| A food coloring or colouring is any | | | | Although regulatory authorities like the |
| substance that is added to food to | | | | FDA in the United States have banned |
| change its color. | | | | many products from use in food due to |
| Purpose of food coloring | | | | safety concerns, debate still rages over |
| People associate certain colors with | | | | the safety of those artificial colorings |
| certain flavors. Because of this, the | | | | that are still permitted.[citation |
| color of food can influence the | | | | needed] In the USA, for example, only |
| perceived flavor, in anything from candy | | | | the following seven artificial colorings |
| to wine. For this reason, food | | | | are permitted in food (the most common |
| manufacturers add dyes to their | | | | in bold): |
| products. Sometimes the aim is to | | | | FD&C Blue No.1 - Brilliant Blue FCF |
| simulate a color that is perceived by | | | | (Blue shade) |
| the consumer as natural, such as adding | | | | FD&C Blue No.2 - Indigotine (Dark Blue |
| red coloring to glacé cherries (which | | | | shade) |
| would otherwise be beige), but sometimes | | | | FD&C Green No.3 - Fast Green FCF (Bluish |
| it is for effect, like the green ketchup | | | | green shade) |
| that Heinz launched in 2000. | | | | FD&C Red No.40 - Allura Red AC (Red |
| While most consumers are aware that | | | | shade) |
| foods with bright or unnatural colors | | | | FD&C Red No.3 - Erythrosine (Pink shade) |
| (such as the green ketchup mentioned | | | | FD&C Yellow No.5 - Tartrazine (Yellow |
| above or children's cereals such as | | | | shade) |
| Froot Loops) likely contain food | | | | FD&C Yellow No.6 - Sunset Yellow FCF |
| coloring, few people know that | | | | (Orange shade) |
| apparently "natural" foods such as | | | | Tartrazine is a coal-tar derivative, and |
| oranges and salmon are sometimes also | | | | causes hives in less than 0.01% of those |
| dyed to mask natural variations in | | | | exposed to it . Two to twenty percent of |
| color.[2] Color variation in foods | | | | asthmatics are sensitive to aspirin, and |
| throughout season and the effects of | | | | of these, less than 2.4% are also |
| processing and storage often make color | | | | sensitive to tartrazine. Erythrosine is |
| addition commercially advantageous to | | | | linked to thyroid tumors in rats. Some |
| maintain the color expected or preferred | | | | artificial food colorings are suspected |
| by the consumer. Some of the primary | | | | to cause reactions ranging from |
| reasons include: | | | | hyperactivity to depression to |
| Offsetting color loss due to light, air, | | | | asthma-like symptoms in sensitive |
| extremes of temperature, moisture, and | | | | individuals.[citation needed] |
| storage conditions. | | | | Norway has banned all products |
| Masking natural variations in color. | | | | containing coal tar and coal tar |
| Enhancing naturally occurring colors. | | | | derivatives. As such, many FD&C approved |
| Providing identity to foods. | | | | colorings have been banned. |
| Protecting flavors and vitamins from | | | | An interesting side effect of FD&C Blue |
| damage by light. | | | | No.5 causes human feces to turn green. |
| Decorating purposes such as cake icing | | | | This is due to the fact that the |
| Regulation | | | | coloring reacts with bile found in the |
| Food colorings are tested for safety by | | | | intestine. The effect is considered |
| various bodies around the world and | | | | harmless, and no ill effects have been |
| sometimes different bodies have | | | | reported thus far. |
| different views on food color safety. In | | | | Dyes and lakes |
| the United States, FD&C (generally | | | | In the United States, certifiable color |
| indicates that the FDA has approved the | | | | additives are available for use in food |
| colorant for use in Foods, Drugs and | | | | as either "dyes" or "lakes". |
| Cosmetics) numbers are given to approved | | | | Dyes dissolve in water, but are not |
| synthetic food dyes that do not exist in | | | | soluble in oil. Dyes are manufactured as |
| nature, while in the European Union, E | | | | powders, granules, liquids or other |
| numbers are used for all additives | | | | special purpose forms. They can be used |
| approved in food applications. The FDA | | | | in beverages, dry mixes, baked goods, |
| receives compensation for every pound of | | | | confections, dairy products, pet foods |
| food dye it certifies (not inspects), | | | | and a variety of other products. |
| which some may see as a conflict of | | | | Lakes are the combination of dyes and |
| interest in regard to the safety of | | | | insoluble material. Lakes tint by |
| these dyes.[citation needed]. | | | | dispersion. Lakes are not oil soluble, |
| Most other countries have their own | | | | but are oil dispersible. Lakes are more |
| regulations and list of food colors | | | | stable than dyes and are ideal for |
| which can be used in various | | | | coloring products containing fats and |
| applications, including maximum daily | | | | oils or items lacking sufficient |
| intake limits. | | | | moisture to dissolve dyes. Typical uses |
| The American food industry uses 3000 | | | | include coated tablets, cake and donut |
| tons of food color per | | | | mixes, hard candies and chewing gums, |
| year.{{Fact|date=February 2007} | | | | lipsticks, soaps, shampoos, talc etc. |
| Natural food dyes | | | | Other uses |
| Caramel coloring is found in Coca-Cola | | | | Because they are generally safer to use |
| and other cola products. It is made from | | | | than normal artistic dyes and pigments, |
| caramelized sugar. Annatto is a | | | | some artists have used food coloring as |
| reddish-orange dye made from the seed of | | | | a means of making pictures, especially |
| a tropical tree. Chlorella is green, and | | | | in forms such as bodypainting. Food |
| derived from algae. Cochineal is a red | | | | coloring can serve as a means of dyeing |
| dye derived from cochineal insects. Beet | | | | fabric, however it is not washfast when |
| juice, turmeric, saffron and paprika are | | | | used on cotton, hemp and other plant |
| also used as colorants. | | | | fibres, although it can be fixed on |
| Health problems | | | | Nylon and animal fibres. |