Tag: Natural food colorants

Despite their deep red and purple hues, beets do not contain anthocyanin; instead, their vibrant color comes from a different class of pigments called betalains. This fact often surprises people who assume all purple-red fruits and vegetables share the same coloring compounds. The pigments, particularly betacyanins like betanin, provide beetroot with its characteristic look and powerful antioxidant properties.

Globally, synthetic food dyes like Red 40 are found in tens of thousands of products, yet many consumers don't realize that **what's the difference between red 40 and red food coloring?** is a crucial question for dietary awareness. Understanding this distinction is the first step toward making more informed choices about the ingredients in your food.

In 2009, confectionary giant Nestlé announced a major change to its Smarties recipe, replacing all artificial colours and flavours with natural alternatives. This move marked the end of the use of controversial dyes, including cochineal, in many markets, but the question still remains: Do Smarties still use Cochineal?