Natural foods have specific colors, and extracting food pigments from natural foods has a long history. At present, there are more than 40 kinds of natural food pigments allowed to be used in my country, more than ten of which have national standards, including: shellac red, safflower yellow, bilberry red, radish red, beet red, caramel color, cocoa shell color,? -Carotene, chrysanthemum yellow extract, black bean red, sorghum red, capsicum red, monascus red, etc.

Natural food pigments are extracted from plants, microorganisms, and animals. For example, shellac red is extracted and refined from the resinous substance secreted by female lac bugs that parasitize on leguminous and moraceae plants. Made of reddish-purple or bright red powder; cocoa shell color is a brown powder obtained by extracting, filtering, concentrating, refining and drying the bark of the cacao tree of the Indus family; capsicum red pigment is made from high-quality chili peppers. An orange-red powder that is extracted, despiced and refined; Monascus red is a red natural pigment produced during the growth and metabolism of Monascus; caramel color is made from sugar and starch.

Tips: Natural food pigments are not absolutely safe

It is generally believed that natural food pigments are harmless to human health. Some natural food pigments also have certain health care effects, such as carotene and tomato red. Food pigments such as pigments, chlorophyll, and capsicum red. However, since a series of chemical agents have to be used in the extraction and refining process of natural food colorings, only natural food colorings that strictly adhere to the production process and production quality and meet national standards are truly safe. In addition, although national standards have relatively loose limits on the dosage of natural food colorings added to food, there are certain limits. A small number of natural food colorings may also cause allergies. Therefore, natural food coloring is not absolutely safe, and it is best to minimize additional additions.

Synthetic food colorings allowed to be used in food

Compared with natural food colorings, synthetic food colorings are stable, strong in coloring power, and low in price. They once replaced natural food colorings. . However, after it was confirmed that synthetic food dyes have adverse effects such as causing cancer and affecting children's intellectual development, the use of synthetic food dyes has become less and less.

Currently, various countries strictly control the use of synthetic food dyes. For example, the United States once approved 35 kinds of synthetic food dyes for use, but now only 7 are still allowed to be used. There are only 6 types of synthetic food dyes approved for use in my country, namely amaranth, carmine, lemon yellow, sunset yellow, brilliant blue, and indigo.

Try to feed your children as little food as possible with synthetic food colorings

According to national regulations, baby food, milk and dairy products, fruits and their products, meat and processed products, Synthetic food colorings are not allowed in fish, processed products and condiments. However, soft drinks, cold drinks, candies, prepared wines and juices can add a small amount of state-approved synthetic food colorings, so some children's foods, snacks, etc. may contain synthetic food colorings. Although the safety of synthetic food pigments approved by the state is fully guaranteed, these pigments do not have any benefit to human health. Therefore, it is recommended that you try to feed your children as little food as possible with synthetic food colorings.

Prohibited food colorings and non-food colorings must not be added to food

Due to economic interests, some unscrupulous businessmen will use food colorings that have been expressly prohibited and even use them as non-food colorings. Adding food colorings to food can cause great harm to human health. Such as the "Sudan Red" incident where industrial dyes were used in food. In addition, excessive use of food dyes beyond the standard and beyond the scope will also have adverse effects on human health. Unfortunately, such incidents are still reported frequently.