Pure dyes, that are derived from crops, produce, spices and minerals, haven’t been scrutinized as intently by researchers for his or her well being influence or the potential for contamination, specialists say. They’re additionally not topic to the identical stringent testing necessities as artificial dyes. That has raised considerations amongst some meals specialists and client advocates concerning the unintended penalties of this shift — and whether or not it would really make meals safer and more healthy.
“The essential factor to recollect with all colours, whether or not man-made or natural, is that they’re nothing greater than advertising instruments for meals firms, to make meals look a sure method,” stated Thomas Galligan, a toxicologist who works for the Middle for Science within the Public Curiosity, an advocacy group. “On the finish of the day, they aren’t strictly mandatory. And so it’s essential to weigh the danger towards the profit.”
Eric Atkinson says he by no means thought artificial dyes have been unsafe. However when he learn the ingredient lists for his firm’s candies, which his household has been making because the Nice Despair, they at all times struck him as misplaced.
About 12 years in the past, the corporate lastly determined to make the leap. “We have been so near being all pure or all easy components that we simply went forward and went there,” he stated.
He knew how essential it was to get the colour proper for the Chick-O-Stick, the corporate’s most recognizable product. All of the packaging for the sweet mimics the colour of the product, which Atkinson describes as “amber.”
“They are saying within the trade that style is king, however coloration is queen,” he stated. “The queen is essential.”
Working with meals scientists for dye producers, the corporate’s high quality management staff began testing mixtures of pure dyes to copy the Chick-O-Stick’s signature hue. After years of testing, they got here up with a mixture of dyes derived from turmeric and vegetable juice — first attempting beets earlier than selecting radishes. However they later found that the colour pale beneath LED mild. This yr, they switched once more to annatto, a preferred pure colorant created from the seeds of the achiote tree.
One other shock was the funky scent that got here from a few of the pure colours. Atkinson remembers one significantly pungent dye created from purple cabbages that smelled like rotting rubbish, although the odor rapidly dissipated when the sweet reached the cooking step, the place it’s heated to over 300 levels.
That wasn’t the top of the challenges. In contrast to artificial dyes, that are simply produced in U.S. labs, the components that kind pure dyes are regularly imported. That introduces a number of complexities, together with logistics, prices and product questions of safety.
In March 2021, a container ship received caught within the Suez Canal, making headlines worldwide. It additionally created a brand new headache for Atkinson: The ship was carrying the radishes used to create the Chick-O-Stick coloration on the time, sending the corporate scrambling for alternate options.
Even with out such obstacles, it may be powerful to seek out sufficient uncooked supplies for pure dyes. It takes a substantial quantity of seasonally grown produce — whether or not it’s radishes, purple cabbages, blueberries or golden beets — to make dyes from vegatables and fruits. Carmine, a vibrant purple colorant, is created from cactus-dwelling bugs in Central and South America; 70,000 of these bugs are required to create simply over 2 kilos of dye.
Sourcing challenges typically imply increased costs: One main dye producer just lately estimated that pure dyes price about 10 instances as a lot because the artificial variations.
After which it may be a matter of convincing shoppers. Although the colour and look of the Chick-O-Stick had remained the identical, not everybody was comfortable concerning the new formulation of a traditional sweet.
“We had lots of pushback after we went to the pure colours,” stated Atkinson. “Many of the suggestions that we received was, ‘Stop altering our Chick-O-Stick.’”
Nonetheless, gross sales stayed regular, Atkinson stated.
