Why do companies use Red 40, when they can use beet juice or come other alternative?

Answer 1

They use it because the other really good red colorings have already been banned. Beet juice only comes close to matching that hue in an acidic environment. Test it for yourself, add some baking soda to beet juice and watch what happens to the color. Beet juice extracts are also (relatively speaking) unstable and break down when exposed to heat, light and oxygen.

That's not to say I support the use of Red#40 and oppose plant based dyes! But you did ask why companies use it, if you're making several million dollars of something are you going to use a stable chemical that will keep your product looking nice for a long time (for example candy can stay good for years) or a plant extract that in several months may fade or change to a different color (like yucky brown)?

Edit:

One other thing, at one time (maybe in the '70s) the FDA banned the main red food dye. Companies *tried* to find an alternative of ANY sort that would work. Nothing (including 'natural' colors) was found that would work and so a lot of red foods went off the market until red#40 came along. What reminded me of that was that I saw a kid eating M&M's and red M&M's were one of the things that went away.

Answer 2

I know... I don't get it. You'd think it's gotta be expensive to round up thousands of beetles and crush them into dye. Synthetics or beet juice or any number of natural dyes seem a much cheaper option... but I must be wrong because the almighty dollar pretty much dictates everything that the big food producers do.

It's just like WHY do almost all national cheese brands use animal rennet instead of vegetable rennet? And why does anyone still test on animals when computer simulated programs have proven more effective AND cheaper?

Answer 3

Cheaper. Red dye is something that the more you buy the cheaper it gets. The companies likely bought alot when they could and won't change till its all used. Most Alternatives you can't get in large quantity so won't be as cheap as Red Dye!

Answer 4

yes its all about money. and im going to say this one more time because I think it really sucks that everyone insists on misinforming everyone else on what Red 40 really is


IT IS NOT COCHINEAL!!! Despite the popular misconception, Allura Red AC is not derived from the cochineal insect. The red coloring carmine, however, is derived from the female Dactylopius coccus, a South and Central American beetle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allura_Red_AC

Caramel color IS NOT COCHINEAL (most of the time its aka corn syrup!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_color



Cochineal can be found under the ingredients E120, carmine, cochineal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal


(Why does this drive me so insane? It shouldnt be a big deal, but I think it really sucks that nobody bothers to do their research. If somebody told me there were bugs in my food, and put there on purpose the first thing I would want to do is check the facts on that. Of course Red 40 isnt good for you, but you have alot of people who struggle with veganism to begin with, to misinform them on something that is widely used and in so many products could completely discourage them (especially the youngins who like their candy fixes). Is it silly for me to get worked up over it? I feel like the red 40 nazi.)

Answer 5

Red 40 is much more delicious then this mythical beet juice

Answer 6

Approximately 36 hours.

Answer 7

Cheap. Commercially available. Approved by the FDA. And 95% of the populace would never notice the difference.

Answer 8

I don't know, but I do know a lot of people are alergic to Red Dye 40.

Answer 9

most likely red 40 is cheaper than other coloring

Answer 10

I have often wondered that too. I make homemade lipstick and lipgloss, and I use the beetroot powder-it turns out great! Too silly that crushed bugs are going into the food supply in this day and age. I also wonder why food coloring of any type is really necessary-do we really need all of our food to be bright red? There is such an amazing assortment of colors in veggies to begin with. I so wish I was the head of the FDA.....heads would roll!!