Food Colouring

Food dyes are additives used to add colour to foods. They are used in many different foods from desserts to ice creams, sauces to pasta. In addition to giving foods a more attractive appearance, food dyes are also used to prevent colour loss and ensure that the product has a standard colour.

Types of Food Colourings

Food colours can be divided into two main categories:

• Natural food colourings: These are dyes derived from plants, minerals or animals. Natural food colours such as beta carotene (from carrots), beetroot red (from beetroot), turmeric (turmeric) and spirulina are widely used.
• Synthetic food colourings: These are artificially produced dyes. Synthetic food dyes such as tartrazine, sunset yellow, allura red and brilliant blue offer more vivid and bright colours.
• Fat-soluble food colours: A special type of food colouring used for colouring oil-based foods. Unlike water-soluble food dyes, fat-soluble dyes mix with fat molecules and give the food a homogeneous colour.
• Water-soluble food colourings: A special type of food colouring used to add colour to water-based foods. These dyes provide a homogeneous colour distribution by mixing with water and can be used in many different foods.

Safety of Food Colourings

Food colours are strictly controlled in terms of food safety. In many countries, such as the European Union and Turkey, the food colours that can be used in foods and the permitted amounts are determined by legal regulations. Compliance with these regulations is mandatory for food manufacturers.

Natural food colourings are generally accepted to be safer than synthetic food colourings. However, they may cause allergic reactions in some people. There is some concern that synthetic food colourings may carry some health risks. They have been associated with health problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and allergies.

Things to Consider When Choosing Food Colours

It is important to pay attention to the following when purchasing food colours or buying food:

• Choose products containing natural food colourings.
• For products containing synthetic food colouring, make sure it is below the permitted amount.
• Check the additives and E numbers on the label.
• If possible, buy products that do not contain food colourings.

Food colouring is an additive used to add colour to food and comes in many different types. Natural food colourings are generally safer than synthetic food colourings. When purchasing food colourings or buying food, it is important to check the additives and E numbers on the label and, if possible, choose products free of food colourings.