Artificial Coloring:
Are Food Additives Safe?
Artificial coloring is one of the most common additives of foods today. Because the general public has a preconceived opinion of what a product "should look like", manufacturers have noted that they get increased sales if they follow through and make their products match this public impression. Therefore artificial colorings are used routinely to enhance many products. What Products Are Routinely ColoredFresh oranges from Florida are not always straight from the orange grove a nice juicy bright orange color. With the aid of food dyes before shipping, grocery shoppers assume the fruit, an orange, is orange colored. Many varieties though have shade variances from one piece to another. Problem is solved with the addition of some food dye.The very popular glazed cherries after processing turn beige. People expect cherries to be red. Again the magic of food dyes solves the problem. The candy and confectionery industry uses food dyes constantly to enhance the colors in the gummi bears and gummi worms, lollipops, hard candies and even the chocolates. It is unusual to find any type of processed candy which does not rely on food dyes to help enhance the visual appeal of their product. Note that many items after cooking, baking, extended storage, exposure to heat, cold, sun or light can fade and lose their color. Again artificial food colorings do get used to obtain or retain this picture perfect image we expect in our food supply. Which Is More Important: Healthy vs. Visual AppealIt is a common refrain heard by many manufacturers and retailers, when a product is received that does not meet the buying public's pre-conceived opinion of what it should look like, the general buying public will refuse to purchase that item until the "right stuff comes in again". The buying public is always expressing their opinion about the problems of using excess colorings, but the buying public is also the final deciding factor whether a manufacturer has to make the decision to use artificial colorings to meet the public's expectations. Currently, in our food chain, we can not seem to come to some common middle ground which is advantageous to the manufacturer in his endeavors to deliver what the consumer perceives is his due.
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This site is not intended to replace the advice and supervision of your professional medical treatment plan. Although all of the information is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge, we still recommend you carefully check all food labels before consuming any food product. We can not assume any legal responsibility for any illness obtained while following the advice contained on this site.
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