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The Keylink Guide to Food Colouring
Everything you need to know about creating amazing colours in chocolate and patisserie.
What constitutes food colouring?
Food colours, which are considered additives, can be any dye, pigment or other substance that can impart the colour into food, but that cannot be consumed as a food product in their own right. All additives that are safe for use in food have an E-number, issued by the European Safety Authority (EFSA)
What are synthetic food colours and are they bad?
Synthetic food colours are chemically synthesized. They tend to have superior colouring properties and are less sensitive to light. Whether they are considered ‘bad’ depends on whether you are happy to use non-naturally derived additives in your products. In any case, these colours are subject to EU regulations (more on this below).
The Keylink catalogue and website feature AZO and NON-AZO food colours. What are they?
AZO colours are synthetic food colours that contain a double nitrogen binding as part of their structure. In chemistry, this N=N group is called an AZO group. AZO groups do not occur naturally; they are always synthetic. AZO colours have a good technical performance in terms of migration, thermostability and sensitivity to light. They are brighter than NON-AZO colours. NON-AZO colours do not contain an N=N (AZO) group. They are more sensitive to heat and light than AZO colours and are not as bright. NON-AZO colours can be synthetic or “from natural origin”.
What does “from natural origin” mean?
“From natural origin” food colours are made from an extraction of a vegetable, animal or mineral source. They are more sensitive to light and heat. They can also be ingredients which are giving both flavour and colour.
What are Southampton colours?
This is a group of six colours (five AZO and one NON-AZO) that have been determined in a study published by the University of Southampton to increase hyperactive behaviour in children. When using Southampton colours, European legislation requires you to mention the following on the label of your final product: “May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
The Southampton colours are:
|
Sunset Yellow |
E110 |
Allura Red AC |
E129 |
|
Quinoline Yellow |
E104 |
Tartrazine |
E102 |
|
Carnoisine |
E122 |
Ponceau 4R |
E124 |
So are all E-numbers bad, then?
No. E-numbers are simply a system for identifying all additives that have been specifically approved by the EU for use in food, and cover all of them, from those thought to induce hyperactive behaviour in children to nature-derived additives, such as carotene.
That’s food colouring. What are colouring foods?
Colouring foods are ingredients, that can be used to add colour. The essential characteristics of their source are maintained, and there is no selective extraction involved. All colouring foods have no E-number label. Tomato concentrate, coffee, cocoa, spinach and spirulina, for example, are all classified as colouring foods. You can use them as they are, and they will impart colour into food products. Because they are not unnaturally processed, they have the benefits of being natural, but they do have limited technical performance.
How do I know how much of a food colouring I can safely and legally use?
Regulation EC 1333/2008 sets the rules on food additives: definitions, conditions of use, labelling and procedures. The legislation lists all E-numbers and indicates their conditions of use.
Keylink colouring products are clearly labelled as AZO, NON-AZO or “From Natural Origin” on our website, in our catalogue, and on the product pack. Each product comes with a spec you can download and use to check the E-numbers in the product. Once downloaded, if a spec changes you will be notified automatically.
That looks scary!
Don’t worry! If working with the same products regularly, such as chocolate, you can search by clicking on ‘categories’ from the top right toolbar and select the appropriate category from the drop-down list. You will soon get a handle on the amounts of colour you can use in chocolate, icing, etc.
Alternatively, if using IBC Power Flowers to colour food, IBC have a brilliant app where you can test your recipe to ensure it meets EU regulations. You can download the app for free by searching for “IBC Power Flowers” in your app store. Just tap in your recipe and your phone screen will turn green for “go ahead!” and red for “illegal!”
The database mentions “quantum satis” for lots of colourants?
In the Annexes to the above legislation, it is stated that “'quantum satis' means that no maximum level is specified. However, colouring matters shall be used according to good manufacturing practice at a level not higher than is necessary to achieve the intended purpose and provided that they do not mislead the customer.”
In other words, use the minimum amount you require to achieve the look you are seeking, use no more than is needed, and be clear to the customer what is contained in the product through labelling the finished product.
I’ve heard that Titanium Dioxide is now illegal?
Only in France, from January 2020. Titanium Dioxide (E171) has been authorised for use in the European Union for many years. It’s a pigment commonly used to provide a cloudy effect and white base colour in everything from confectionery to toothpaste, medicines to cosmetics. Following ingestion, most titanium dioxide passes through the body unchanged. However, maximum of 0.1% can be absorbed by the gut and distributed to various organs. These are called nanoparticles. By European law, for a compound to be considered a nanomaterial, nanoparticles should account for at least 50% of the particles in the number size distribution. While there are no specific limits on the particle size of titanium dioxide used as a food additive, food-grade titanium dioxide consists mainly of larger particles, and so food-grade titanium is not considered a nanomaterial.
France has issued a temporary ban of one year from January 1st 2020. Anyone supplying food products to France during this time will not be able to use titanium dioxide. The ban does not apply to cosmetics or medication – only foodstuffs.
If food-grade titanium dioxide isn’t dangerous, why has France banned it?
It is a precautionary ban while more research is undertaken. A study on a rat model by the National Institute of Agricultural Research published on January 20th 2017 suggests that the use of additive E171 in food is likely to be initiating and promoting effects of early stages of colon cancer, due to nanoparticles. For the final re-evaluation, it was concluded that the available data on titanium dioxide does not indicate health concerns for consumers. But they recommended new studies be carried out to fill data gaps on possible effects on the reproductive system, which would enable them to set an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). The Ministry decided, as a measure of precaution, to ban E171 in all foods on the French market, temporarily. Again, food-grade titanium dioxide is not currently considered a nanomaterial.
What does this mean for the rest of Europe?
Foodstuffs containing E171 cannot be supplied into France during the ban. No other member country currently plans to ban E171. There is a fair chance that additional specifications will be imposed on a European level concerning particle size distribution of titanium dioxide.
Other Member States are awaiting this European process.
Food-grade Titanium Dioxide contains mostly larger particles in any case. Right, so now I know what’s what, how do I know which food colouring products to use in which foods? At Keylink we supply food colourants in various forms. Take a look at our guide to learn when to use what!
| Colouring type | Available in | Features | Use in |
| Coloured cocoa butters | AZO, NON-AZO and from natural origin available |
|
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| Power Flowers™ | AZO, NON-AZO and from natural origin available |
|
Any fat-based recipe;
|
| Sparkling Power Flowers™ | NON-AZO and from natural origin |
|
Any fat-based recipe;
|
| Flavor Flowers™ | From natural origin |
|
Any fat-based recipe;
|
| Powder colours | AZO, NON-AZO, From Natural Origin |
|
Any fat-based recipe;
|
| Shimmer pearl powder | NON-AZO |
|
Any fat-based recipe;
|
| Creative powder | NON-AZO |
|
Any fat-based recipe;
|
| Creative spray | AZO and NON-AZO |
|
|
| Coloured truffle powders | NON-AZO |
|
|
| Transfer sheets | AZO, NON-AZO |
|
|
Helpful resources:
The Business Companion guide to colours in food »
Keylink Power Flowers Colour Concentration Calculator »
Video: What Are Power Flowers »
Disclaimer: The information in this article has been given in good faith; Keylink Ltd and IBC Ltd do not accept liability for any errors or omissions.
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