A Texas sweet firm switched to pure dyes — however it wasn’t simple

Pure dyes, that are derived from vegetation, produce, spices and minerals, haven’t been scrutinized as intently by researchers for his or her well being affect or the potential for contamination, consultants say. They’re additionally not topic to the identical stringent testing necessities as artificial dyes. That has raised issues amongst some meals consultants and client advocates in regards to the unintended penalties of this shift — and whether or not it is going to really make meals safer and more healthy.

“The necessary factor to recollect with all colours, whether or not synthetic or natural, is that they’re nothing greater than advertising and marketing instruments for meals firms, to make meals look a sure approach,” stated Thomas Galligan, a toxicologist who works for the Heart for Science within the Public Curiosity, an advocacy group. “On the finish of the day, they aren’t strictly vital. And so it’s necessary to weigh the chance in opposition to 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 for the reason that 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 substances that we simply went forward and went there,” he stated.

He knew how vital 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 business that style is king, however shade 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 duplicate 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 making an attempt beets earlier than selecting radishes. However they later found that the colour light below LED mild. This 12 months, they switched once more to annatto, a preferred pure colorant made out of 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 notably pungent dye made out of purple cabbages that smelled like rotting rubbish, although the odor shortly 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 substances that kind pure dyes are ceaselessly 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 shade on the time, sending the corporate scrambling for 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 fruit and veggies. Carmine, a vibrant purple colorant, is made out of 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 usually imply greater costs: One main dye producer lately estimated that pure dyes price about 10 occasions 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 completely happy in regards to the new formulation of a basic sweet.

“We had loads of pushback once we went to the pure colours,” stated Atkinson. “A lot of the suggestions that we received was, ‘Give up altering our Chick-O-Stick.’”

Nonetheless, gross sales stayed regular, Atkinson stated.