Editing Food coloring (section)

===National regulations===
====Canada====
Canada has published food and drug regulations covering food colorants.<ref name=canreg>{{cite web | title=Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870) | publisher=Consolidated federal laws of Canada| date=15 February 2023 | url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/C.R.C.,_c._870.pdf}}</ref>

Food in Canada cannot be sold with more than:<ref name=canreg/>{{rp|section B.06.002, p.217}}

* 100 ppm of fast green FCF or brilliant blue FCF. or any combination
* 300 ppm of [[Allura Red AC|allura red]], [[Amaranth (dye)|amaranth]], [[erythrosine]], [[Indigo carmine|indigotine]], [[sunset yellow FCF]] or [[tartrazine]] and [[Fast Green FCF]] or [[brilliant blue FCF]] combined
* 150 ppm of [[Scarlet GN|ponceau SX]] dye.

====European Union====
[[File:M&Ms Belgium.jpg|thumb|Due to European Union regulations on food coloring, European [[M&M's]] have darker colors than American M&M's.]] 
In the European Union, [[E number|E{{nbsp}}numbers]] are used for all additives, both synthetic and natural, that are approved in food applications. E{{nbsp}}numbers beginning with 1, such as E100 ([[turmeric]]) or E161b ([[lutein]]), are allocated to colorants.<ref>{{cite web |title=Current EU approved additives and their E Numbers |publisher=[[Food Standards Agency]] |date=26 Nov 2010 |url=http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/chemsafe/additivesbranch/enumberlist#h_2 |access-date=20 Feb 2012 }}</ref> The safety of food colors and other food additives in the EU is evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Color Directive 94/36/EC, enacted by the European Commission in 1994, outlines permitted natural and artificial colors with their approved applications and limits in different foods.<ref name="cook" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sfp/addit_flavor/flav08_en.pdf |title=Color Directive 94/36/EC |access-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-date=May 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509062829/http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sfp/addit_flavor/flav08_en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> This is binding on all member countries of the EU; any changes have to be implemented into national laws by a specified deadline. In non-EU member states, food additives are regulated by national authorities, which usually, but not always, try to harmonize with EU regulations. Most other countries have their own regulations and list of food colors which can be used in various applications, including maximum daily intake limits.

Permitted synthetic colorants in the EU include [[E Number#E100–E199 (colours)|E{{nbsp}}numbers]] 102–143 which cover the range of artificial colors. The EU maintains a list of allowed additives.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/chemsafe/additivesbranch/enumberlist| title=Approved additives and E numbers|website=Food Standards Agency}}</ref> Some artificial dyes approved for food use in the EU include:

* E104: [[Quinoline Yellow WS]]
* E122: [[Carmoisine]]
* E124: [[Ponceau 4R]]
* E131: [[Patent Blue V|Patent Blue{{nbsp}}V]]
* E142: [[Green S|Green{{nbsp}}S]]

The three synthetic colors Orange{{nbsp}}B, Citrus Red No.{{nbsp}}2 and FD&C Green No.{{nbsp}}3 are not permitted in the EU, nor is toasted partially-defatted cooked [[cottonseed flour]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Lehto | first1=Sari | last2=Buchweitz | first2=Maria | last3=Klimm | first3=Alexandra | last4=Straßburger | first4=Raphaela | last5=Bechtold | first5=Cato | last6=Ulberth | first6=Franz |display-authors=3| title=Comparison of food colour regulations in the EU and the US: a review of current provisions | journal=Food Additives and Contaminants: Part A| volume=34 | issue=3 | date=20 January 2017 | issn=1944-0049 | doi=10.1080/19440049.2016.1274431|doi-access=free| pages=335–355| pmid=28004607 }}</ref>

====India====
The Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 in India generally permits eight artificial colorings in food:<ref name="FSSA,2006">{{cite book |title=Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006,Rules 2011, Regulations 2011|page=483 |edition=14th |year=2015 |publisher=International Law Book Company, India |location=Delhi}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! SL No. !! Color !! Common name !! INS No. !! Chemical class
|-
| 1 || Red || Ponceau 4R ||  124 || Azo
|-
|  || || Carmoisine || 122 || Azo
|-
|  ||  || Erythrosine || 127 || Xanthene
|-
| 2 || Yellow || Tartrazine || 102 || Pyrazolone
|-
|  ||  || Sunset yellow FCF || 110 || Azo
|-
| 3 || Blue || Indigo carmine || 132 || Indigoid
|-
|  ||  || Brilliant blue FCF || 133 || Triarylmethane
|-
| 4 || Green || Fast green FCF || 143 || Triarylmethane
|}

====United States====
[[File:Margarine.jpg|thumb|The addition of food coloring, such as beta-carotene, gives naturally white [[margarine]] a yellow, butter-like color.<ref>Ian P. Freeman, "Margarines and Shortenings" Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2005, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim {{doi|10.1002/14356007.a16_145}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Rupp R|title=The Butter Wars: When Margarine Was Pink|url=http://theplate.nationalgeographic.com/2014/08/13/the-butter-wars-when-margarine-was-pink/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923013541/http://theplate.nationalgeographic.com/2014/08/13/the-butter-wars-when-margarine-was-pink/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2014|publisher=The Plate: National Geographic|access-date=10 November 2020|date=13 August 2014}}</ref>]]

The FDA permitted colors are classified as subject to certification or exempt from certification in Code of Federal Regulations – Title 21 Part 73 & 74,<ref>[http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_01/21cfr73_01.html Code of Federal Regulations – Title 21 Part 73 & 74] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023193622/http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_01/21cfr73_01.html|date=October 23, 2008}}</ref> both of which are subject to rigorous safety standards prior to their approval and listing for use in foods.<ref name=fda23/><ref>{{cite magazine |last1= Barrows |first1= Julie N. |last2= Lipman |first2= Arthur L. |last3= Bailey |first3= Catherine J. |editor1-last= Cianci |editor1-first= Sebastian |title= Color Additives: FDA's Regulatory Process and Historical Perspectives |url= http://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/magazine-archive1/octobernovember-2003/color-additives-fdas-regulatory-process-and-historical-perspectives/ |magazine= Food Safety Magazine |publisher= Food Safety Magazine |issue= October/November 2003 |access-date= 24 July 2016 }}</ref>

In the United States, [[Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act|FD&C]] numbers (which indicate that the FDA has approved the colorant for use in foods, drugs and cosmetics) are given to approved synthetic food dyes that do not exist in nature.

Currently permitted synthetic colorants include the following seven artificial colorings (the most common in bold).<ref name="fda-ing">{{cite web |title=Types of Food Ingredients |url=https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-and-gras-ingredients-information-consumers/types-food-ingredients |publisher=US Food and Drug Administration |access-date=25 June 2024 |date=6 July 2023}}</ref> The [[Lake pigment|lakes]] of these colorings are also permitted except the lake of Red No. 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ColorAdditives/ColorAdditiveInventories/ucm106626.htm |title=US FDA Color Additive Status List |publisher=Fda.gov |access-date=2018-07-16}}</ref> The [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services]] is looking to phase out all of these by 2026 (2027 for Red No. 3), and the [[Food and Drug Administration]] is planning on authorizing four new colorings before then.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/22/rfk-jr-food-artificial-dye-food-supply/83211595007/# |title= Eight artificial dyes will be phased out of US food supply, Health Secretary RFK Jr. says| publisher=USA Today |access-date=2025-04-23}}</ref>
* '''[[FD&C#Food coloring|FD&C]] Blue No. 1''' – [[Brilliant blue FCF]], E133 (blue shade)
* FD&C Blue No. 2 – [[Indigo carmine|Indigotine]], E132 ([[indigo]] shade)
* FD&C Green No. 3 – [[Fast green FCF]], E143 (turquoise shade)
* FD&C Red No. 3 – [[Erythrosine]], E127 (pink shade, commonly used in [[glacé cherries]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00063.html |title=Red No. 3 and Other Colorful Controversies |access-date=2007-08-26 |quote=FDA terminated the provisional listings for FD&C Red No. 3 on January 29, 1990, at the conclusion of its review of the 200 straight colors on the 1960 provisional list. |publisher=FDA |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070809080710/https://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00063.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-08-09}}</ref>
* '''FD&C Red No. 40''' – [[Allura red AC]], E129 (red shade)
* '''FD&C Yellow No. 5''' – [[Tartrazine]], E102 (yellow shade)
* '''FD&C Yellow No. 6''' – [[Sunset yellow FCF]], E110 (orange shade)

Two dyes are allowed by the FDA for limited applications:
<!-- Not a typo. Orange B is red-colored and Citrus Red 2 is orange-colored. -->
* [[Citrus red 2]] (orange shade) – allowed only to color orange peels.
* [[Orange B]] (red shade) – allowed only for use in [[hot dog]] and [[sausage]] casings (not produced after 1978, but not delisted)

Many dyes have been delisted for a variety of reasons, ranging from poor coloring properties to regulatory restrictions.<ref name=fdc>{{cite news |title=News of Food; U.S. May Outlaw Dyes Used to Tint Oranges and Other Foods |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1954/01/19/archives/news-of-food-u-s-may-outlaw-dyes-used-to-tint-oranges-and-other.html |quote=The use of artificial colors to make foods more attractive to the eye may be sharply curtailed by action of the United States Food and Drug Administration. Three of the most extensively used food colorants are being considered for removal from the Government's list of colors certified as safe for internal and external use and consumption. |newspaper=New York Times |date=January 19, 1954}}{{subscription required|s}}</ref> Some of these delisted food colorants are:

* FD&C Red No. 2 – [[Amaranth (dye)|Amaranth]], E123
* FD&C Red No. 4 – [[Scarlet GN]], E125<ref name=eb/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?FR=81.10 |title=CFR Title 21 Part 81.10: Termination of provisional listings of color additives |publisher=Accessdata.fda.gov |access-date=2018-07-16}}</ref>
* [[Sudan II|FD&C Red No. 32]] was used to color Florida oranges.<ref name=fdc/><ref name=eb/><ref>{{Citation |editor-last= Deshpande |editor-first= S.S. |title= Handbook of Food Toxicology |publisher= CRC Press |series= Food Science and Technology |year= 2002 |chapter= 8.5.3 Toxicological Characteristics of Colorants Subject to Certification |page= 234 |isbn= 9780824707606|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mk-IdNTTJB0C&pg=PA234 }}</ref>
* [[Orange 1|FD&C Orange Number 1]] was one of the first water-soluble dyes to be commercialized, and one of seven original food dyes allowed under the [[Pure Food and Drug Act]] of June 30, 1906.<ref name=fdc/><ref name=eb>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Food coloring |url=https://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9034796|quote=Among the colours that have been "delisted," or disallowed, in the United States are FD&C Orange No. 1; FD&C Red No. 32; FD&C Yellows No. 1, 2, 3, and 4; FD&C Violet No. 1; FD&C Red No. 2; and FD&C Red No. 4. Many countries with similar food colouring controls (including Canada and Great Britain) also ban the use of Red No. 40, and Yellow No. 5 is also undergoing testing.|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|access-date=2007-08-21 }}</ref>
* [[FD&C Orange No. 2]] was used to color Florida oranges.<ref name=fdc/>
* [[FD&C Yellow No. 1]], [[FD&C Yellow No. 2|2]], [[FD&C Yellow No. 3|3]], and [[FD&C Yellow No. 4|4]]<ref name=eb/>
* [[FD&C Violet No. 1]]<ref name=eb/>