Blue synthetic dyes are widely used in many industries. Although they are approved for use as food dyes and in cosmetics and some medicines, their impacts on consumer health remain unknown. Some studies indicate that 2 synthetic dyes, Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2, may have toxic effects. It has therefore been suggested that these should be replaced with natural dyes; however, despite being nontoxic and arguably healthier than synthetic dyes, these compounds are often unsuitable for use in food or drugs due to their instability. Nevertheless, among the natural blue pigments, anthocyanins and genipin offer particular health benefits, as they are associated with the prevention of cardiovascular disease and have anticancer, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. This review summarizes the effects of blue food and drug colorings on health and proposes that synthetic colors should be replaced with natural ones.
Keywords: anthocyanins; blue colorants; food and drug blue dyes; natural dyes; safety; synthetic dyes.
© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.