Top Synthetic Food Dyes and Their Common Uses
The most common synthetic food dyes are Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6, which are commonly used in food, drugs, or cosmetics. Synthetic food dye refers to any dye, pigment, or other substance that provides color to food, drugs, or cosmetics. Synthetic food color additives are important components of many products, making them attractive, appealing, appetizing, and informative.
In this blog, we will discuss the most common synthetic food dyes, including their uses and benefits. The primary purpose of artificial food dyes is to provide different colors with various hues and shades to make products more appealing and attractive to consumers. The U.S. FDA monitors synthetic food dyes or color additives to ensure proper use and as directed on the label.
Whether you’re a business or an individual professional thinking about the most common synthetic food dyes, continue reading this blog.
What Are Synthetic Food Dyes?
Synthetic food dyes, also known as color additives, colors, or synthetic colors, are derived from coal-tar or petroleum-based chemicals and are used to make food, drugs, and cosmetics more appealing.
The most common synthetic food dyes are color additives widely used in a variety of applications, including drugs, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Types of Synthetic Food Dyes
Synthetic dyes refer to a group of ingredients derived naturally and synthetically and used in a wide range of applications, including soaps, shampoos, and mouthwashes. Many synthetic dyes are produced from petrochemicals and non-renewable coal tar and are permitted for use in a wide range of applications.
The byproduct of coal combustion is thick, dark, and sticky, which is why many synthetic dyes are called “coal tar dyes”. Natural dyes are pigments that are obtained from natural sources, such as flowers, minerals, wood, vegetables, and insects. Synthetic dyes are typically composed of hydrocarbons like benzene, which absorb ultraviolet bands of light.
When chromophores are added to the mixture, the absorption band shifts into the visible wavelength range, creating a variety of hues and shades to achieve the desired product.
Benefits of Synthetic Food Dyes?
Natural dyes have been used for centuries for coloring textiles, food, and other materials. Synthetic dyes are best known for their ease of use, fastness, and comprehensive range of colors. In recent years, synthetic food colors have become increasingly popular among food manufacturers and exporters for a variety of reasons and applications, including the reduction in cost, the improvement in appearance, the increased intensity of color, improved color stability, and the consistency of color.
The following are the top benefits of synthetic food dyes, including:
- Counteract color loss caused by light, air, temperature extremes, humidity, and storage conditions.
- Make products visually appealing and attractive, including confectionery flavors.
- They make food aesthetically pleasing, delicious, and informative.
- Add colors to different food items to enhance their appearance.
- Enhance the natural hues and shades that already exist.
- Offer color variances more naturally and synthetically.
- For various decorative purposes.
Understanding the Most Common Synthetic Food Dyes
Synthetic food dyes, also known as artificial dyes or colors for coloring a wide range of products, including food, drugs, and cosmetics. As we discussed earlier, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6 are the most common synthetic food dyes.
Sunset Yellow, Quinoline Yellow, Tartrazine, Allura Red, Brilliant Blue, Amaranth, and Indigo Carmine. The anion-exchange analytical column with a very low hydrophobicity and visible absorbance was used for analyzing eight synthetic food colorants ( Indigo Carmine, Amaranth, Brilliant Blue, Ponceau 4R, Allura Red, Sunset Yellow, New Red, Tartrazine).
Let’s explore them in more detail:
- Red No. 40
Red 40, also known as red dye No. 40 and Allura Red is the most commonly used food dye in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Red Dye 40 is a synthetic food dye used in food and beverage items, including sweets, dairy products, etc.
- Yellow No. 5
Food dye is an artificial product designed to make food products more appealing and attractive to consumers’ eyes. Yellow 5 food dye is also known as tartrazine. Pigments can be easily dissolved in water, providing a bright, lemon-yellow color used in various foods and drinks.
- Yellow No. 6
Yellow No. 6 is a synthetic food dye or color additive that imparts colors certified and approved for use in different foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Diazotization of 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid with hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid combines the two compounds.
Synthetic Food Dyes: FDA Rules and Regulations
Several international organizations test food dyes for safety according to their criteria; however, these organizations often have divergent opinions. Colorants that have been approved for use in foods, drugs, or cosmetics in the United States are assigned FD&C numbers (which indicate FDA approval for use in foods, drugs, and cosmetics).
For all additives that have been approved for use in food applications in the European Union, both synthetic and natural, E numbers are used. Food dyes and other additives are certified & evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority in the EU.
Almost every country has its food dye standards and lists, along with guidelines governing maximum acceptable daily intake, that can be used in a variety of applications. Numerous countries do not require that natural colors be tested and approved by the FDA.
Conclusion
In the bottom line, it can be said that synthetic food dyes are most commonly used in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Many businesses today are using the most common synthetic dyes for food, drugs, and cosmetic formulations.
Need more information on a wide range of food dyes and pigments we produce at our manufacturing facility, get in touch with us today! Get in touch with our chem experts.
