The Benefits Of Using The FD & C Colors
                     The Benefits Of Using The FD & C Colors
Anil Kumar
Writes on functional and active ingredients for 
personal care, home care, hair dye 
intermediates, sun filter ingredients, FD&C 
sun care products and dyes.
    The Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics (FD & C) colors are those that have 
obtained the approval of the FDA, for usage in wide-ranging products. 
As indicated by the name, these colors are added to several foods, 
drugs, and cosmetics. Here, it is worth noting that the FDA gives 
clearance for these colors only after they have successfully gone 
through stringent testing. Now, it would be worthwhile to focus on a 
few more points about the FD & C colors.
• Some of these colors can be used only for limited purposes, while others 
are used more extensively.
• Oftentimes it is observed that the term “lake” succeeds the name of an 
FD & C color. It means that a mineral such as aluminum or calcium is 
blended with this color. Here, we have to mention that these kinds of 
colors do not get dissolved in water.
• FDA continuously performs various tests on the FD & C colors to ensure 
that the safety of the end users is not compromised.
• In case any of those tests reveal that a given color could risk the well-
being of users, FDA immediately revokes approval of the concerned 
product.
• In some cases, when any of the colors fail to adhere to guidelines on 
purity, it’s mandated that they be used solely for industrial purposes. 
Such colors are not permitted to be included in products directly used 
by people.
• The uniqueness of the FD & C colors is such that, over some time; they 
become synonymous with the products. The color shade becomes the 
identity of a product.
Benefits of FD & C colors:
• At this juncture, it won’t be inappropriate to briefly elaborate on the 
benefits of using these colors that have been certified by the FDA.
• First and foremost, as these colors conform to the standards stipulated 
by the FDA, their usage doesn’t negatively affect the safety of 
consumers.
• Large-scale scientific research has been carried out on the FD & C colors. 
Subsequently, many of these colors have been labeled as being 
permanently safe to be mixed in cosmetics, drugs, and food products.
• Though there are some blogs and articles that raise questions about 
safety of these colors, by and large there is no need for people to be 
overly worried. At any time, the FDA-approved colors are safer 
alternatives to the other variants devoid of such safety-related 
certifications.
• Additionally, when the users are careful enough to use the products only 
as per the given directions, the colors won’t do any harm. People only 
stand to gain from using FD & C colors over non-FD & C colors
• The aspect of ‘safe to use isn’t the only element to be considered while 
buying products that contain the FD & C colors. It has to be highlighted 
that when the colors get added, the products appear more attractive. 
For instance, the dyes come with a brilliant shade enhancing the 
aesthetic value. Likewise, bakery foods and ice-creams attain an 
enhanced and appealing appearance. In the same way, it is primarily 
because of these colors that differentiating between various medicines 
becomes simpler.
• When we speak of food products that have FD & C colors, a point has to 
be specially mentioned. The colors in no way impact the natural taste of 
the product. They don’t bring in any unwanted flavors to the foods, 
either.
About Vinner Labs
    Vinner Labs specialises in the supply of 
functional and active ingredients for 
personal care, home care, hair dye 
intermediates, sun filter ingredients, FD&C 
pigments and dyes․ We have global reach 
and focused approach towards providing 
our customers with best products via our 
networked manufacturing and R&D 
facilities․ Vinner Labs aims to provide a 
wide range of functional active ingredients 
from a variety of technological platforms․ 
We are one of the unique players in this 
niche segment of specialty chemicals from 
India․ We consider ourselves as value-
unlockers in a variety of personal care 
categories including beauty care, skin care, 
and hair care․