In Europe, 42 consumer groups want the following food colorings banned:

  • E102 Tartrazine
  • E104 Quinoline Yellow
  • E110 Sunset Yellow
  • E122 Carmoisine
  • E124 Ponceau 4R
  • E129 Allura Red

The reason: These food colorings alter the behavior of children while they impart no real benefit to food except to make them more visually attractive.

Wait… isn’t that precisely the purpose of food coloring? To enhance the appearance of food? I don’t remember anyone claiming that they make food more healthy.

It makes more sense to ban the use of food colorings totally and not selectively since the altered appearance of food cheat consumers and push them to buy food based on appearance rather than real nutritional value.