The use of dyes and colour additives has been a part of Indian culture for 5000 years. Pigments derived from plants, minerals or animal products were used to add colour to textiles and other products. Since then, products that include dyes are countless; everything from food products to paint to clothing contains some type of colour additive. As technology advanced, other substances were introduced as colouring agents; unfortunately, in the process of discovering what additives are good for colouring, many mistakes were made. Toxic substances such as arsenic, mercury and lead were some of those mistakes. Today, synthetic dyes are more common than natural, as they are easier and less expensive to manufacture and easier to maintain uniform colours.

Although the majority of dyes and colour additives are currently synthetically manufactured, there are ever-growing concerns about the use of some of the colourings; some of those concerns are health related, for example, certain colour additives are thought to negatively affect those with asthma or allergies. Government regulations on these substances vary from country to country, but are becoming more uniform as our economy continues to be more and more global. These health concerns have also led to a re-examination of centuries-old colouring agents as a safer alternative. Though production of natural colourings is still much more expensive than synthetic, scientists and chemists are working continuously to find a way to make use of those natural products more cost-effective; and synthetic colourings continue to be improved upon as well.

www.foodsafetydubai.com/eng/prevconf/files/Day2_Symp_PRJ.ppt
http://trade.indiamart.com/details.mp?offer=1258979933
http://www.antya.com/topic/color-additives