Common Additives in Candy
Colors, sweeteners, glazing agents in confectionery.
Why these additives?
Candy relies heavily on food additives to achieve its vibrant colors, sweet taste, and glossy appearance. Artificial colors like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1 are the most common — and most controversial — additives in confectionery. Sweeteners range from sugar and high fructose corn syrup to sugar-free alternatives like aspartame and sucralose. Glazing agents give candies their shiny coating.
Natural yellow color from turmeric
Yellow color, also a vitamin
Yellow dye. EU requires warning label: may have adverse effect on activity and attention in children
Red dye. Formerly used, now delisted in EU
EU requires warning label for children
Yellow azo dye. Delisted, not permitted in EU
Yellow azo dye. Withdrawn from EU approved list in 2007
Orange-yellow dye. EU warning label required
Orange dye. Delisted in EU
Red color derived from insects
Red dye. Not permitted in EU. Approved in US only for orange peel coloring
Red dye. EU warning label required
Red dye. Banned in US (Red No. 2). Limited use in EU
Red dye. EU warning label required. Banned in US
Red dye. Formerly used, now delisted
Red dye. Delisted in EU
Red dye. Limited to cocktail cherries in EU
Red dye. Withdrawn from EU in 2007 over safety concerns
Red dye (Red 40 in US). EU warning label required
Blue dye. Delisted in EU
Blue dye. Not approved in US
Blue dye
Blue dye (Blue 1 in US)
Natural green color from plants
Stable green color
Green dye. Not approved in US, Canada, Japan, or Norway
Green dye. Approved in US (FD&C Green No. 3) but not in EU
Approved in US as FD&C Green No. 3. Not approved in EU
Generic entry for caramel colors. See E150a-E150d for specific classes
Brown color from heated sugar
Brown color
Brown color used in cola drinks
Brown color
Black dye. Not approved in US
Black color
Brown dye. Only for kippers in UK. Not in US
Brown dye. Not approved in US
Orange color from carrots
Orange-red from annatto seeds
Red-orange from paprika