What are the categories of dyes?

A dye is a chemical substance used to provide color on food and other objects. According to their sources and properties, dyes can be classified into the following categories:

Natural pigments: Colors extracted from natural plants, fruits, animals, and other sources, such as carotene, lutein, sesamin, etc. Natural pigments are generally safer, but relatively rare and expensive.

Synthetic pigments: Pigments synthesized through chemical reactions, such as nitroso aniline, aniline red, etc. The production process of synthetic pigments may produce some by-products, so they should be used with caution.

Chromates, also known as synthetic food pigments, are widely used in foods such as candy, chocolate, and beverages.

Metal pigment: This pigment mainly exists in the form of metal powder in food, such as aluminum metal. It can be applied to food through special processing methods, such as candy, bread, etc.

Oil soluble and water soluble dyes: This pigment is widely used in food and beverages, and its advantage is that it can provide various colors with minimal addition.

In short, different types of dyes have different characteristics and application scenarios, but we should pay attention to maintaining moderate consumption to avoid adverse effects on the body.