Red 40 is used in many powdered drink mixes.
Dyes have been used in beverages for many years, and those that work best are azo dyes. Azo refers to the bond with which two nitrogen atoms are bonded. Azo dyes in the red and yellow family are found in powdered drink mixes as well as many other foods, but are the only azo dyes cleared for food use.
Yellow
FD&C Yellow 5 is an azo dye that has been linked to allergic reactions in some individuals; manufacturers of medications that use it are required to place a warning label on their product. In drink mixes, Yellow 5 is combined with other colors to produce orange-colored drinks and green-colored drinks. It is used on its own for a bright lemon-yellow color. It is also called by the name tartrazine.
Red
Red 40 is commonly found in drink mixes. It is the color mixed with Yellow 5 to produce orange. It is mixed with blue to produce purple. It was originally formulated from coal tar, but is now so processed that no traceable petroleum remains in its make up.
Blue
Blue 1 is used in drink mixes to produce greens and purples and a myriad of different shades of blue. It is largely resistant to fruit acids, which make it ideal for drink mixes as a main ingredient in the powder is citric acid. It also does not fade when exposed to heat and light.
Tags: drink mixes, mixed with, powdered drink, powdered drink mixes
