Food Dyes — Harmless or Harmful? Why Do We Color Food?

A food dye is a chemical substance that uses artificial color to enhance the appearance of food. Though dye may make drinks, candy and other food look better, many are concerned about adverse side effects. Learn more about why we color food and how it impacts health.

The History of Food Coloring

Food coloring has been around for centuries. It was first developed around 1500 B.C. using saffron or wine. The early Romans used these natural options as well as mulberries, flowers, carrots, beets and pomegranates. The first artificial food coloring was made from coal tar in 1856. Food dyes are petroleum-based today.

Why Do We Color Food?

Food dye changes the food’s color and appearance to look more appealing to the consumer. Some food processing can remove food’s natural color. Dye adds it back so the food looks as expected. Food manufacturers typically prefer artificial food dye to natural options because it has more vibrant colors, longer shelf life and a lower production cost.

The Health Effects of Food Coloring

The safety of food coloring is a long-debated topic due to the concern about negative health effects. Out of the hundreds of developed food dyes, a select few are deemed safe for consumption because they have been tested for toxicity in animals. Yellow 5, Red 40 and Yellow 6 are the most common.

Food dye safety can be confusing because different countries have different laws about the same food coloring. For example, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) agree that food coloring is not harmful. However, there are food dyes approved by the FDA but banned by the EFSA, and vice versa.

Some health concerns include:

• Hyperactivity in children: Studies suggest that there is a minor connection between food coloring and hyperactivity in children. Each child is affected differently — some studies indicate a genetic component or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) makes some children more sensitive to this effect. Removing food coloring from a child’s diet may reduce these symptoms.
• Cancer: Studies of the three most common food dyes found no link to cancer. Research on other food dyes did not find sound evidence of cancer except for Red 3, which has decreased in use. Many of these studies are decades old, and more research is needed since food dyes are highly consumed.
• Allergies: Artificial food coloring can cause allergic reactions, like hives and asthma, in sensitive individuals.

Children with hyperactive behavior and people prone to allergic reactions may benefit from a diet without food dye, but there is no need for others to stop eating foods made with it.

Does Food Color Affect Taste?

Just like the aroma, sound and texture, the appearance of food is part of the experience. Color plays an essential role in how people perceive and taste food because it enhances flavors and stimulates the appetite. Color may also affect peoples’ judgment by influencing what they believe the food is like. Food color also matters because humans have evolved to notice it. Color is the easiest way to determine if a food is spoiled or toxic.

Contact HunterLab Today

HunterLab has more than 65 years of experience in providing tools and equipment for color measurement. Contact us today to learn more about our color spectrophotometers and other products.