Researching and Comparing the properties of anthocyanins with FD&C Blue No 1

Colorings and dyes are used to enhance the physical appearance of these items to make it more enjoyable for the human consumer. Vegetables and plants have been known to naturally dye clothing and food since the beginning. These natural dyes also had the ability to provide numerous health benefits that positively impact the human body system. Despite this, society has moved to synthetic dyes for lower cost, more supply and demand, and stronger pigmentation. Synthetic dyes tend to be brighter and more enjoyable to the eyes. Unfortunately, synthetic food dyes negatively impact human health in the process. This proposal will investigate a synthetic and a God-created blue dye in respect to their safety, health benefits, and performance as a dye. The research is focused on the natural dye anthocyanin, sourced from berries and plants, and contrasted with one of the most common synthetic blues called FD&C Blue No 1. This proposal is to research the anthocyanin and FD&C Blue No 1, and their properties that lead to the brightness of color, fade resistance, toxicology, and pH. HPLC tests will be run with blueberry powder, FD&C Blue No 1 powder, a blue sports drink, and filtered berry juice to find the concentration of dye used in these products. The UVvis spectrometer will describe the absorbance characteristics of the two dyes and reveal differences in hue. Samples of these dyes will be exposed to a handheld UV light for 1 hour and then analyzed by UVvis spectroscopy to determine if the color changed during the process, indicating a difference in light stability. The pH will be tested by creating different solutions of different acidity with both synthetic and natural dye and comparing color brightness and stability. Toxicology will be tested through a fish model.