Food additive · Color
Color added (not named)
A color the label doesn't name. On US labels, "color added" and "artificial color" are only allowed for colors exempt from certification, such as caramel color, annatto, beta-carotene or titanium dioxide. Certified dyes such as Red 40 must be named.
- Food additive
- Color (added)
- Ultra-processing marker
- Expert review pending
Concern level
A minor or very limited concern, such as being an ultra-processing marker only. The concern level sets how many points color added (not named) costs on a product’s receipt.
What the evidence says
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Color not namedInfo
21 CFR 101.22(k) requires certified color additives (FD&C dyes and their lakes) to be declared by name. Colors exempt from certification may be declared as "Artificial Color", "Artificial Color Added" or "Color Added". Which color was used is not disclosed. [1]
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Marker of ultra-processingInfo
An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [2]
Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.
Popular products that list color added (not named)
242 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list color added (not named). The 12 most scanned:
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Crunchy Cheetos · 1 oz (28.3 g) Score 52 out of 100 Okay -
Nacho Cheese Flavored Doritos Doritos · 9.25 oz (262.2 g) Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Nacho Cheese Doritos · 1 oz (28.3 g) Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Doritos Cool Ranch Flavored Tortilla Chips Frito Lay · 9.25 oz Score 19 out of 100 Bad -
Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips Doritos · 411 g Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Monster Energy Monster · 16 oz Score 10 out of 100 Bad -
Fiber One Cereal Fiber One · 555 g Score 65 out of 100 Good -
Flamin' Hot Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks Cheetos · 8.5 oz (240.9 g) Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Doritos Cool Ranch flavored Doritos Tortilla Chips · 1 oz (28.3 g) Score 19 out of 100 Bad -
Cheetos Puffs Cheetos · 8 oz Score 52 out of 100 Okay -
Cheetos Crunchy Cheetos · 8 1/2 oz (240.9 g) Score 50 out of 100 Okay -
Spinach & Herbs Tortilla Wraps Ole · 360 g Score 58 out of 100 Okay
Diets and allergens
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
For the ingredient in general. Always check the package: a product’s own labels win.
Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (17)
- added color
- color added
- added colour
- colors added
- colour added
- colours added
- artificial color
- artificial colors
- artificial colour
- artificial colours
- artificial coloring
- artificial colouring
- color added not named
- artificial color added
- artificial food coloring
- artificial colors including
- artificial color unspecified
Sources
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21 CFR 101.22(k) Declaring color additives in the ingredient list
“Color additives not subject to certification and not otherwise required by applicable regulations in part 73 of this chapter to be declared by their respective common or usual names may be declared as “Artificial Color,” “Artificial Color Added,” or “Color Added””
ecfr.gov