Colourful food - Appealing but HARMFUL!

 Colourful sweets is always tempting.

We often go for something more interesting and attractive rather than something which is dull and not so appealing. The same happens when it comes to food as well. Colourful foods are the first choice of mankind but did you know that often food colouring is added to make what you eat so colourful?

Food colour

Any digestible substance added to food or drink in order to change its colour is known as food colour. Food colours are used both commercially as well as in domestic cooking.

Why is food colours used?

Manufacturers add food colours to their products to affect the perceived flavour their products, as people associate certain flavours with certain colours. Most times the reason for adding food colours is to make it seem natural to the consumer.

Most people think only processed food contain food colours but did you know even fruits like apples have artificial food colouring added to it to make it look more appealing.

It’s harmful because...

Some food colours can cause allergic reactions in certain people. Some foods can be very harmful to pregnant women, children and people with high blood pressure.

Did you know that most white breads contain High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)? It is thought that eating a lot of this may be connected to rising obesity rates, heart diseases and diabetes.

Examples of food colourings:

1) E102 Tartrazine

Tartrazine is a yellow synthetic azo dye, and is responsible for a large number of allergic reactions including migraine, blurred vision, itching, rhinitis and skin blotching. Asthmatics and aspirin intolerant sufferers appear to be particularly at risk. Tests have shown that in large doses, tartrazine will raise the plasma histamine levels of healthy adults. There is a suspected link between hyperactivity in children and tartrazine.

Typical products include fizzy drinks, fruit squash and other commercially made beverages, puddings, cakes, sauces, soups, sweets, jelly, ice cream, jams, lemon and honey products and many other convenience foods. 

Other names:
5-Hydroxy-1-(4-sulfophenyl)-4-[(4-sulfophenyl)azo]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid

2) E120 Cochineal, Carminic acid, Carmines

Cochineal is a natural red colour obtained by crushing of the female Dactilopius coccus, a cactus-dwelling insect indigenous to Central America. The dye is expensive due to the sheer quantity of shells required to produce a small amount. Alcoholic drinks may contain the water soluble form (ammonium carmine), but the insoluble calcium carmine is found in a many more products.

Typical products include alcoholic beverages, dyed cheeses, puddings, icings, sweets, sauces, fizzy drinks, cakes, soups and pie fillings. 

Chemical formula: C₂₂H₂₀O₁₃

3) E170 Calcium carbonate

Calcium carbonate occurs naturally and may be used in wine as an acidity regulator, as well as a firming agent for preserved fruit and vegetables. The most common form of calcium carbonate is limestone. Other forms include chalk, marble, corals and calcite. Limestone is a major building material as quick lime (CaO) and slaked lime (Ca(OH)₂) are derived from it. Specially precipitated CaCO₃ is extensively used in the paper industry as it adds brightness, opacity, ink receptivity and smoothness to the finished product. Calcium carbonate is also used as filler in rubbers, latex, paints and enamels, and in plastics, as well as finding use as a mild abrasive in toothpastes and an antacid. High levels of ingestion may result in flatulence, constipation, haemmorrhoids and bleeding anal fissures. 

Typical products include tinned fruit and vegetables, wine, vitamin supplements, bread, cakes and other flour products.

Other names: limestone, marble, calcite, chalk

Molecular formula: CaCO₃

Other information: Dust may cause irritation