Course:FNH200/2011w Team17 FoodColoring

Food Dye Codes

Introduction

Food coloring is one way that food science uses both natural and synthetic processes to alter the presentation of food. In Canada, there is currently a debate as to whether the regulations set by the government should be stricter. Within the grocery store, which has thousands of items, there are a large proportion of food items that contain some sort of color additive. Should these labels state which methods or ingredients were used in creating the desired color? Or, is it sufficient to simply have the term "color" resemble all possibilities? In order to better understand this topic, this wiki page will discuss the history, regulations, studies, controversies, and examples pertaining to food coloring within the Canadian food system.

History

Since our ancestors began foraging for food, color has been used as a warning sign for potentially poisonous foods. Many people consume foods vibrant in color because color was and still seen as a sign of status. Ancient Romans used spices such as saffron to add a rich yellow color to their food, imitating the color of gold. Other natural foods such as carrots, pomegranates, grapes, mulberries, spinach, beets, parsley, and flowers have also been used to increase the appeal of food. This means we can no longer rely on our sense of sight as our ancestors once did. In an interesting study, participants who were told to eat in the dark, reported a critically missing element that kept them from enjoying their meal- the visual appeal of what they were eating!

Current Government Regulations

Food coloring has been rendered as an unreliable method to inform us as to what is safe and nutritious to eat. The number of dyes allowed for countries is constantly changing when evidence has been found that the dye is unsafe for consumption and may lead to diseases. How we regulate food coloring is not only a safety concern but can be a public health concern as Canadians are being persuaded to eat more brightly colored, empty calories in the form of fabricated foods.

Current Canadian Regulations

Tocino Sausages

Longaniza sausages

In Canada, a list of all ingredients (including food coloring agents) is required to be on the product label. The list of permitted food colors allowed in Canada can be found in Table III of section B.16.100 of the Food and Drug Regulations. Although food manufacturers are required to list food colors in the ingredient list of pre-packaged foods, they are given the choice of declaring the added color(s) by either their common name or just "colors". However, there are exceptions to this rule. Examples of exceptions would include tocino and longaniza sausages where it is required to specify the name of the colors added. Manufacturers are not allowed to label using the specific common name. For more information, please see Health Canada Food Additive Dictionary Website

Health Canada's Proposal Regarding Color Labeling

Health Canada proposes that all manufacturers should be required to label the food colors used in their products by their individual common name or by their color identification number to help improve our current color labeling system. They also propose that all synthetic colors that do not naturally occur in nature, should undergo a certification process. This is to ensure that individuals with allergies and sensitivity responses would be aware of potential allergens the product contains. Health Canada does not want to limit the certification process to only synthetic colors, but to encompass certain natural colors such as cochineal, carmine, and annatto, colors which have often been associated with allergic and sensitivity responses. The remaining natural colors that are not associated with specific allergens could be permitted to be identified with either the genetic term "color" or by their common name.

Labeling Regulations in Canada vs. Other Countries

Food Colors Permitted for Use in Countries

On July 20, 2010, the European Union passed a legislation that required mandatory labeling of foods that contain certain dyes. These dyes required a specific label because it "may have an adverse effect on activity in children" upon consumption. Dyes that needed this specific labeling included:

• Quinoline Yellow (E104)

• Tartrazine also known as Yellow No. 5 (E102)

• Sunset Yellow also known as Yellow No. 6 (E110)

• Azorubine/Carmoisine (E122)

• Ponceau 4R/Cochineal Red also known as Cochineal Extract (E124)

• Allura Red AC also known as Red No. 40 (E129). Currently Red No. 40 is banned in Denmark, Belgium, France, Sweden, and Switzerland after studies linked it to Attention Deficit Disorder in children . It is also the most widely used red food coloring in the United Sates.

The "E Number" is a code used in products to refer to food additives. It is an approved color identification number used by the European Union (the prefix E, stands for Europe) to organize their food additives.

International Recommendations of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

The United Nations Codex Alimentarius consists of 185 Codex Members (184 Member Countries and 1 Member Organization from European Union). They are responsible for harmonizing international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice to protect consumer health and ensure fair trade practices. They also promote the involvement of international governments and other organizations to help establish food standards. The Codex Alimentarius Commission currently recommends that food additives be labelled according to their functional class titles, together with the specific name or official numerical identifier as required by national legislation. This system of identifying food colors uses International Numbering System (INS) as a registry where unique numbers are assigned to food additives, including food colors.

Studies on the Effects of Food Coloring

Nature has evolved a "do not eat" mechanism for an array of bright-neon colors. The blue-red-yellow of a poison dart frog, the ominous bright blue of the deadly box jellyfish, and now Froot Loops? Synthetic food colorings are used primarily because they are less expensive, brighter, and more stable than natural colorings. The shortfall is that they do not contain the nutrients and minerals that some natural colors do. Also, natural colorings are more accepted internationally as food additives. Both natural and synthetic color additives are used to maintain color that can be lost due to changes in temperature, moisture, light, atmosphere, and storage conditions. Additionally, color additives are often used in foods that target children. Foods such as Chips Ahoy cookies with rainbow colored chips are an example of this.

Common Artificial Food Colorings Summary Chart

E #	Chemical Name/Dye Name/Chemical Formula	Ingredient Name (color shade)	Source	Foods Containing	Issues
E102	Tartrazine/C16H9N4Na3O9S2	FD&C Yellow No.5 (yellow shade)	coal tar	candy, chips, cereals, ice cream, noodles, pickles, soft drinks, yogurt, Jelly Belly, M&M's, Nerd's Rope, Skittles	asthma,allergies,anxiety, twitching, depression, migraines, weakness, ADHD
E110	Sunset Yellow FCF C16H10Na2O7S2N2	FD&C Yellow No.6 (orange shade)	coal tar	candy, hot chocolate, jam, soft drinks, sweets, Tylenol, Skittles, Jelly Belly, M&M's, Nerd's Rope	allergies, skin rashes, ADHD
E122	Azorubine-Carmoisine C20H12N2Na2O7S2	Red	coal tar	jams, jellies, rolls, preserves, yogurts	asthma, allergies, skin rashes, ADHD
E124	Ponceau 4R C20H14N2Na3O10S3	Food Red 7	coal tar	Banned by FDA	asthma, allergies, ADHD
E127	Erythrosine C20H6I4Na2O5	FD&C Red No.3 (pink shade)	coal tar	candies, cake, frosting, popsicles	carcinogen
E129	Allura Red AC C18H14N2Na2O8S2	FD&C Red No.40 (red shade)	coal tar	candy, Jelly Belly, M&M's, Nerd's Rope, Skittles	allergies, ADHD
E132	Indigotine	FD&C Blue No.2 (dark blue shade)	was plant, now synthetic	candy, Nerd's Rope	asthma, skin rashes, ADHD
E133	Brilliant Blue FCF C37H34N2Na2O9S3	FD&C Blue No.1 (blue shade)	coal tar	candy, dairy products, drinks, ice cream, Jelly Belly, M&M's, Nerd's Rope, Skittles, Banned in Europe	allergies, ADHD
E143	Fast Green FCF C37H37N2O10S3	FD&C Green No.3 (bluish green shade)	triphenyl methane	jellies, desserts, fish, mint, Listerine, peas	Tumorigenic and mutagenic effects

There have been many studies on the effects of artificial food dyes on children, dating back to the 1970s. Some showed that food dyes could cause behavioral problems in children, and others didn't. But a few years ago, an analysis of twenty-one of the most conclusive studies found compelling evidence that, indeed, artificial dyes could contribute to hyperactivity, restlessness, and attention problems in some children – particularly those with ADHD. What's more, the studies suggested that removing dyes from those children's diet was 25-50 percent as effective in reducing those symptoms as giving the kids Ritalin or other stimulants. In other words, certain kids with ADHD might not need drugs if the artificial dyes were removed from their diets[12]. Many artificial or synthetic food dyes are derived from coal tar, and are therefore thought to pose health risks. These risks include hypersensitivity, hyperactivity in children, allergic reactions, and other serious health complications. Although these claims are unsubstantiated, this may influence consumer purchases[13]. CSPI informs that Blue 1, Red No.40 and Yellow No.6 (types of dyes) are also well known to cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Even though they are not common, the reactions can be serious. Some dyes also cause hyperactivity in a significant number of children, CSPI says. However, the link to cancer is the most worrying. In 1985, the FDA's acting commissioner said that Red No.3, a less commonly used dye "has clearly been shown to induce cancer" and was "of greatest public health concern." John R. Block, Secretary of Agriculture, urged the US Department of Health and Human Services not to ban the dye - and it was not banned. According to CSPI, approximately 200,000 pounds of Red No.3 is used in foods in the USA annually. Laboratory animal tests on Blue No.1, Blue No.2, Green No.3, Red 40, Yellow No.5, and Yellow No.6 have revealed signs of causing cancer, CSPI informs. Yellow No.5 also caused mutations, an indication of possible carcinogenicity, in six of 11 tests.

James Huff, the associate director for chemical carcinogenesis at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences' National Toxicology Program, said:

"Dyes add no benefits whatsoever to foods, other than making them more 'eye-catching' to increase sales. CSPI's scientifically detailed report on possible health effects of food dyes raises many questions about their safety. Some dyes have caused cancers in animals, contain cancer-causing contaminants, or have been inadequately tested for cancer or other problems. Their continued use presents unnecessary risks to humans, especially young children. It's disappointing that the FDA has not addressed the toxic threat posed by food dyes."

Food Displays, Food Colors Affect How Much People Eat, Researcher Concludes

Research by Brian Wansink, a professor of marketing and nutritional science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, challenges the conventional notion that a person’s ability to control eating and stick to a successful diet has solely to do with willpower. Little-understood contextual cues – such as how food is displayed and its variety of colors – can lead people to overindulge and unknowingly bulk up, he says in an article he wrote which has been published in the Journal of Consumer Research. For example, adults offered six colored flavors of jellybeans mixed together in the same bowl ate 69 percent more than when the colors were each placed in separate bowls. In this case, the variety of flavors in a bowl was greeted by such comments as “looks really colorful,” “feels enjoyable,” “satisfied as I ate,” and “gives me at least one flavor that I like.”

Labeling: Deception in the supermarket

People typically associate certain colors with certain flavours. One study argues that we "eat with our eyes as much as with our mouths." The current trend is for people to seek out natural food, with the objective to avoid synthetic food colorings. Grocery stores are full of bright colors, whether in the produce section, or in the aisles with products such as Froot Loops, Gatorade, Cheez Whiz, and chocolate milk. Each of these products are colored with synthetic dyes.

The Blueberry Deception

Fresh Blueberries

Food Dyes - Red No. 40, Blue No.2

Many consumers that buy blueberry products expect the product to contain actual blueberries. However, an investigation done by a nonprofit organization has revealed that many of the commercial fruit products that imply they contain real fruits, in fact do not. In reality, the consumers are buying chemical dyes that are mixed with sugars and oils. The nonprofit organization found products with pictures of blueberries on the package which indicate "fresh from the farm", does not actually list blueberries as one of the ingredients. Instead, the "blueberries" are made from sugar, corn syrup, cellulose gum, hydrogenated oil, artificial colors, and dyes (including Blue No.2, Red No.40, Green No.3 and Blue No.1). A video titled "The Blueberry Deception" tells us that the blueberry products contain more high fructose corn syrup than actual blueberries. These products imitate the color of blueberries by adding Red No.40, Blue No.1, and Blue No.2. According to the author of the report, fake blueberries can be found in muffins, bagels, and cereals. If real blueberries were listed on the label, in most cases, they are in a mix with synthetic blueberries. This is done to benefit the manufacturers and mislead consumers to believe the product contains more blueberries than what is actually present. If consumers are led to believe the product contains real blueberries, manufacturers can increase prices and therefore earn more profit. .

Foods with Color Additives Deceive Consumers

Food coloring leads consumers to believe that a specific ingredient is in the food, when in reality it is not. A study was conducted titled Can Food Coloring Affect Perception of Taste?" and three batches of Jell-O were made. They were identical in ingredients except for the color of the Jell-O. This led the taste testers to believe that the yellow Jell-O is more sour (indicating a lemon taste) and the red Jell-O to be sweeter (indicating a strawberry taste).

Tropicana Twister Cherry Berry Blast

Tropicana Twister Cherry Berry Blast contains no cherry juice, nor does it have any berry juice. Despite the pictures of cherries and berries on the label, this drink gets much of its dark red color from the controversial dye, Red 40. The CSPI says that is deceptive and the product should be labelled with "Artificially Colored". Today, the nonprofit nutrition and food safety watchdog group is urging the Food and Drug Administration to require food companies to disclose on the front of food labels if a product is artificially colored.

Other foods that contain artificial colors are soft drinks, salad dressing, bread, breakfast cereals, candy, baked goods, pickles, and even mayonnaise. Color additives are an inexpensive way to simulate absent fruit or vegetable ingredients, make white bread look more like whole wheat, or make sugary cereals more appealing to young children, according to CSPI.

Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Mix

An example of a product that contains artificial food coloring would be Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Mix. This cake mix has no carrots listed in the ingredients label. Instead, it has “carrot flavoured pieces” made with corn syrup, flour, corn cereal, partially hydrogenated cottonseed and/or soybean oil, a small amount of “carrot powder,” unspecified artificial color, and Yellow 6 and Red 40. Another example of deception in the food market are varieties of Mt. Olive and Vlassic pickles which appear greener and fresher thanks to Yellow 5. Kraft Light Catalina Salad Dressing contains Red 40. Caramel coloring and cocoa darken Pepperidge Farm Pumpernickel Bread.

Food Examples

Margarine

Margarine versus Butter
Margarine has often been the question of whether or not it should have color as an additive. Much of the motivation in favour of this is to make its appearance similar to that of its competitor, butter. Over the years there have been various measures taken to try and make margarine less appealing to the consumer. Some have suggested adding coloring to dye it red, black, or pink. (Pink was to represent that of cow’s milk from an ill cow suffering from mastitis). In response to these actions, supporters of margarine recommended selling packets of yellow dye next to plain colored margarine for people to mix at home.

Heinz Green Ketchup

Crystal Pepsi

Pepsi Blue

Crystal Pepsi

One example that illustrates the impact that food colorings have had on the food industry is the product Crystal Pepsi, which was made offered in North America during 1992-93. This was essentially Pepsi Cola, but without any added color. People were so accustomed to the ‘normal’ appearance of regular Pepsi that they rejected this product as being unnatural. Overall, this proves that much of how food is supposed to appear has been manipulated through the use of food colorings; so much that people become accustomed to this. As mentioned earlier, the color of food largely dictates how a food will taste.

Pepsi Blue

Another example is the Pepsi Blue which was launched in mid-2002 and discontinued in Canada and the United States in 2004, although it remains available in some other countries. Its flavor was the result of taste-testing over 100 flavors over a 9-month period. Designed to compete with Coca-Cola's Vanilla Coke, the flavor of Pepsi Blue was described by Pepsi only as "berry" and described by drinkers as like blueberries or raspberries, or similar to cotton candy with a berry-like aftertaste and much more sugary and syrupy than regular cola. It was tinted using Blue 1, a highly controversial coloring agent banned in numerous countries at the time. The move to make a brightly-colored version of the flagship Pepsi brand was spurred by 2001's introduction of Mountain Dew Code Red, which had bumped PepsiCo's Mountain Dew division sales up 6%.

Heinz Ketchup

Another example of an experiment by a major food manufacturer was the release of Heinz green ketchup, which was released in 2000, but also became discontinued. Lastly, when Red no.2 was proven to have negative health effects, Mars pulled red M&M's from their packages for a number of years. The interesting point is that Mars was not even using Red no.2, but instead Reds no.3 and no.40. Regardless, it was critical for them to have a positive public image.

Beetle Juice

Cochineal Beetle

As mentioned above, Carmine, or Cochineal, is a natural food color additive. It is an extract that comes from the ground bodies of the cochineal beetle, found mostly in South America. This is used as a red dye in foods consumed in Canada and abroad. Although it is not synthetic (coal-tar or petroleum based), it has received criticism from people who have certain religious or dietary conditions, which prevent them from eating insects. Burrows argues, “it is not unreasonable for a vegetarian to assume that her ruby red grapefruit juice or cherry popsicles do not contain an animal or insect product.” As per current regulations in Canada, this ingredient is listed simply as “color” labels. “Color” is the universal ingredient currently seen in Canada to represent both natural and synthetic, and their numerous possible formations. A video titled "A Moment of Science: Cochineal Bugs"

Below are some other examples of the synthetic food colorings used in specific products:

Kool-Aid Orange (Y5 – Tartrazine; R40 – Allura Red; R40 (Lake) – Allura Red
Gatorade Cool Blue – B1 – Brilliant Blue
Lucky Charms – B1 – Brilliant Blue; R40 – Allura Red; Y5 – Tartrazine; Y6 – Sunset Yellow
Froot-Loops – R40 – Allura Red; B2 – Indigotine; Y6 – Sunset Yellow; B1 – Brilliant Blue
Skittles – B1 – Brilliant Blue; B1 (Lake) – Brilliant Blue; B2 (Lake) – Indigotine; R40 – Allura Red; R40 (Lake) – Allura Red; Y5 – Tartrazine; Y5 (Lake) – Tartrazine; Y6 – Sunset Yellow; Y6 (Lake) – Sunset Yellow
Frito-Lay Doritos Cool Ranch – R40; B1; Y5
Wendy’s Chili – R40 – Allura Red