Red40 is a food coloring that is commonly used in a variety of foods and beverages, including cakes, candies, sports drinks and some medications. Although there are many different brands of food coloring available, Red40 is one of the most popular due to its ability to provide a vibrant, long-lasting red color.
So, how red 40 is made? You start with a chemical compound called 4-amino-2-phenylazo-1,3-diphenylazo-1,3-methyl diphenylide, which is an organic molecule with a complex structure. This molecule undergoes a chemical process known as “synthesis” to become Red40.
First, the compound is mixed with other chemicals and heated to a specific temperature for a specified period of time. Then, an alkaline solution is added and stirred vigorously to mix the ingredients. This helps form the chemical bonds necessary to convert the compound to Red40.
Once the synthesis process is complete, the resulting Red40 is filtered to remove any impurities and packaged for use in the food industry. It is often mixed with other chemicals to create different shades of red and added to foods and beverages to give them a more attractive color.
The downside of consuming this artificial coloring comes from the numerous studies that cite consumption of this dye with behavioral disorders in children and even certain types of cancer that have been directly linked to it.
Due to the concerns of consumers about the results of these investigations is that this trend of consumption of natural products arises, where the carmine has become the main actor that replaces the red 40.
At IMBAREX we have a wide portfolio of natural dyes suitable for use in all types of products, perfectly replacing those of artificial origin. Contact us here so that our staff of experts can help you choose the right colorant for your product.
