Nutrition For Mortals Let’s Talk About Food Dyes…
Jun 25, 2025
Dive into the colorful world of synthetic food dyes, exploring their controversial history and health claims. Discover how these vibrant additives transitioned from textiles to our meals, and the alarming past of food adulteration. Unpack the myths surrounding dyes and ADHD, and hear about the research challenging these assertions. The discussion also touches on regulatory milestones and the future of dyes in our food system. Plus, join the conversation on misinformation and the food industry's response to proposed changes.
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Accidental Birth Of Synthetic Dyes
- William Henry Perkin accidentally discovered the first synthetic dye, mauve, at age 18 while trying to synthesize quinine.
- His invention replaced snail-derived purple dye and launched widespread synthetic dye use in textiles and later foods.
Adulteration Drove Early Regulation
- Early synthetic food dyes were used to adulterate foods and were added without safety testing.
- Public health harms from coal-tar dyes like butter yellow prompted the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and later regulation.
Modern Dyes Start With Petroleum
- The U.S. currently approved a small number of synthetic dyes, originally coal-tar then petroleum-derived.
- Modern dyes are chemically transformed and purified so consumers are not ingesting crude oil.
