Two blue food colors—Brilliant Blue (E133) and Patent Blue (E131)—commonly used in candy and authorized for use in the European Union disrupt cell metabolism when they are absorbed into the bloodstream, according to a new study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology.
Researchers at the Slovak University of Technology who conducted the study are asking candy makers to stop using the blue colors in lollipops and hard candies because they may pose health risks to children by having extended contact with the mucous membranes of the tongue.
For the study, the researchers exposed ex vivo pig tongues to human saliva containing 15,000 ng/cm2 of each color for 20 minutes. After 24 hours, they found 34 ng/cm2 of Brilliant Blue and 86 ng/cm2 of Patent Blue can be directly absorbed into the blood system.
In 2010, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) re-evaluated the safety of Brilliant Blue and revised the acceptable daily intake (ADI) to 10 mg/kg bw/day. The ADI for Patent Blue is 15 mg/kg bw/day.
The food industry uses certified (artificial) and “exempt" (natural) colorants to meet consumer expectations, enhance their products, and maintain consistency in the face of seasonal and regional variability of the natural ingredients.
