Yes, many synthetic food colors are made from petroleum-based chemicals, while natural colorants come from plants or minerals.
Shoppers ask about the origin of the bright reds, yellows, and blues in packaged snacks and drinks. The short answer: a big share of the vivid shades on ingredient labels come from lab-made colorants synthesized from petroleum feedstocks. Natural pigments exist too, and brands use both types for different goals like stability, hue, and cost. This guide explains what “petroleum-based” means in this context, which colors fall into that bucket, how regulators evaluate them, and how to read labels with confidence.
Fast Distinction: Synthetic Vs. Exempt (Natural) Colors
In the U.S., color additives fall into two broad groups under federal law: “certifiable” colors and “exempt from certification.” Certifiable colors are lab-made molecules that get batch-by-batch certificates before sale. Many of these are derived from petroleum chemicals. Exempt colors come from sources like plants, minerals, or insects and don’t go through the same batch certification process, though they still must meet safety rules.
Broad Snapshot Of Color Categories And Sources
| Category | Typical Source | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Certifiable Synthetics (FD&C) | Petroleum-derived aromatic chemicals processed into dyes | Soft drinks, candies, cereals, baked goods, gelatins |
| Exempt Colors (Natural) | Plant/mineral/animal sources (e.g., beet, turmeric, spirulina, carmine) | Yogurts, juices, sauces, snack coatings |
| Lakes (Insoluble Forms) | Aluminum substrate bound to a dye (often synthetic) | Coated snacks, icing, tablets, chewing gum |
Regulators treat all color additives as food additives with specific rules. There’s no GRAS shortcut for colors in U.S. law; each legal color must be permitted for listed uses and conditions. See the FDA’s plain-language page on color additives in foods for the structure of the program and the distinction between certifiable and exempt categories.
Are Artificial Food Colors From Petroleum Sources? Facts
Yes. The modern family of U.S. “FD&C” dyes is synthesized from petrochemical feedstocks such as aromatic hydrocarbons. Early in the 20th century, many such colors came from coal tar chemistry; the industry later shifted to petroleum as the dominant feedstock while keeping similar aromatic backbones. Advocacy summaries and chemistry primers commonly describe these as petroleum-derived dyes used across foods, beverages, and drugs.
What “Petroleum-Derived” Means In Practice
Petroleum isn’t poured into candy. Manufacturers start with purified petrochemical building blocks, then perform reactions that create dye molecules with strong chromophores. These dyes are filtered, tested, and standardized. When a label lists “FD&C Red 40” or “Red 40 Lake,” it’s pointing to a specific compound or its insoluble lake form produced under tight specs and checked for purity.
Common U.S. Synthetic Colors You’ll See
After recent policy changes, eight widely used synthetic colors remain legal in the U.S. food supply; Red No. 3 was removed from food uses in 2025. The set includes Red 40 (Allura Red AC), Yellow 5 (Tartrazine), Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow), Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue), Blue 2 (Indigotine), and a few others with narrower use. News coverage in early 2025 documented the Red 3 action and the continuing review of the broader dye family.
Where Labels Reveal The Source
Look for short codes or names. “Red 40,” “Blue 1,” and “Yellow 5” signal synthetic dyes. “Annatto,” “Beet Juice Color,” “Turmeric,” “Paprika Oleoresin,” or “Spirulina Extract” point to non-synthetic sources. Lakes add the word “Lake.” If a package lists both, the brand is blending options to hit a target hue and performance profile.
Why Brands Still Use Lab-Made Colors
Lab-made dyes offer vivid hue, low dose, and strong stability across heat, light, and pH swings. Natural pigments can be beautiful, yet they may fade faster or shift tone with processing. Makers weigh shelf life, flavor impact, and cost.
How Regulators Evaluate Safety
In the U.S., the agency reviews toxicology, sets specifications, and lists permitted uses in regulation. Every synthetic batch requires certification. Exempt colors must also meet identity and purity specs. Europe follows a different process, setting additive codes (like E 129 for Allura Red) and acceptable daily intakes. EFSA has published exposure assessments and ADIs for these colors, such as the ADI of 7 mg/kg bw/day for Allura Red AC.
Health Questions And Current Policy Moves
Consumer groups and some researchers have raised concerns about child behavior and other endpoints; several states moved to restrict certain dyes in schools. Federal agencies continue to review data, adjust permissions, and track company pledges to shift away from petroleum-based colors. As of 2025, the FDA removed Red No. 3 from food uses and is monitoring industry reformulation plans that favor natural pigments.
If you want the primary reference for the U.S. program and how colors are listed and enforced, read the FDA’s summary page above. For European exposure work, EFSA’s open-access paper on Allura Red gives detail on intake modeling and ADI setting. Linking to original regulators strengthens claims and avoids hearsay.
Reading Ingredient Lists Like A Pro
Below is a quick label decoder with typical pairings you’ll spot in snacks, drinks, and bakery items. Natural options can match a wide palette, though shade and stability can differ.
Label Decoder And Everyday Swaps
| Label On Pack | What It Means | Common Natural Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Red 40 / Red 40 Lake | Petroleum-derived synthetic red; lake for coatings | Beet, black carrot, paprika oleoresin |
| Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) | Petroleum-derived synthetic yellow | Turmeric, annatto |
| Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow) | Petroleum-derived synthetic orange-yellow | Paprika oleoresin, carrot concentrate |
| Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) | Petroleum-derived synthetic blue | Spirulina extract |
| Blue 2 (Indigotine) | Petroleum-derived synthetic indigo-blue | Gardenia blue (where allowed), spirulina blends |
| Brown From “Caramel Color” | Made by heating sugars; not a petroleum dye | Cocoa or coffee extracts for deeper tones |
Choosing Products That Fit Your Preferences
Want to skip synthetic colors? Scan for clear statements like “no artificial colors” or stick to products that list plant sources for color. Many national brands now release dye-free lines. Private-label ranges also advertise swaps to plant-based pigments, and trade press reports show ongoing reformulation waves across snacks and beverages.
What To Expect From Natural Pigments
Color can vary from batch to batch. Storage and light can shift tone. Some plant pigments bring flavor notes at higher doses. Makers often fine-tune blends to balance hue and taste. At home, you’ll see similar effects: beet gives a cool pink, turmeric gives a warm yellow, and spirulina gives a soft blue-green.
Deep Dive: How Synthetic Colors Are Built
Most modern synthetic colors share aromatic rings and azo or related chromophores that give intense hue. Producers start with petrochemical intermediates, run controlled reactions, purify the result, and check identity. Finished dyes must meet strict specs for purity with low limits for contaminants set in regulation. Consumer Reports’ fact sheet summarizes this “derived from petroleum” reality and reminds readers that labels must list the exact dye name.
Lakes, Coatings, And Why They’re Used
“Lakes” are the insoluble form of a dye fixed onto an aluminum substrate. They don’t bleed into moist surfaces, which helps with sprinkles, tablet coatings, and snack dustings. You’ll recognize them by the word “Lake” after the color number. The base dye is usually synthetic; the lake turns it into a non-bleeding pigment.
Regulatory Landscape: U.S. And EU
U.S. law lists permitted colors by name and use cases; each synthetic batch requires certification. The program tracks spec limits, labeling, and where a given color can appear. Europe lists colors with “E” numbers and sets ADIs after reviewing toxicology and intake. EFSA’s 2015 paper on E 129 shows how exposure models and market data feed into risk management. If intake estimates approach the ADI in a child group, risk managers can adjust permissions or prompt industry to reformulate.
Recent Shifts You May Have Seen In The News
Headlines in 2025 covered the removal of Red No. 3 from food uses and growing brand commitments to move away from petroleum-based dyes. Trade coverage also described agency encouragement for industry to phase in plant-based color systems. If you’re tracking this area for a diet or a child’s needs, monitor the FDA’s updates and industry pledge trackers.
Practical Tips For Shoppers And Home Cooks
Scan Labels Quickly
Numbers after color names usually point to synthetic options. Plant sources are spelled out. “No artificial colors” signals a product relying on exempt colors.
Match Hue Goals
Reds: beet, black carrot, paprika. Yellows: turmeric, saffron-style extracts, annatto. Blues/greens: spirulina, gardenia blue and blends (where permitted). Browns: caramel color or cocoa.
Care For Natural Shades
Store away from strong light. Keep lids tight. Refrigerate homemade concentrates. Expect softer tones in baked goods due to heat.
Quick Reference: Synthetic Dyes And Typical Pairings
This compact list helps you map common synthetic names to where you often see them and a nearby natural swap that brands use when reformulating.
| Synthetic Name | Often Found In | Natural Swap Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Red 40 | Sports drinks, gummies, cereals | Beet, black carrot |
| Yellow 5 | Lemon-lime sodas, pudding mixes | Turmeric, annatto |
| Yellow 6 | Snack dusts, orange drinks | Paprika oleoresin, carrot |
| Blue 1 | Blue icing, gelatin desserts | Spirulina extract |
| Blue 2 | Color blends for purples | Spirulina + red plant colors |
Bottom Line For Readers
Many bright colors in packaged foods come from molecules synthesized using petroleum-based feedstocks. These lab-made dyes are regulated, batch-certified, and labeled by number. Natural pigments remain a strong option and keep gaining ground as brands switch to plant sources. If you prefer products without synthetic colors, scan for named plant pigments or a “no artificial colors” claim, and keep an eye on agency updates and brand pledges as reformulation spreads through major categories. For deeper background, start with the FDA’s overview of the U.S. program and EFSA’s technical work on E-numbered colors.