Under The Microscope: Artificial Colorants

Before we even take a bite, we anticipate flavor by the appearance of our food. Color plays an important role in our eating experience—stimulating recognition, expectation, and the ultimate enjoyment of our food. Additives have been used to enhance/impart colors in foods, drugs and cosmetics for centuries, and today are added to a wide range of foods, including candies, snack foods, margarine, processed cheese, carbonated beverages, processed vegetables, jams/jellies, gelatins, and desserts (e.g. pie filling, puddings). However, recent safety concerns have sparked fierce debate over the addition of artificial colors to the things we eat. Is the improved appearance of color-enhanced food worth the possible negative effects?

What are color additives?
In the US, color additives are categorized as “certifiable” (man-made, derived from petroleum and coal-tar sources) or “exempt from certification” (obtained from plant, animal or mineral sources). (FDA’s guide to regulatory process, 2003). Certifiable color batches are tested for composition and purity, whereas exempt colors are not. However, both categories must comply with US FDA regulatory standards and the presence of color additives must be indicated on food labels. Certifiable colors permitted for use in food in the US include (amongst others):

• Carmoisine (E122, Azorubine, FD&C Red No. 3): red-brown color

• Tartrazine (E102, FD&C Yellow No. 5): yellow color

• Sunset yellow (E110, FD&C Yellow No. 6): yellow-orange, red color

• Quinoline yellow (E104, FD&C Yellow 13): greenish-yellow color

• Allura red AC (E129, FD & C Red No. 40): dark red color

Are artificial additives safe?
Many people claim to have allergy-like reactions to some certifiable color additives —especially tartrazine—which may cause skin rashes, urticaria (hives), weakness, migraines, diarrhea, nasal congestion and anxiety/clinical depression (Dipalma, 1990; Shultz-Ehrenburg et al., 1987). Color additive-sensitivity mainly affects asthma-sufferers and those sensitive to NSAIDs and aspirin (Virchow et al., 1988). While tartrazine is still added to foods in the US, its presence must be specifically indicated on the label, to allow those with color-sensitivities the chance to avoid it. (FDA How safe are color additives? 2007)

Some colorants are feared carcinogens. Sunset yellow, for example is a sulfonated version of the banned carcinogenic food dye Sudan I. Traces of Sudan I have been found in up to one quarter of Sunset yellow batches (Partos, 2005). Ponceau 4R, a red-purple colorant was found to be carcinogenic, and has since been banned in the US.

In 2007, a study conducted in Southampton gained much publicity when it found that when mixed with sodium benzoate (a preservative), combinations of the six food colorants listed above may affect hyperactivity, attention spans and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. The study recommended that a color additive-free diet may be beneficial to children who display signs of hyperactivity and related behavioral disorders. (McCann, 2007)

In light of these safety concerns, some/all of the six artificial colorants tested have been banned in many countries, including Japan, Norway and Finland. Following the Southampton study, all six colorants are currently being phased out in the UK, with the rest of the European Union calling for a voluntary ban from food manufacturers, and labels on items with added colors stating “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”. (BBC News, 2008; Meikle, 2008)

Why are these artificial color additives still used in the US?
The FDA maintains that color additives are safe when used properly. They acknowledge tartrazine does cause allergy-like symptoms in some people, but that the number of affected people is small, and appropriate labeling helps identify foods that contain the additive. However, other color additives in the US are listed only as ‘colorings’ or ‘color added’, and not identified specifically. (FDA How safe are color additives? 2007)

The FDA note that the  UK’s ban of color additives has been met with controversy, with some arguing that the Southampton study failed to effectively confirm links between synthetic colorants and children who did not already have intolerance to the products, or a predilection towards hyperactive behavior. (EFSA Assessment, 2008)

What are the alternatives?
“Natural” (certifiably exempt) colors, such as annatto extract (yellow), dehydrated beets (bluish-red/brown), caramel (yellow-tan), beta-carotene (yellow-orange) and grape skin extract (red, green) may be used to impart similar colors in food. However, they are also usually more expensive and impart unwanted flavors into foods, unlike their synthetic counterparts. (FDA Food, 2004)

Most dietitians recommend avoiding artificial color additives where possible, although given their prevalence they can be difficult to avoid, especially in colorful, novel foods marketed for children. While allergic/intolerant reactions may not be common, links between hyperactivity and artificial food colors are often observed and are hard to ignore. Many consumers want better, more specific labeling in the US and other countries (Fed up with food additives, 2009). Others, such as state legislators in Maryland, have initiated the process to ban several synthetic colorants, the first US state to do so. (Scott-Thomas, 2009).  Shereen Jegtvig, a nutritionist, perhaps summed up the argument best in a recent discussion with FoodEssentials, claiming that the choice of whether or not children should be given artificial colorants is up to each parent, adding that she, however, wants kids to learn that the best food is more natural-looking and normally colored. Shereen added, “Parents don’t need to wait for the FDA to ban these colors. Just stop buying products that contain them”.

Please check out the links below for further information on artificial colorants, their use in the US and possible alternatives:

BBC News (2008) Europe-wide food colour ban call. Viewed on May 16, 2009. Online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7340426.stm

BBC News (2008) Food Color Ban in UK. Viewed online May 19, 2009. Online:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7340426.stm

Dipalma, JR. (1990) Tartrazine Sensitivity. Viewed on May 16, 2009. Abstract viewed online: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2239641?dopt=Abstract

EFSA Assessment of the results of the study by McCann et al. (2008). Viewed on May 16, 2009. Online: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/cs/BlobServer/Scientific_Opinion/afc_ej660_McCann_study_op_en,2.pdf?ssbinary=true

Fed up with food additives [Australian website] (2009). Viewed on May 16, 2009. Online: http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/features/colours/colourfoods.htm

McCann D et al. (2007) Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 9/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Viewed on May 16, 2009. Excerpted Online: http://www.feingold.org/Research/Stevenson2007.html

Meikle, J – Guardian.co.uk (2008)EU plans warning labels on artificial colours. Viewed online May 19, 2009. Online:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/aug/11/foodanddrink.foodsafety

Partos, L – Food Navigator (2005). Sunset yellow food colour holds sudan 1 risk. Viewed online May 19, 2009. Online: http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/Sunset-yellow-food-colour-holds-sudan-1-risk

Scott-Thomas, Food navigator-usa.com (2009) Maryland eyes artificial food color ban. Viewed online May 21, 2009. Online:
http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/content/view/print/235882

Shereen Jegtivig’s biography. Viewed 21 May online: http://nutrition.about.com/mbiopage.htm

Shultz-Ehrenburg U, et. Al.(1987) Results of studies in chronic urticaria with special reference to nutritional factors. Viewed online May 19, 2009. Abstract online: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3442085

US FDA Color Additives website (2009), viewed on May 21, 2009. Online:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/col-toc.html

References:

US Food Additive Database (2008)
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/eafus.html

How safe are color additives? (Brochure, 2007)
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/coloradditives121007.pdf

Guide to Color Additives: FDA’s Regulatory Process
and Historical Perspectives (2003)
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/col-regu.html

Food: Ingredients & Colors (Brochure, 2004)
http://www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/foodic.html

Virchow, Ch. et al. (1988) Intolerance to Tartrazine in Aspirin-Induced Asthma: Results of a Multicenter Study. Viewed on May 16, 2009. Online: http://www.pneumowestpfalz.de/PDF_22_09_06/Intolerance_to_Tartrazine.pdf

Possibly Related Posts:

• Added Sugar increases risk of Heart Disease
• Research: Orange Juice – What people are looking for
• Choosing Canned Meat
• What are BHA and BHT?
• Are Flavored Waters the Same as Soft Drinks?