Food colorings are dyes, colorants, or coloring agents widely used to impart colors to products they are applied to. The primary purpose of adding food coloring is to make the products more appealing and attractive to consumers. In this blog post, we will walk you through the advantages and disadvantages of food coloring.
In addition, this guide will provide a basic understanding of different types of food coloring, including organic and synthetic food coloring. Be it candies, chocolates, ice creams, icings, or other food & beverage items, food colorings are widely used to enhance the overall look and feel of products.
There are two types of food coloring: organic food colorings (mainly derived from natural sources, such as plants, trees, vegetables, animals, minerals, etc.) and synthetic food coloring (derived from coal-tar and petroleum-based chemicals.
Both types of food colorings are applied in a variety of ways, but synthetic food coloring is most commonly used for coloring various foods. There is a big difference between natural dyes vs. artificial dyes, and each has its own pros and cons and areas of application.
Without any further ado, let’s dive right into the top advantages and drawbacks of food coloring and their uses in various industry verticals.
Here we go with the basic definition of food coloring.
What is food coloring?
What are food dyes? People often come up with this question when it comes to food coloring. Food dyes, food coloring, color additives, or colorants are any dye, pigment, or substance used to provide color when added to food or beverages. Food coloring is supplied in various forms, including powders, gels, liquids, or pastes. The use of food coloring is widespread in commercial and domestic cooking.
Are you still wondering what is food coloring, here is everything you need to know. The food colorants are widely used in various non-food applications, from foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical dosage forms and devices, and home craft projects.
Colorings may be natural and synthetic, but each holds its role and importance in the food industry. Colorants are constantly reviewed and certified by the U.S. FDA, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and international reviewers, such as the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives for safety in the production of foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Understanding Organic/Natural Food Coloring
With the growing health concerns, the demand for natural food coloring is rapidly increasing in various domestic and commercial markets. Organic food coloring, also known as natural food coloring are colorants or color additives derived from natural sources, such as plants, trees, vegetables, beetroots, animals, and minerals.
Natural food coloring is economically friendly, safe, and healthier than synthetic food coloring. However, these food colorings are expensive due to limited sources and applications and often fade away after a certain period. Natural food colorings are most commonly used for domestic purposes due to their limited uses.
Advantages of Organic Food Coloring
Organic Food Coloring provides several health benefits, including but not limited to:
- Natural food coloring has antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties that are great for health.
- Enhance the nutritional value of foods and beverages.
- Safe and healthier for human consumption.
- Doesn’t cause any side effects or allergic reactions.
- Natural food coloring is economically friendly.
Disadvantages of Organic Food Coloring
Although natural/organic food coloring provides so many benefits, there are some drawbacks associated with it:
- Natural food colorants have poor stability and often fade away easily compared to synthetic food coloring.
- Challenge food manufacturers who must ensure consistent color in their products.
- Organic food coloring doesn’t provide a variety of color ranges compared to synthetic coloring.
- These natural food colorings are expensive which makes them not suitable for mass production.
Understanding Synthetic Food Coloring
Synthetic food coloring are colorants or coloring agents derived from coal-tar or petroleum-based chemicals, which do not occur naturally. The general rule of thumb is to avoid any food that is dyed since these dyes tend to be used in low nutritional value foods (candy, soft drinks, gelatin desserts, etc.).
Synthetic food colorings are widely used to improve the appearance of food products making them more attractive to consumers. Synthetic food colorings are certified and permitted for use in a variety of applications, including food, drugs, and cosmetics.
Advantages of Synthetic Food Coloring
Synthetic food coloring provides several advantages, including the capability to produce a wide range of colors with different hues and shades, lower cost, and improved shelf life of a product. Here are the top advantages of synthetic food coloring:
- Derived from coal tar derivatives that contain an azo group.
- Cost-effective and readily available compared to natural food coloring.
- Offer greater resistance to light and pH and don’t fade away.
- Provides high color stability and durability with a longer shelf life.
- Highly appealing to consumers as they impart more vibrant, bright colors to users.
Disadvantages of Synthetic Food Coloring
Although synthetic food coloring has so many advantages, there are some cons associated with synthetic food coloring, including:
- Derived from coal tar and petroleum-based chemicals, which are non-renewable sources of energy.
- Not environmentally friendly.
- Offers high pH, high temperature, strong acids, and heavy metal catalysts.
- Synthetic food dyes are not as healthy as natural dyes.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that food coloring or colorants play an important role in the food and beverage industry, allowing food manufacturers to create visually appealing products that may appeal to consumers.
Food colorings are widely accepted and approved for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics. Manufacturers need to use premium-quality food coloring to ensure the proper use and maintain the safety of their products.
Hridhan Chem is a reputed manufacturer and exporter of premium quality synthetic dyes and pigments and offers top-quality products at competitive prices. If you are interested in a comprehensive range of dyes and pigments for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, contact us today!
FAQs
There are 4 types of food coloring used by bakers and cake decorators in various food and beverage industries:
- Powder food colorings.
- Liquid food colorings.
- Gel food colorings.
- Emulsion food colorings (that are also flavors).
Food Coloring can also be obtained from natural sources, such as plants, trees, fruits, vegetables, animals, and minerals. For instance, beet juice is used as a natural food coloring similar to annatto, paprika, spirulina, and turmeric.
Eating with your eyes is the main science behind food coloring, also known as the chemistry of food colorings. Molecules used in food coloring are normally ionic solids. In other words, they contain both positive and negative ions.
