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Differences Between FD&C & Lake Coloring

Reading the nutrition label on processed foods can be baffling when it comes to food colorings. Some foods contain FD&C colors and some contain lake colors. Some foods even contain both types of colorings. FD&C and lake food colorings are both types of artificial color additives. They differ in how they are made, their solubility and the types of foods they are suited for.

  1. Food Coloring Basics

    • Artificial colors are more intense and provide more uniform coloring than natural additives such as annatto seeds or beet juice concentrate. There are two types of food coloring: dyes and lakes. FD&C dyes are designed for use in food, drugs and cosmetics. There are seven certified FD&C colors, including FD&C Yellow Number 5 and FD&C Blue Number 1.

    Composition

    • FD&C colors are straight colors, meaning they are not mixed with another substance. They are composed of at least 85 percent pure dye. Lakes, sometimes called aluminum lakes, are made from straight colors such as FD&C dyes. A chemical reaction between a straight color and aluminum hydroxide produces food grade lake color. Lakes are more concentrated than FD&C colors.

    Available Forms

    • FD&C colors come in powder or granular form and must be mixed with water to release their color in foods. They are also available with liquid added as pastes and solutions. Lakes are processed as very fine powders, which enables them to disperse in other media. They are available in specific concentrations depending on how much FD&C dye they contain.

    Solubility

    • FD&C dyes are water soluble and cannot mix with or disperse in oils. Lakes are insoluble in water and some organic solvents, meaning they do not dissolve in these liquids. They can be mixed with fats and have the ability to disperse in oils. Lakes can be suspended in another vehicle substance such as glycerin, propylene glycol or sucrose, which act as carriers for the coloring.

    Uses

    • Lakes color the hard coatings on candies and pills and can be applied in layers to achieve a particular color. They are also dispersed in vegetable oil to color products that contain mainly fats, such as and chocolates and coatings for candy making. Dyes from one part of a food product sometimes bleed into another area of the food but lakes do not typically bleed. Unlike FD&C colors, lakes can be added to dry ingredients and color products such as dry powders. They also color chewing gums. FD&C dyes color products such as beverages and baked goods.

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