Certified Synthetic Colors: A Guide to Their Uses and Benefits

Certified synthetic colors are used to color food and beverage products for various industrial applications. These artificial colors are derived from coal tar and petroleum-based chemicals. This blog post will walk you through the top 5 certified synthetic colors for food & beverage products. 

Sunset yellow, brilliant blue, allura red, and indigo carmine are top-certified synthetic colors. Artificial dyes or colors are popular because they are less expensive and provide a more effective, intense, and vibrant color. Artificial dyes are best known for providing a comprehensive range of dyes and hues. 

Whether you are a business owner or a professional wondering about the top 5 certified synthetic colors for food and beverage products, continue reading this blog.

What are Certified Synthetic Colors?

Certified synthetic colors are color additives, colorants, or coloring agents derived from coal tar and chemical reactions approved by the FDA for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics. The US FDA regulates using certified synthetic colors or permitted synthetic dyes to ensure they meet rigorous testing and quality standards.  

A color additive is any dye, pigment, or other substance used to impart color to foods, drugs, or cosmetics. They are essential components that make products more attractive.

Importance of Certified Synthetic Colors

Certified synthetic colors are important because they are crucial in adding vivid and bright colors with different hues and shades, making products more appealing and pleasing to the eye. Here are some reasons why certified synthetic colors are essential: 

• Uniform and intense

Certified synthetic colors are best known for producing a uniform and consistent color that can be easily blended into different hues. 

• Correct color variations

They can easily balance color loss when exposed to temperature, light, air, moisture, and storage conditions.

• Appetizing

They add desired colors to food and drinks, making them visually appealing and attractive, resulting in improved enjoyment.

• Batch certified

The FDA analyzes and measures the quality of these colorants to ensure they meet its stringent security protocols and specifications. 

• Less expensive

These certified colorants are more cost-efficient than natural colors. 

• Resistant to light and pH

They have greater self-life and high color stability, staying longer than natural ones. The FDA also inspects the establishments of owners of certified batches. The FDA examines use records during these inspections and analyzes samples from certified batches. 

Now that you understand certified synthetic colors and their importance for businesses, let’s examine the top five certified colors used for food and beverage products. 

Top 5 Certified Synthetic Colors for Food & Beverage Products

Synthetic color additives, certified synthetic colors, are subject to batch certification. The FDA analyzes a representative sample of each batch to ensure that it complies with the required identity and specifications before it is approved for use. 

FDA analysts analyze the chemical composition of batches before they certify them. Here are the top 5 certified synthetic colors for food & beverage products: 

• FD&C Blue No. 1

FD&C Blue No. 1 is a synthetic organic dye, also known as Brilliant Blue FCF, used as a coloring agent for providing color to food, drugs, cosmetics, and dietary supplements. This color is classified as triaryl methane, a water-soluble dye with a green-blue hue. 

FD&C Blue No. 1 is widely used in various foods and beverages, such as cereals, frozen dairy desserts, confections, popsicles, frostings, and icings. 

• FD&C Blue No. 2

FD&C Blue No. 2 is also known as indigotin or indigo blue. It is a synthetic indigo dye derived from natural resources such as plants, trees, vegetables, or minerals. Indigotine is a coal-tar or petroleum-based chemical with the chemical formula C16H10N2O2.

FD&C Blue No. 2 is widespread in cherries, cereals, baked goods, ice cream, snack foods, confections, and yogurt. 

• FD&C Green No. 3

FD&C Green No. 3, also known as Fast Green FCF, Food Green 3, Green 1724, or Solid Green FCF, is a turquoise triarylmethane food dye most commonly used in food & beverage products. This certified synthetic food dye is used in ice cream, drinks, sherbet, cereal, and baked goods. 

• FD&C Red No. 3

FD&C Red No. 3, also known as Erythrosine FD&C Red No. 3 Acid Red 51, is an organoiodine compound derivative of fluorone. It produces a pink dye primarily used for food coloring. FD&C Red No. 3 can be seen in various food & beverage products, including ice cream, cereals, confections, cones, popsicles, frostings & icings, and frozen dairy desserts. 

• FD&C Yellow No. 5

FD&C Yellow No. 5, known as tartrazine, is a synthetic food dye most commonly used in various food and beverage products, including snack foods, baked goods, cereals, confections, condiments, yogurt, and more. 

Conclusion

The bottom line is that certified synthetic colors are popular for use in various food and beverage products, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. These synthetic colors or colorants make products more appealing to consumers and add significant value to businesses. 

If you are a business or individual professional looking for more information on a wide range of certified synthetic colors for food & beverage products, look no further than Hridhan Chem. Hridhan Chem is a leading manufacturer and exporter of premium-quality synthetic dyes and pigments. Get in touch with our chem experts today!

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