Your Favorite Candies May Soon Have Natural Coloring, And Thank Goodness

“Natural” is a hot word these days, and it’s easy to see why. Consumers — like you and me — are learning more and more about what’s in our cleaning products, makeup, and everything in between. (It isn’t pretty, to say the least!) As a result, people are seeking more natural products, especially when it comes to food. We actually eat the stuff, after all.

The demand is so strong that even the candy industry is looking for natural ingredients.

Specifically, manufacturers are searching for natural ways to color candy. According to an article in Food Business News, candy typically contains colors that have been certified by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C). The FD&C is a set of laws enforced by the Food & Drug Administration.

FD&C colors include synthetic dyes like Red No. 1 and Blue No. 2, which you’ve likely spotted on food packages before.

There are seven FD&C-approved food dyes.

However, here’s where things get tricky.

A majority of synthetic dyes are made from petroleum, says the American Chemical Society. A 2017 study in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition also shares that artificial food dyes have been associated with potential genotoxic (gene-damaging) and carcinogenic (cancer-causing) properties.

Either way, with names like “FD&C Yellow No. 1,” synthetic food dyes sound like they should be in a can of paint.

People also feel better buying food when they can recognize the ingredients.

So, companies have searching for more natural colors…

…and scientists have been hard at work developing said food dyes made with common ingredients like fruit and vegetable concentrates.

Which already sounds much better than what we’re currently ingesting.

Natural food dyes aren’t necessarily new, but the goal is to make them easier to work with.

The Food Business News article mentions that there are a lot of factors to consider.

For example, acidity (pH) plays a big role.

Anthocyanin, the pigment that gives blueberries their purple-blue hue, works well in acidic products like hard candy.

In confectionery products, anthocyanins offer shades from orange-red to purple.

But if the pH is higher, the colors might not be as stable or bright.

Temperature and other ingredients matter, too.

Red is a particularly difficult color to make naturally.

But companies have been turning to beet juice or powder to color their foods.

A red food dye from sweet potato might also be on the horizon.

It sure beats carmine, an artificial red food coloring that’s made from insects.

This is especially awesome news for vegan consumers.

You might see more natural purple food dyes in your candy, too.

These might come from vegetables like purple carrots, purple sweet potatoes, and purple corn.

Ultimately, we can’t wait to see more recognizable ingredients on our food packaging.

Eating candy will be that much sweeter.