Food coloring, widely available in most supermarkets, is used to color Easter eggs, add visual interest to cake frosting and to tint candies such as candy apples. However, there are also some controversies about its safety.
Ingredients and Types
Food coloring ingredients vary by type. Liquid-style food coloring ingredients contain water, propylene glycol, and artificial colors such as yellow # 5, red # 40, and blue # 1. Food coloring also comes in pastes or jells, so check the label and be sure what you're getting.
Nutrition Facts
Food colorings do not carry a calorie or nutrition facts label. Though the Food and Drug Administration is less than forthcoming as to why food colorings do not list calories, it may be because the FDA considers food colors "additives" and not foods in their own right.
Controversies
Experts differ on the safety of food coloring. The FDA monitors the health effects of food colors, and reports that they are generally regarded as safe. However, the Center For Science in the Public Interest has called on the FDA to ban artificial food colors because of concerns about allergies and a possible connection to hyperactivity in children.
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