Tomatoes Replace Red-40 Dye

LycoRed has been making natural dyes for about 15 years using carrots or tomatoes. The company recently doubled production of Tomat-O-Red®, its antioxidant-rich lycopene compound from non-genetically modified tomatoes.

Roee Nir, the company’s color and flavor global commercial manager, tells ISRAEL21c that the “Southamptom Six”—Red 40 and five other petroleum-based synthetic food dyes—were found by Southampton University researchers to be linked with childhood reactions including temper tantrums, aggressiveness, kicking, screaming, and a lack of self-control. Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of Red 40, while in adults it might cause nervousness, migraines, or an upset stomach.

LycoRed is the only lycopene producer with FDA approval, and Tomat-O-Red® is expected to transition from the basic foods industry to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Though other Red-40 replacements from the natural world include a dye from beetroot, Nir says these other solutions are not as chemically stable as lycopene and tend to degrade at high temperatures or over time. They are also more susceptible to damage from UV light. For more information: www.lycored.com