Is treated (coloured) seed safe and why is it dyed pink or red?

The pink, red or blue colour is a warning dye added to seed that has already been treated with fungicide or insecticide at the factory. The colour is deliberate so that everyone can see at a glance that this seed is chemically treated and must not be eaten or fed to animals. Treated seed is safe to sow and protects the young crop, but it is not safe as food or feed under any circumstances. Handle it with gloves, do not eat it, keep it away from children, food grain and animals, and never mix leftover treated seed back into grain meant for consumption. If you have extra treated seed, store it separately and clearly labelled, or save it for the next sowing if still within its validity, after a germination test. Always follow the handling and safety instructions on the bag or label.