Tag: Red iron oxide

Iron oxide is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth, but its health implications depend heavily on its form, size, and application. This makes it crucial to ask, "is red iron oxide healthy?" when evaluating its use in products ranging from makeup to supplements, as its synthetic purity and particle size determine its safety profile.

While the mineral hematite has been used as a pigment for thousands of years, food-grade red iron oxide (E172) is now primarily produced synthetically to ensure purity and consistency. This versatile food colorant, also known as ferric oxide, imparts a strong, stable deep red hue to a variety of processed foods and pharmaceuticals.

According to the FDA, iron oxides have been approved for use as natural colorants in various foods, which stands in stark contrast to the synthetic origin of Red 40. This distinction reveals that, despite having similar shades of red, red iron oxide and Red 40 are not the same substance.

Over 40,000 years ago, natural iron oxides were used as pigments in prehistoric cave paintings. Today, many people wonder, **what is red iron oxide made of**, and how does this substance end up coloring food and dietary supplements?.