fargestoffenes

Fargestoffenes refers to substances that impart color to other materials. They are used across industries, including foods, beverages, cosmetics, textiles, medicines, and printing, to enhance appearance, differentiate products, or indicate ingredients.

They are broadly categorized as natural colorants, derived from plants, minerals, or animals (such as carotenoids, chlorophylls, anthocyanins, and betalains), and synthetic or artificial colorants, produced chemically (including azo and anthraquinone dyes). In the European Union, many colorants used in foods carry E-numbers (for example carotenoids like E160). Cosmetic colorants use separate regulatory codes and INCI names.

Properties vary: solubility can be water- or fat-soluble; many colorants differ in brightness, lightfastness, heat stability, and resistance to pH changes. Natural colorants are often less stable and more sensitive to processing, while synthetic colorants offer strong colors and greater stability but have raised health and environmental questions.

Regulation and safety: Regulatory authorities evaluate safety before approval. In the EU, colorants approved for foods must be listed with an E-number on labels; cosmetics follow separate rules and ingredient listings. Some synthetic colorants have been associated with hypersensitivity in a minority of individuals, and ongoing assessment and safe-use limits remain part of regulatory practice.

History and use: The development of synthetic dyes in the 19th century expanded available colors and reduced dependence on natural sources. Today, colorants are chosen for hue, stability, cost, and regulatory compliance.