SYNTHETIC COLOURS IN SYNTHETIC

COLOURS IN

Presented By

COLOURS IN FOOD

COLOURS IN FOODJr. Research Officer

Regional Analytical LaboratoryCalicut - 9

Synthetic colours areadded to food materialsto catch the attraction of

Synthetic colours areadded to food materialsto catch the attraction of

Colour is one of themajor indicator for theto catch the attraction of

the consumersto catch the attraction ofthe consumers

major indicator for theacceptance of food.

� Synthetic food Colour corrects the natural variations.

� The problems of colour loss due to exposure to light, air, temperature extremes, moisture and storage condition are solved.

� Make food more attractive and informative

� Generally synthetic colours gives Bright and uniform colours

� Companies are prefer to use synthetic food colours because of they are cheaper, stable and long shelf life because of they are cheaper, stable and long shelf life compare to natural colours

� Children are highly influenced by this colouredsweets

�

FOOD COLOURS

NATURAL SYNTHETIC

Carotene & Carotenoids

Chlorophyll

Riboflavin ( Lactoflavin)

Caramel

Annatto

Saffron

Curcumin or turmeric

Oil Soluble colours

Coal tar colours

PERMITTED FOOD COLOURS NON-PERMITTED FOOD COLOURS

Brilliant Blue

Carmoisine

Erythrosine

Fast green

Rhodamine B

Amaranth

Orange II

Metanil yellowFast green

Indigo carmine

Ponceau 4R

Sunset yellow

Tartrazine

Metanil yellow

Malachite green

Acid Magenta

Orange G

Butter yellow

No. COLOUR COMMON NAME COLOUR INDEX CHEMICAL CLASS

1. Red

Ponceau 4R 16255 Azo

Carmoisine 17420 Azo

Erythrosine 45430 Xanthene

2. Yellow

Tartrazine 19140 Pyrazolone

Sunset Yellow FCF 15985 Azo

3. BlueIndigo Carmine 73015 Indigoid

Brilliant Blue FCF 42090 Triarylmethane

4. GreenFast Green FCF 42053 Triarylmethane

OBJECTIVE

� The objectives of the study is to identify thecolours used in sugar based confectionary.

� Estimate the colour concentrations quantitatively.� Estimate the colour concentrations quantitatively.

� Create awareness in public for the safe use ofcolours in food.

Vulnerability in children

Most Important & well studied side effect of artificial colours

� Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

� Symptoms

Lack of concentration, distractibility, excitabilityLack of concentration, distractibility, excitabilityimpulsiveness, anxiety, anti-social behavior,difficulties with coordination, disabilities of bothcognitive and learning functions.

J. Human Nutr,34:167-174,1980

Report on Colour Additives. FACT, 1987

J. Pediatrics. 61(6):811-7. 1978.

� Do artificial food colors promote hyperactivity in children with hyperactive syndromes? A meta-analysis. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 2004

� The effects of artificial food colourings and benzoate preservative challenge on hyperactivity in a general population sample of preschool children. population sample of preschool children.

Arch Dis Child. 2004

� Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community.

Lancet Vol. 370,No. 9598,p1521-1588, 2007

� A study was conducted by National Institute ofNutrition with school children consuming a particularbrand of Aniseed (Saunf)exhibited of glossitis oftongue. Analysis revealed that the Aniseed (Saunf)had very high levels of Ponceau 4R

� Ref: National institute of Nutrition, Annual report, Hydrabad P.72-1993-1994

They are more sensitive to carcinogens

Immaturity of enzymatic detoxifying mechanism

Incomplete excretory organs

Partial development of physiological barriers (BBB)

They are consume more synthetic food colours per unit of body weight than adults

Young children serve as first victims of any contaminations in food

MATERIALS AND METHOD

�Fourteen different coloured sugarbased confectioneries such as sweets,sugar candies, toffees, marsh mallowsare randomly collected from differentare randomly collected from differentshops during January 2015 to March2015.

The colours are qualitatively

PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHIC

TECHNIQUES

The colours are qualitativelyidentified by paper chromatographictechniques

The colours are quantitatively estimated by the UV-Visible estimated by the UV-Visible

spectrophotometer

Sl No Name of Colour Absorption maxima(nm)

1 Carmosine 516

2 Ponceau 4 R 507

3 Erythrosine 527

4 Green FCF 624 4 Green FCF 624

5 Indigo Carmine 609

6 Brilliant Blue FCF 630

7 Tartrazine 427

8 Sunset yellow FCF 482

RESULTS

Tartrazine -19140

Sunset yellow - 15985

Indigo carmine -73015

Fast green FCF - 42053

180

220

160

110

250

CUMIN SEED SWEET

0

50

100

150

200

Coce

ntr

ation (ppm

)

Synthetic colours

Tartrazine

Sunset yellow

Indigocarmine

Fast green

Cumin Sweet

� In cumine sweets no natural colours were found.

� Four type of synthetic food colours were found in thesamples. They are individual colours and mixedcolours.colours.

� All the synthetic colours having concentration morethan 100ppm.

� Sunset yellow have more than 200ppm and Fast greenhave least concentration and all other colour

� The Colour Concentrations are above the FSSAprescribed level.

Peanut Sweet

Ponceau 4R - 16255

Tartrazine - 19140 5

210

160

0

50

100

150

200

250

Conce

ntr

ation(p

pm

)

Synthetic colours

Tartrazine

Ponceau 4R

Peanut sweet� Two types of synthetic colours were identified in

Peanut sweets.

� Its identified as Ponceau4R and tartrazine. Bothcolours are more than 100ppm.colours are more than 100ppm.

Lemon sweet

Tartrazine-19140

Sunset yellow-15985

160

180

150

155

160

165

170

175

180

185

Conce

ntr

ation(p

pm

)

Synthetic colours

Tartrazine

Sunsetyellow

� Only two colours were found in lemon sweets.

� The colours are identified as Tartrazine and Sunsetyellow. Sunset yellow is present in more than 180ppmand tartrazine having the concentration 160ppm.and tartrazine having the concentration 160ppm.

� No mixed colours and natural colours were identifiedin these samples.

Jellies

Ponceau 4R-16255

Tartrazine-19140

Sunset yellow-15985

Brilliant blue FCF-42090

210

180

200

130

0

50

100

150

200

250

Conce

ntr

ation(p

pm

)

Synthetic colours

Tartrazine

Sunsetyellow

Ponceau 4R

Brilliant blue

Jellies� In all jelly sweets individual colour and mixed colours

were found in samples.

� No natural colour or non permitted colours were foundin the samples.in the samples.

� Ponceau 4R Present in higher concentration (210ppm)than other permitted synthetic food colours after thatSunset yellow is present in high level and brilliant blueis in lesser amount

� All the colours exceeds the prescribed standard level.

Gems

Indigo carmine-73015

Brilliant Blue FCF-42090

Carmoisine -14720

Erythrosine-45430

Ponceau 4R-16255

100

99

85

100

Ponceau 4R-16255 100

75

80

85

90

95

100

105

Conce

ntr

ation(p

pm

)

Synthetic colours

Indigo carmine

Brilliant blue

Carmoisine

Erythrosine

Lolly Pop

Sunset yellow-15985 230

0

50

100

150

200

250

Conce

ntr

ation(p

pm

)

Synthetic colours

sunset yellow

Lolly pop� The local Lolly pope sample collected having red in

colour. Only single colour identified as sunset yellow.The Colour present in higher concentration 230ppm.

Local sweets

Red

Green

Yellow

Rose pink

White

Sunset yellow-15985

Tartrazine-19140

Ponceau 4R-16255

Carmoisine-14720

Erythrosine-45430

250

300

100

200

150

Local sweets

Green

Violet

Red

Rose

Tartrazine -19140

Sunset yellow-15985

Ponceau 4R-16255

Carmoisine-14720

160

200

100

180Rose

YellowErythrosine-45430

Amaranth

120

160

Local sweets

Yellow

Red

Green

Tartrazine-19140

Ponceau 4R-16255

Sunset yellow-15985

Fast Green- 42053

200

180

160

140

Local sweets

Red

Yellow

Green

Fast green

Brilliant blue

Sunset yellow

Tartrazine

210

100

280

310

Local marshmallow

Rose

Pale green

Yellow

White

Amaranth

Tartrazine-19140

120

75

Local sweets

Green

Yellow

Sunset yellow-15985

Fast green- 42053

Brilliant blue FCF

Tartrazine-19140

90

65

90

180Local sweets Yellow

RedTartrazine-19140

Amaranth

Rhodamine B

180

95

120

Local sweets

Orange

Yellow

White

Tartrazine-19140

Ponceau 4R-16255

Sunset yellow-15985

190

230

180

Discussion� Most of the sugar based confectionary products sold in

the market were coloured and very few find withoutsynthetic food colours.

� Of the fourteen samples analysed

97% having permitted colours, � 97% having permitted colours,

� 3% having a combination of permitted and non-pepermitted colours

� No sweets having only non-permitted colour.

� .

Discussion

� All the labelled samples are within the FSSA prescribed level.

� The Home made sweets and small scale food � The Home made sweets and small scale food industries using synthetic food colours higher than the specifications prescribed under the FSS Act.

�

� It was interesting to note that FSSA permits eight colours to be added to specific foods but only six colours were commonly used.

� Among the permitted colours, tartrazine was the most widelyused colour followed by sunset yellow.

� Tartrazine in blend with sunset yellow is the most widely usedcolour

� Brilliant blue FCF was mostly used in blends with tartrazine togive a green shade to sugar based confectionary products.

NON- PERMITTED COLOURS

� It is found that Amaranth, Rhodamine B arecommonly used non-permitted colours.

� Orange G, Fast red, and Metanil yellow, Acid Magenta� Orange G, Fast red, and Metanil yellow, Acid Magentawere not found in any sugar based confectionarytested.

CONCLUSION� From the present investigation, It can be concluded

that the prevalent use of non-permitted colours hasbeen considerably reduced.

� The study found that the use of non-permitted coloursin sugar based confectionary products was considerablyin sugar based confectionary products was considerablyless as it was detected in only 3 %

� This could be due to the awareness of themanufacturers to the hazards of non-permitted coloursand the actions taken by the regulatory authorities.

CONCLUSION

� More awareness is necessary in the non-industrial sector.

� Relentless campaign needs to be undertaken toimprove the awareness amongst consumers of theunscrupulous use of synthetic food colours particularlyconcerning vulnerable consumers such as children.

�NATURAL COLOUR IS ALWAYS SAFE IN �NATURAL COLOUR IS ALWAYS SAFE IN SWEETS

THANK YOU

To the Commissioner of food safety-

The Deputy Director (PFA)

The Chief Government AnalystGovernment Analyst Lab-TVMThe Government AnalystRegional analytical lab

FASEELA P.MUnity Womens College,of food safety-

Kerala(PFA)

Government Analyst Lab-TVMRegional analytical labCalicut -9

Unity Womens College,Manjeri,Malappuram Dist

NO FOOD ITEMS

1 Ice-cream, milk lollies, frozen dessert, flavoured milk, yoghurt, ice-cream mix powder

2

Non-alcoholic carbonated and non-carbonated ready-to-serve synthetic beverages

including syrups, sherbets, fruit bar, fruit beverages, fruit drinks, synthetic soft drink

concentratesconcentrates

3Biscuits, including biscuit wafer, pastries, cakes, confectionery, thread candies, sweets,

savouries (dal moth, mongio, phulgulab, sago papad, dal biji)

4

Peas, strawberries and cherries in hermatically sealed containers, reserved or processed

papaya, canned tomato juice, fruit syrup, fruit squash, fruit cordial, jellies, jam,

marmalade, candied crystallised or glazed fruits

PIGMENT SOURCES COLOUR SHADE

Curcumin Turmeric Rhizome (roots) Bright lemon yellow

Lutein Tagetas Erecta (marigold) and Alfalfa Golden yellow

Natural mixed

CarotenesPalm oil, D.salina (algae Golden yellow to orange

Bixin/norbixin Bixa Orellana bush seeds- South America Orange

Capsanthin/

CapsorubinPaprika Capsicum annum L. Reddy orange

Lycopene Tomatoes Orangy red.

Carminic acid Cochineal insect (female)- Peru Orange to red

Carmine Cochineal insect(female) – Peru Pink to red

Betanin Red table beetroot Pink to red

AnthocyaninBlack grapeskin, elderberries, black carrots, red

cabbage.

Pink/red to

mauve/blue

Chlorophyll (in) Grass, lucerne and nettle Olive green

Copperchlorophyll(in) Grass, lucerneand nettle Bluish green

Carbon black Vegetable Material Grey to black

Crocin Saffron/ Gardenia fruit Yellow

Titanium dioxide Anatase White