What is a Color Additive?
Technically, a color additive is any dye, pigment or substance that can impart color when added or applied to a food, drug, cosmetic or to the human body. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating all color additives used in the United States. All color additives permitted for use in foods are classified as “certifiable” or “exempt from certification” (see Table I). Certifiable color additives are manmade, with each batch being tested by manufacturer and FDA. This “approval” process, known as color additive certification, assures the safety, quality, consistency and strength of the color additive prior to its use in foods. There are nine certified colors approved for use in food in the United States. One example is FD&C Yellow No.6, which is used in cereals, bakery goods, snack foods and other foods. Color additives that are exempt from certification include pigments derived from natural sources such as vegetables, minerals or animals, and man-made counterpar
