Feel Colorful? Let's see what is inside your foods!

Food coloring is added to change the color of any food substance. It is mainly for sensory analysis purposes. It can be used to simulate the natural color of a product as awared by the customer, such as red dye like FD&C Red No.40 (Allura Red AC) to ketchup or to add unnatural colors to certain product like Kellogg's Froot Loops. Caramel is a natural food dye which is the most widely used food coloring and is found in food from soft drinks, soy sauce, bread, pickles and so on. 

Food coloring consists of two types, nature food coloring and artificial food coloring. Not all food coloring are safe to eat, neither nature nor artificial. Nature food coloring usually obtain from nature, mostly from plants, example, from seeds, flowers and so on. Those below are the sample of food coloring and its sources:

Sample of food coloring	Color	Sources
Annatto (E160b)	Reddish-orange	Seeds of achiote
Betanin (E162)	Brick red	Beetroot
Butterfly pea	Blue	Clitoria Ternatea
Caramel coloring (E150)	Brown	Caramelized sugar
Chlorophyllin (E140)	Green	Chlorella algae
Elderberry juice	Dark purple	Elderberry
Lycopene (E160d)	Tomato red	Tomato
Cochineal (E120)	Red	Dactylopius coccus
Pandan	Green	Pandanus amaryllifolius
Paprika (E160c)	Red	Paprika
Curcuminoids (E100)	Yellowish-orange	Turmeric

BETANIN

Betanin is a red glycosidic food dye that can be obtained from beets. Its aglycone which is called betanidin is obtained by hydrolyzing away the glucose molecule. Betanin degrades when situated under light, heat and oxygen. Therefore, it is used in frozen products, product with short shelf life or products sold in dry state. 

Its source is red beetroot. It is available in concentrated solutions produced by evaporating beet juice under vacuum or as powders made by spraying-drying the concentrated solutions.

Betanin can survive pasteurization when in products with high sugar content. Pasteurisation is a process of heating food to a specific temperature for a predefined length of time and then immediately cooling it after it is removed from the heat. This process slows spoilage caused by microbial growth in the food. The sensitivity of betanin to oxygen is the highest in the products with high content of water or containing cation like iron ion or copper ion. With antioxidants like ascorbic acid and sequestrants can slow down this process together with suitable packaging. Dry packaging is more stable with the presence of oxygen. The color of betanin depends on pH. Usually it will be bright bluish-red between pH of 4 and 5. It will becoming blue-violet as the pH increases. Once the pH reaches alkaline level, it will degrades by hydrolysis, resulting in a yellowish-brown color.

Betanin can be used for coloring meat and sausages. Besides, betanin is commonly 

used in coloring ice cream and powdered soft drink beverages. It also used in some sugar confectionery which are fondants, sugar strands, sugar coatings and so on. In hot processed candies, it can be used if it is added at the final part of candy-processing. Betanin is used in soups as well as tomato and bacon products. Betanin has nearly no potential as allergen. It is very suitable as a food coloring.

This is the chemical structure of betanin. It’s functional group is mainly –OH group. It is an aromatic compound due to it conjugated planar ring systems.Its IUPAC name is (2S)-4-((2S)-2-carboxy-2,3-dihydro-5-(β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyloxy)-6-hydroxy-1H-indol-1-yl)ethenyl)-2,3-dihydro-2,6-pyridinedi-carboxylic acid or 4-(2-(2-carboxy-5-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-2,3-dihydro-6-hydroxy-1H-indol-1-yl)ethenyl)-2,3-dihydro-(S-(R*,R*))-2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid. 

According to the chemical structure of betanin, it is an organic compound that contains a glycoside of indolium-2-carboxylic acid attached, with the nitrogen ring of the indolium ring attached to an ethylpyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid derivative. Betanin pigment structurally belong to red-violet betacyanins which represent a class of N-heterocyclic water soluble plant pigments that provide the colors in a wide variety of fruits and flowers. 

Betanin also provide health benefits to human. According to a research, it said that betanin can reduce chronic myeloid leukemia cell by it contained an apoptotic characteristics. It is also can partially help in curing breast cancer. Betanin can also inhibits the production of lipid hydroperoxides in human LDL submitted to a MPO/nitrite-induced oxidation. Betanin always act as healthy food additive and an antioxidants.

CHLOROPHYLLIN

Chlorophyllin is one of any of a group of closely related water-soluble salts that are semi-synthetic derivatives of chlorophyll, differing in the identity of the cations associated with the anion. It most common form is a sodium/copper derivative. As a food coloring agent, copper complex chlorophyllin is known as natural green 3. Chlorophyllin displays some technological advantages over chlorophyll, such as greater hydrophilicity and tinctorial power and higher stability towards acid and light. With those advantages, it is suitable as food coloring. 

Chlorophyllin it source is chlorella algae. Chlorophyllin copper complex is an isolate derived from nature sources. Differ from native plant chlorophyll, chlorophyllin copper complex is a water soluble molecule. Its water solubility is believed to enhance the bioavailability of chlorophyll.

Copper chlorophyllin is formed by the saponification of chlorophyll molecules in an alkaline medium containing methanolic sodium hydroxide, leading to isocyclic ring opening and phytyl group removal. Saponification is the process of  triglycerides react with sodium or potassium hydroxide to produce glycerol and a fatty acid salt. The use of saponification process in producing copper chlorophyllin is to removes the methyl and cyclophytol ester groups and may partially cleave the pentenyl ring. Magnesium is then removed and replaced with a copper atom using copper sulfate in an acidic medium., which gives chlorophyllin the desired chemical stability. Besides copper, divalent cations such as iron and zinc can also be used. However, copper still remains the most commonly used cation.

This is the structure of a copper chlorophyllin. It consists of a copper ion in the middle of the structure. Once again, it is a water-soluble sodium copper salt, which means it is a stable compound. It IUPAC name is 5-(2-carboxyethyl)-7-(carboxymethyl)-19-ethenyl-14-ethyl-15-formyl-4,10,20-trimethyl-2$l^{4},22,23$l^{4},25-tetraaza-1-cupraoctacyclo[11.9.1.1^{1,8}.1^{3,21}.0^{2,6}.0^{16,23}.0^{18,22}.0^{11,25}]pentacosa-2,6,8,10,12,14,16(23),17,19,21(24)-decaene-9-carboxylic acid.

Chlorophyllin copper complex has it health benefits. It is an aid to reduce odor from colostomy or ileostomy. It also an aid to reduce fecal odor which due to incontinence and malodors in wounds and surface ulcers. Chlorophyllin has the potential as allergen to certain people.

LYCOPENE

Lycopene is a type of pigment which is carotenoid pigment and a bright red carotene found in tomatoes and other red fruits and as well as vegetables, such as red carrots and so on. But some red fruits and vegetables do not contain lycopene, such as strawberries, red bell peppers and so on. Some fruits and vegetables which is not red in color may also contain lycopene. Lycopene is a type of carotenoid but it does not use to produce vitamin A like any other type of carotenoids do. 

Lycopene is not an essential nutrient to human. However, I various studies, person with diet rich in lycopene is said to have lower risk of having cancer. Lycopene is also claim to be a prevention and treatment of cancer. However, this statement is yet to know, why a single part like lycopene can prevent or treat cancer.

Lycopene is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of many carotenoids such as beta carotene, responsible for yellow, orange or red pigmentation, photosynthesis and photo-protection, in plants, algae and other photosynthetic organisms. Same as other carotenoids, lycopene is a polyunsaturated hydrocarbon which is an unsubstituted alkene. 

This is the chemical structure of lycopene. According to its structure, lycopene is a tetraterpene which is a terpenes consisting of eight isoprene units, same goes to structure of lycopene with eight isoprene units composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen. It is insoluble in water. The eleven conjugated double bonds of lycopene give it its deep red and are responsiblefor its antioxidant activity. It has characteristic of strong color and non-toxicity. Therefore, lycopene is suitable as food coloring. 

Artificial Food Coloring GOOD or POINTLESS ?

Artificial food coloring makes your food look more appealing and desirable. Is those artificial food dye safe as food coloring in food? The answer from the U.S. Food and drug Administration is those food coloring is currently permitted for use but with the must of meeting the strict safety requirements. According to some consumer advocacy groups and recent scientific research, those food dyes is linked to a number of potential health problems, mostly notable such as certain type of cancer in animals, attention-deficit disorder and hyperactivity in children.

ü  Safety Restrictions and Rare Allergic Reactions

According to FoodSafety.gov, the FDA uses the best science available to determine whether food additives are safe. When artificial food colors are approved for use, a number of restrictions are specified, including the types of foods they can be used in, the maximum amounts in which they can be used and how the dyes should be identified on food labels. In addition, all approved food colors are subject to ongoing review, as testing methods continue to improve. FoodSafety.gov does note that while it is rare, some individuals can have allergic reactions to particular food colors. As an example, the FDA found that approximately 1 in 10,000 people could experience hives and itching after consuming the artificial food coloring Yellow No. 5 mostly food coloring that used widely in beverages, desserts, candies and other products.

What You Can Do?

·         Check labels: to avoid products with ingredients lists that include sodium benzoate and artificial colors, colorants, dyes or any of the colorants listed in the sidebar

·         Buy whole, organic foods, which do not contain artificial dyes or sodium benzoate and feed your children lots of whole fruits and vegetables.

·         For cakes and other items, make sure that the food coloring used is natural food dyes such as beets (red), paprika (yellow), red cabbage (blue).

Apply or not? Nail Polish, Nail Polish Remover: Stories Behind Beauty

In this day and age, nail polish has been one of the favour cosmetics for most people around the world. Although most of us will have thought that nail polish is only applicable for females, males nowadays too use nail polish as well! This trend can be seen from most of the American rock stars and Korean idols in their ways of dress up. However, do you know what the story behind a nail polish is?

Nail polish is also known as nail enamel or nails lacquer, it’s used to decorate our fingernails and toenails. Thanks to scientific research, nail polish has evolved throughout the centuries! Most nail polishes in the market today are non-toxic, yet it contains a number of chemicals to make it stronger, flexible, resist chipping and peeling, and long-lasting adhesion to the nail. Do you know? A basic nail polish could be made from nitrocellulose dissolved in solvents such as butyl acetate or ethyl acetate.  Nitrocellulose leaves a shiny, hard film once the solvent has evaporated. 

             Other than that, most nail polishes also contain the following list of ingredients. Have a look to get a better known from it. 
 [Source:http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemicalcomposition/a/Nail-Polish-Chemistry.htm]

1)Solvents and Film-forming agents

nitrocellulose

Solvent is usually used as the main ingredient in a nail polish. They are liquids that used to mix the other ingredients in a nail polish to yield a uniform product. They determined volatile part in nail polish. Once we apply the polish, solvents will evaporate. The amount and type of solvent determines how thick a polish is and how long it takes to dry. For example, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and alcohol. Toluene, xylene and formalin or formaldehyde is toxic chemicals that commonly used in nail polish. Furthermore, film-forming agents are chemicals that form the smooth surface on a coat of nail polish. The most common film former is nitrocellulose. It is basically plastic that dissolves in ethyl acetate. When the solvent evaporates, the plastic will stays on the surface of the nail as a thin coating.

2)Resins and Plasticizers

Dibutyl phthalate

Resins are ingredients that add depth, gloss and hardness to the film of a nail polish. It makes the film adhere to the nail bed. Example of a polymer used as a resin in nail polish is tosylamide-formaldehyde resin. Plasticizers are chemicals that help keep polish flexible and reduce the chance that it will crack or chip. They do this by linking to polymer chains and increasing the distance between them. Dibutyl phthalate and camphor are common plasticizers that used in nail polish. 

manganese violet

3)Dye and Pearlescent pigments

Dye gives color to nail polish. Common pigments of dye include chromium oxide greens, chromium hydroxide, ferric ferrocyanide, manganese violet, iron oxides and other colorants. In the United States, any colors added to nail polish must be certified by the Food and Drug Administration. Nevertheless, nail polish that has a shimmery or glittery effect may contain pearlescent minerals, such as titanium dioxide, ground mica, natural pearls, and aluminum powder. Some polishes may contain bits of plastic glitter or other additives that produce a special effect.

dry ground mica

     The other additional ingredients in nail polishes might be thickening agents, such as stearalkonium hectorite, to maintain the sparkling particles in suspension when in bottle and to make the polish easier to apply. Some polishes contain ultraviolet stabilizers, such as benozophenone-1, that prevent the polish from changing colour exposed to sunlight or other forms of ultraviolet light.

Yet, some nasty chemicals that could cause damage to our health are found in many less expensive nail polishes! 
They are formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and toluene that we had mentioned earlier. Formaldehyde is used as a preservative, a sterilizer, and to embalm bodies. Though it is less commonly included in nail polish these days, it is often added to nail hardeners, and many nail companies include nail hardeners in all of their coloured polishes as an added bonus. In fact, formaldehyde is considered a known carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and has been connected to lung and nasal cancer. Whereas dibutyl phthalate is a chemical used to make plastics that are extra flexible. It has been linked to reproductive issues if the mother is exposed to it while pregnant. Toluene is another scary chemical that often included in nail polish to make it apply more smoothly. Toluene had been known to affect the nervous system and cause dizziness, headaches, eye irritation, nausea, birth defects, developmental abnormalities, and liver and kidney damage. The mentioned chemicals have been banned in European Union and US.

List of toxic-free nail polishes brands: 

[Source:http://www.goddesshuntress.com/2012/03/30/the-list-3-free-and-5-free-nail-polishes/]

No Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, Formaldehyde American Apparel, Butter London, CND, Deborah Lippmann, Essie, Estee Lauder Hard Candy, Lancome, Le Metier, M.A.C. , Nars , Nicole, OPI, Priti NYC , Spa Ritual , Wet ‘n’ Wild

No Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, and Camphor Chanel, Dashing Diva, Dior, Givenchy, Hopscotch Kids, L’Oreal, Nubar, RGB, Scotch Naturals, Uslu Airlines, Zoya

Top coat nail polish 

Basically, there are three types of nail polishes;

• Base coat- used before applying nail polish to the nail, to strengthen nails and restore moisture to the nails. 

Base coat nail polish

Gel type nail polish

• Top coat- used after applying nail polish to the nail, forms hardened barrier for the nails.

• Gel- long lasting type of nail polish, painted on the nail like a regular polish, and does not dry unless it is "set" under an ultraviolet or LED lamp.

I’m pretty sure many of us know that nail polish can be removed by nail polish remover, but how many of us know what it is made of? So now I will talk about the “story” behind and how it works as a nail polish remover. In contrast to nail polish, nail polish remover is an organic solvent that used to remove nail polish. It is normally produced from a composition of acetone C3H6O, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, glycerine, cetyl acetate, phthalic anhydride and oil. It might also contain some vitamin to strengthen the nails. Some nail polish remover contain Aloe Vera in protects and conditions the nails.  

Here comes a question, HOW IT WORKS?

There is actually no chemical reaction in removing nail polish, as nail polish remover is just an organic solvent that is used as an ingredient in the nail polish. In other word, both contain the similar organic solvents. The organic solvent in a nail polish keeps it in a liquid state while a solvent in a remover dissolves the hardened polish and returns it back into its liquid form. Thus, the process of dissolving a hardened nail polish is like putting it back into its original form as when it was applied to a nail. When the remover is applied onto the hardened nail polish, the solvent molecules such as ethyl acetate or acetone interrupt, loosen, and eventually break the polymer chains of the polish. This dissolves the hardened polish and transforms it back into its original liquid form so that it can be wiped off the nail with a cotton ball or tissue. 

Acetone nail polish remover

Non-acetone nail polish remover

Two types of nail polish removers; acetone and non-acetone. Not all nail polishes can be removed by the same remover. For instance, gel nail polish can only be removed by acetone nail polish remover. 

In a nutshell, using nail polish is an unavoidable routine to most people. Be aware that choosing the right types of nail polishes that won't cause health problem is the responsibilities to any people with health conscious. As a result, make sure that the nail polish you purchased doesn't contain harmful chemicals as been highlighted in the paragraph above.