Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) roles is to assure that color additives are safely and appropriately used.Ĭolor additives are classified as straight colors, lakes, and mixtures. Added color serves as a kind of code that allows us to identify products on sight, like candy flavors, medicine dosages, and left or right contact lenses. Color additives are important components of many products, making them attractive, appealing, appetizing, and informative.

Reprinted from Food Safety Magazine October/November 2003 issueĪ color additive, as defined by regulation, is any dye, pigment, or other substance that can impart color to a food, drug, or cosmetic or to the human body.