The color of the normal bowel movement is any shade of brown (ranging from a light bown or tan to darker brown hue). When stool appears a very light brown to yellow brown or even overtly yellow then it needs to be assessed further. Yellow stool does not always indicate a problem. Sometimes consuming foods and beverages with a strong yellow color/dye can taint the stool a yellow color if the dye is not digested or altered as it moves through the bowel.