Food coloring
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Food coloring spreading on a soap bubble |
A
food coloring is any substance that is added to
food to change its
color.
People learn to associate certain colors with certain
flavors, and this causes the
color of food to influence the
perceived flavor, in anything from
fruit gums to
wineFor this reason, food manufacturers add
dyes to their
products. Sometimes the aim is to
simulate a natural color as perceived by the consumer, such as adding red coloring to glacé
cherries (which would otherwise be beige), but sometimes it is for effect, like the green
ketchup that
Heinz launched in 2000.
The American food industry uses 3000 tons of food color per year.
While most consumers are aware that foods with bright, unnatural colors, like
Froot Loops, are artificially colored, few people know that apparently "natural" foods such as oranges are sometimes also dyed to mask natural variations in color. Most trust the regulation of their governments to keep any unsafe
additives off the market, but there is a vigorous public debate about the safety of many food colorings - a notable example being
tartrazine. A growing minority believes that the effects of colorings have not been well enough
researched and consider their use an unnecessary risk.
Color variation in foods throughout season and the effects of processing and storing often make color addition a commercial advantage to maintain the color expected or preferred by the consumer. Some of the primary reasons include:
*Offsetting color loss due to light, air, extremes of temperature, moisture, and the storage conditions.
*Masking natural variations in color.
*Enhancing naturally occurring colors.
*Providing identity to foods.
*Protecting flavors and vitamins from damage by light.
Food colorings are tested for safety by various bodies around the world. In the
United States,
FD&C (standing for the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) numbers are given to approved dyes, while in the
European Union E numbers are used. The FDA receives compensation for every pound of food dye it certifies (not inspects), which many see as a conflict of interest in regard to the safety of these dyes.
Caramel coloring is found in
Coca-Cola and other
cola products. It is made from
caramelized sugar.
Annatto is a reddish-orange
dye made from the seed of a tropical tree.
Chlorella is green, and derived from
algae.
Cochineal is a red dye derived from
cochineal insects.
Beet juice,
turmeric,
saffron and
paprika are also used as colorants.
Although regulatory authorities like the FDA in the United States have banned many products from use in food due to safety concerns, debate still rages over the safety of those artificial colorings that are still permitted. In the USA, for example, the following artificial colorings are permitted in food (the most common in bold):
*
FD&C Blue No.1 - Brilliant Blue FCF*
FD&C Blue No.2 -
Indigotine*
FD&C Green No.3 -
Fast Green FCF*
FD&C Red No.40 - Allura Red AC*
FD&C Red No.3 -
Erythrosine*
FD&C Yellow No.5 - Tartrazine*
FD&C Yellow No.6 -
Sunset Yellow FCFTartrazine is a
coal-tar derivative, and causes
hives in one of each ten thousand people exposed to it.2% to 20% of
asthmatics are sensitive to
aspirin, and of these, less than 2.4% are also sensitive to tartrazine.Erythrosine is linked to
thyroid tumors in rats.
Many of the artificial food colorings are suspected to cause reactions ranging from
hyperactivity to
depression to
asthma-like symptoms in sensitive individuals. Dr.
Benjamin Feingold pioneered research in the field and founded an organization devoted to helping sensitive individuals stay away from artificial colors, flavors, and
preservatives. However, controlled trials show that, even children whose parents claim that they are sensitive to these substances, and who claim that their behaviour has been improved by the Feingold diet, do not actually show any effect on their behaviour (as observed by
parents,
teachers and
psychiatrists) when additives are returned to the diet in pill form (to eliminate psychosomatic effects), even in large concentrations
Individuals who have
asthmatic symptoms when exposed to
Yellow Dye No. 5 can also be allergic to
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as
ibuprofen and
salicylic acid, and are cautioned to avoid them.
Norway has banned all products containing coal tar and coal tar derivatives. As such, many
FD&C approved colorings have been banned.
In the
United States, certifiable color additives are available for use in food as either "dyes" or "lakes".
Dyes dissolve in water, but are not
soluble in
oil.
Dyes are manufactured as powders, granules, liquids or other special purpose forms. They can be used in beverages, dry mixes, baked goods, confections,
dairy products, pet foods and a variety of other products.
Lakes are the combination of dyes and insoluble material. Lakes tint by
dispersion. Lakes are not
oil soluble, but are
oil dispersible. Lakes are more stable than
dyes and are ideal for coloring products containing fats and oils or items lacking sufficient moisture to
dissolve dyes. Typical uses include coated tablets, cake and donut mixes, hard candies and chewing gums.
Because they are generally safer to use than normal artistic
dyes and
pigments, some
artists have used food coloring as a means of making pictures, often using them to paint the human body.Food coloring can also serve as a temporary
fabric dye.
*
FDA/CFSAN Food Color Facts*
Basic Guide to Food Color Concentrates*
Dr. Feingold's take on artificial food colorings*
Common food colors, preservatives, and enhancers
