Lake Food Colors: A Splash of Science in What We Eat

Lakes are known for their vibrant and ever-changing hues—shades of turquoise, deep blue, green, and even reddish or milky white. But did you know these colors have inspired a class of color additives in the food world called lake colors ? 🎨 What Are Lake Colors? Lake food colors, often just called lake colors , are synthetic pigments made by combining dyes with insoluble substances like aluminum salts. Unlike water-soluble dyes, lake colors are fat-dispersible , which makes them ideal for coloring products like: Candy coatings Baked goods Lipsticks and cosmetics Pharmaceuticals Snack foods Lake colors provide vibrant, stable color without dissolving, meaning they stay put in oily or dry products—perfect for foods that need long-lasting visual appeal. 🧪 How Are Lake Colors Made? Lake colors start as water-soluble dyes , such as FD&C Red No. 40 or Yellow No. 5. These dyes are then chemically treated and combined with substrates like alumina hydrate to for...