerous for hamsters?

[Fluffagrams]

Try not to worry too much April, at the levels you're likely to be feeding these kinds of treats, I doubt that they'd do a great deal of harm and there could be many reasons why a hamster may develop cancer that are unrelated to the ingredients in their foods.

[AprilPearl]

Fluffagrams Thank you, it is a relief to hear this. I got quite worried for a moment there! Even so, I'll stop feeding them now as he doesn't need them.

[AprilPearl]

Oh dear. I checked the packaging of Quigley's seed bar (which is a "Linkpet Frutti Stick" - see link below) and it contains "EU permitted colourants and preservatives" which I suppose must be the same as "EEC permitted" ones. Sigh.

https://www.intopets.co.uk/products/...latest&sd=DESC

[AmityvilleHams]

Luckily there are entirely natural alternatives for those too!Just remove it and replace it with a risk free product,such as a homemade baked seed bar of some sort or something storebought free of any unsafe ingredients

Everyone has at some point made some sort of pet care mistake,including myself.It doesn't make someone a bad person though!

[CMB]

It is hard to prove that the colourants where the cause of the cancer. The test subjects could have been prone to cancer genetically, so even if no colourants had been consumed they may have still got cancer.

AprilPearl. If you have used treats with previous hamsters with the colourants without problems. Then there is a low risk of them making your hamster ill.

Your not a bad person.

[AprilPearl]

Amity and CMB thank you for making me feel better you’re too kind honestly!