{"id":6232,"date":"2023-10-12T15:04:46","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T15:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpdev.bigredstar.uk\/?resources_content=new-resources-content-title-35"},"modified":"2026-07-16T13:08:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T13:08:50","slug":"new-resources-content-title-35","status":"publish","type":"resources_content","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.keylink.org\/?resources_content=new-resources-content-title-35","title":{"rendered":"Food colouring guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Last updated July 2026<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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In our long experience of supplying colouring products for chocolatiers and bakers, we find they tend to fall into two categories:<\/span><\/p>

  1. Those who prefer to use natural colours<\/span><\/li>
  2. Those who want their chocolate creations to be as bright and colourful as possible!<\/span><\/li><\/ol>
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    Food colourants themselves have a colourful history, with plenty of myths mixed in with the science. \u2018E-numbers\u2019 have become synonymous with negative side-effects, such as hyperactivity in children and long-term health implications. A trend towards more balanced, nutrition-led lifestyles has caused many to investigate more natural colourants. M&S was one major retailer that led the charge.<\/span><\/p>

    At exactly the same time, a growing appetite for Instagrammable food means that many of the treats we buy have been getting bolder, brighter, and more indulgent (think freakshakes and scrumptious, OTT cupcake toppings) …and chocolates and baked goods are no exception. A quick scroll through the chocolate wonders on Instagram will tell you that vibrant, super-shiny chocolates get the most engagement. In a world that takes something pretty special to stop the scroll, bright colours and innovative decoration shout the loudest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    It\u2019s a fast-moving area, too: 2025 and 2026 have brought the biggest wave of change to food colour in a generation, from Nestl\u00e9\u2019s global pledge to go artificial-free to a phase-out of synthetic dyes across the Atlantic \u2014 so we\u2019ve updated this guide to cover what\u2019s new.<\/p>

    As for which colourant route is right for your business, knowledge is power. Read on for the lowdown on what colourants are, what they <\/span>aren\u2019t<\/span><\/i>, and which you can and can\u2019t legally use in chocolate work*.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Everything you need to know about creating amazing colours in chocolate and patisserie.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    First of all, what is food colouring?\n<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Food colours, which are considered additives, can be any dye, pigment or other substance that can impart colour into food, but that cannot be consumed as a food product in their own right. E-numbers are a classification system, so all additives that are suitable for use in food have an E-number, issued by the European Safety Authority (EFSA). This means that even carrot or beetroot – when used as colourants – have e-numbers assigned to them.<\/span><\/p>

    Read more about the\u00a0<\/span>history and science\u00a0<\/span>behind food\u00a0<\/span>colourings<\/span>\u00a0in the BBC Sci<\/span>ence Focus article,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>E numbers, synthetic food\u00a0<\/span>dyes<\/span>\u00a0and the problem of policing additives<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    What are synthetic food colours and are they bad?\n<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Synthetic food colours are chemically synthesised. They tend to have superior colouring properties and are less sensitive to light. Whether they are considered \u2018bad\u2019 depends on whether you are happy to use non-naturally derived additives in your products. In any case, these colours are subject to EU regulations (more on this below).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    The Mona Lisa colouring products from Keylink mention \u2018AZO\u2019 and \u2018NON-AZO\u2019. What does that mean?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    AZO colours are synthetic food colours that contain a double nitrogen binding as part of their structure. In chemistry, this N=N group is called an AZO group. AZO groups do not occur naturally; they are always synthetic. AZO colours have a good technical performance in terms of migration, thermostability and sensitivity to light. They are brighter than NON-AZO colours. <\/span><\/p>

    NON-AZO colours do not contain an N=N (AZO) group. They are more sensitive to heat and light than AZO colours and are not as bright. NON-AZO colours can be synthetic or \u201cfrom natural origin\u201d. <\/span><\/p>

    The terms AZO and non-AZO are starting to disappear from colourant terminology now, because the two definitions can cause confusion. For now, they remain on some products on our site because long-term customers have grown used to their meanings.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    What does \u201cfrom natural origin\u201d mean?\n<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \u201cFrom natural origin\u201d food colours are made from an extraction of a vegetable, animal or mineral source. They are more sensitive to light and heat. They can also be ingredients which give both flavour and colour.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    What about Southampton colours?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    This is a group of six colours (five AZO and one NON-AZO) that have been determined in a study published by the University of Southampton to increase hyperactive behaviour in children. When using Southampton colours, European legislation requires you to mention the following on the label of your final product: \u201cMay have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.\u201d Many food manufacturers have now distanced themselves from these colours, so it\u2019s now actually quite uncommon to find them in foodstuffs.<\/span><\/p>

    The Southampton colours are:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Sunset Yellow<\/span><\/td>\nE110<\/span><\/td>\nAllura Red AC<\/span><\/td>\nE129<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Quinoline Yellow<\/span><\/td>\nE104<\/span><\/td>\nTartrazine<\/span><\/td>\nE102<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Carmoisine<\/span><\/td>\nE122<\/span><\/td>\nPonceau 4R<\/span><\/td>\nE124<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    It\u2019s legal, so why does my buyer say no?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    If you supply retailers, you may find the law is only half the story. The Southampton\u00a0colours\u00a0remain legal in the UK (with the warning label above), but most major retailers\u2019 codes of practice exclude them from own-label products anyway \u2014 especially celebration cakes and anything aimed at children.\u00a0So,\u00a0a product can be perfectly legal and still be turned away by a buyer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    Own-label ranges also show where retail is heading. M&S \u2014 long a leader on natural colours \u2014 launched its \u2018Only\u2026\u2019 range in 2025, made with no artificial colours or preservatives, and it’s a clear signal for where own-label food is going next. If you sell (or hope to sell) through retail, it pays to know your buyer\u2019s colour policy as well as the law.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Are all E-numbers bad?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    No. E-numbers are simply a system for identifying all additives that have been specifically approved by the EU for use in food, and cover all of them, from those thought to induce hyperactive behaviour in children to nature-derived additives, such as carotene.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Right, that\u2019s food colouring. What are colouring foods?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Colouring foods are ingredients that can be used to add colour. The essential characteristics of their source are maintained, and there is no selective extraction involved. All colouring foods have no E-number label. Tomato concentrate, coffee, cocoa, spinach and spirulina, for example, are all colouring foods. You can use them as they are, and they will impart colour into food products. Because they are not unnaturally processed, they have the benefits of being natural, but they do have limited technical performance.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    How do I know how much of a food colouring I can safely and legally use?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Regulation EC 1333\/2008<\/strong><\/a> sets the rules on food additives: definitions, conditions of use, labelling and procedures. The legislation lists all E-numbers and indicates their conditions of use. The UK may no longer be in the EU, but until new specific legislation is issued, Regulation EC 1333\/2008 still applies\u2026 with one or two caveats we\u2019ll explain below.<\/span><\/p>

    Each Keylink product comes with a specification you can download and use to check the additives in the product. Once downloaded, if a spec changes you will be notified automatically so that you can update your labelling.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    The database mentions \u201cquantum satis\u201d for lots of colourants?\n<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    In the Annexes to the above legislation, you will see the term ‘quantum satis’. As much as it may sound like the title of the next Bond movie, it simply means that no maximum level is specified. However, \u201ccolouring matters shall be used according to good manufacturing practice at a level not higher than is necessary to achieve the intended purpose and provided that they do not mislead the customer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

    In other words, use the minimum amount you require to achieve the look you are seeking, use no more than is needed, and be clear to the customer what is contained in the product through labelling the finished product.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Why are artificial colours making headlines in 2026? <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Since this guide was first written, the move away from artificial colours has accelerated dramatically \u2014 led, this time, by the United States.<\/p>