Colorants

53 ingredients in this category. Each entry is a short, plain-language summary drawn from public sources.

Activated Carbon

Activated carbon (activated charcoal) is a highly porous form of carbon used for...

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is a form of carbon processed to be highly porous. Used as a ...

Adipic Acid

Adipic acid is a dicarboxylic acid that provides a smooth, mild acidic taste dif...

Allura Red

Allura Red (E129, FD&C Red 40) is a synthetic red azo dye, the most widely used ...

Amylase

Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into sugars, naturally present in s...

Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are natural pigments found in berries, grapes, red cabbage, and oth...

Beet Juice

Beet juice is a natural coloring derived from red beets. Provides pink to red co...

Beta-Alanine

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that combines with histidine to form ...

Blue 2

Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine, Indigotine) is a synthetic dye used to give foods a blue...

Brilliant Blue

Brilliant Blue (E133, FD&C Blue 1) is a synthetic triarylmethane dye providing b...

Caramel

Plain caramel (Class I) is made by heating sugar without ammonia or sulfites, th...

Caramel III

Caramel III (ammonia caramel, E150c) is made by heating sugar with ammonia compo...

Caramel IV

Caramel IV (sulfite ammonia caramel, E150d) is made with both ammonia and sulfit...

Carmine

Carmine (cochineal extract) is a natural red dye derived from cochineal insects....

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is the natural green pigment in plants. Used as a natural food color...

Chlorophyllin

Chlorophyllin is a water-soluble derivative of chlorophyll, the green pigment in...

Citrulline Malate

Citrulline malate is a compound of L-citrulline and malic acid used to improve e...

Citrus Red 2

Citrus Red 2 is a synthetic dye used exclusively to color orange peels to enhanc...

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is extracted from coconut meat. High in saturated fat, primarily lau...

Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a group of fatty acids found naturally in meat...

Elderberry Extract

Elderberry extract is derived from Sambucus berries, traditionally used for immu...

Erythrosine

Erythrosine (E127, FD&C Red 3) is a cherry-pink synthetic dye containing iodine.

Ethoxyquin

Ethoxyquin is a synthetic antioxidant primarily used in animal feed, with limite...

Ferric Pyrophosphate

Ferric pyrophosphate is a water-insoluble iron compound used in food fortificati...

Ginger Extract

Ginger extract is derived from Zingiber officinale root, used as a flavoring and...

Glucono Delta-Lactone

Glucono delta-lactone (GDL) is a naturally occurring food additive that slowly r...

Green 3

Green 3 (Fast Green FCF) is a synthetic triarylmethane dye that provides blue-gr...

HMB

HMB (β-Hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid) is a metabolite of leucine studied for musc...

L-Theanine

L-Theanine is an amino acid found primarily in tea leaves. Promotes relaxation w...

Lactase

Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose (milk sugar) into glucose and gala...

Magnesium Stearate

Magnesium stearate is a magnesium salt of stearic acid commonly used as a flow a...

Milk Protein Concentrate

Milk protein concentrate (MPC) contains both casein and whey proteins from milk ...

Oat Beta-Glucan

Oat beta-glucan is a soluble fiber found in oat bran, known for cholesterol-lowe...

Olive Oil

Olive oil is extracted from olives. Extra virgin is minimally processed; other g...

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) are essential fats found in fatty fish, import...

Paprika Extract

Paprika extract (paprika oleoresin) is a natural coloring derived from red peppe...

Patent Blue V

Patent Blue V (E131) is a synthetic triarylmethane dye used in foods and as a me...

Phytosterols

Phytosterols (plant sterols and stanols) are plant compounds that reduce cholest...

Polydextrose

Polydextrose is a synthetic polymer of glucose used as a low-calorie bulking age...

Ponceau 4R

Ponceau 4R (E124) is a synthetic red azo dye used in foods, also known as Cochin...

Powdered Cellulose

Powdered cellulose is purified, mechanically disintegrated cellulose used as a f...

Red 3

Red 3 (Erythrosine) is a synthetic cherry-pink dye used in foods and medications...

Sodium Aluminum Silicate

Sodium aluminum silicate is a synthetic compound used as an anticaking agent in ...

Spirulina Extract

Spirulina extract is a natural blue-green coloring derived from spirulina algae....

Sunset Yellow

Sunset Yellow (E110, FD&C Yellow 6) is a synthetic orange-yellow azo dye commonl...

Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid found in meat and fish. Common ingredient in energy dri...

Transglutaminase

Transglutaminase (TGase, "meat glue") is an enzyme that bonds proteins together,...

Tricalcium Silicate

Tricalcium silicate is an inorganic compound used to prevent caking and as a car...

Turmeric Extract

Turmeric extract contains curcumin and other curcuminoids with antioxidant and a...

Yellow 10

Yellow 10 (Quinoline Yellow) is a synthetic dye that provides a greenish-yellow ...

Yellow 5

Tartrazine (E102, FD&C Yellow 5) is a synthetic lemon-yellow azo dye used widely...

Yellow 6

Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) is a synthetic azo dye used to give foods an orange...

Zinc Gluconate

Zinc gluconate is a zinc salt of gluconic acid commonly used in supplements and ...