Food coloring is widely used in the culinary and food industries. However, there are food colorings that are safe and some that are prohibited. Therefore, it is important to know the different types of food coloring to prevent its adverse effects on health.
Food coloring is an additive that is added to improve the color of a food or drink. In addition, food coloring can also increase the attractiveness of food and increase the appetite of people who consume it.
Food coloring comes in many forms, such as liquid, powder, gel, or paste.
Safe Food Coloring
Food coloring is divided into two, namely natural dyes and synthetic or chemical dyes. Natural dyes are made from natural materials, such as plants, animals, and minerals, while synthetic dyes are made from a mixture of two or more chemicals or substances.
According to the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) of the Republic of Indonesia, there are several types of natural dyes that are classified as safe to use, namely:
- Curcumin
- Riboflavin
- Carmine and cochineal extract
- Chlorophyll
- Caramel
- Plant carbon
- Beta carotene
- Anato Extract
- Carotenoids
- beet red
- Anthocyanins
- Titanium dioxide
For synthetic food coloring, there are several types that are allowed, but their use should be limited. The following are types of synthetic dyes that are safe to use:
- Tartrazine
- Quinoline yellow
- Yellow FCF
- Carmoisin
- Ponceau
- Erythrosine
- Allura red
- Indigotin
- FCF diamond blue
- FCF Green
- HT Chocolate
Harmful Food Coloring
The government has provided a list of dyes that can be used in food. However, the reality is that there are still non-food dyes that are mixed into foodstuffs by irresponsible producers.
There are two harmful coloring agents that are still used in food, namely:
Rhodamine B
Rhodamine B is a synthetic dye in the form of a crystalline powder and is green or reddish purple in color. These dyes are commonly used to color textiles, paper, and cosmetic products.
However, not infrequently rhodamine B is also mixed into foods such as crackers, cakes, and various types of drinks.
Rhodamine B has other names, such as D and C Red 19, Food Red 15, ADC Rhodamine B, Aizen Rhodamine BHC, and Acid Brilliant Pink B. This dye is suspected to cause cancer, but further research is needed to confirm this.
Methanol yellow
Metanil yellow is a synthetic dye in the form of a powder, yellow-brown in color, and is soluble in water and alcohol. This one dye is generally used as a textile dye, paper, ink, plastic, leather, paint, and so on.
Food or drink that is mixed with methanyl yellow will usually be bright yellow, glow, and have spots of color or an uneven color. This dye can be found in various snacks, such as crackers, noodles, tofu, and fried foods.
When consumed, methanyl yellow can cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, fever, weakness, and low blood pressure.
In addition, long-term consumption of metanyl yellow is feared to affect the central nervous system and cause bladder cancer. However, the side effects of methanyl yellow are still being studied further.
Therefore, you are advised to be more careful when buying colored foods or drinks. Instead of getting nutrition, it's a disease that endangers health.
If you want to color food, use safe food coloring from natural ingredients that are processed yourself, such as suji leaves, pandan leaves, spinach, beets, turmeric, carrots, or dragon fruit. However, if you want to use instant dyes, make sure they are registered with BPOM.
In addition, you are advised to eat healthy foods with balanced and natural nutrition without preservatives or dyes so that you avoid the risk of various diseases.
If you want to know more about the types of foods with food coloring ingredients that are safe for consumption, you can consult a nutritionist.