Ancient and Medieval times: Archaeology has dated dye use as far back as 5000 BC. While application to clothing and cosmetics is definitely known, use of dye in food can only be dated to 1500 BC. Species such as beets, peppers, grape skins, saffron or cochineal insects were used to effect the color. Butter has been colored yellow since 1300.
Early 1800’s: In general, people only used natural extracts for dyeing food until the early 19th century, when use of inorganic salts became popular, often with deceptive intent.
1856: The dye industry was changed forever in 1856 when Sir William Henry Perkin, in his attempts to make quinine, discovered mauve, the first synthetic dye. Mauve was a clothing dye, but the methodology used in its manufacture led to numerous synthetic dyes and many were applied to foods.
1860’s: The study of anthocyanins began in the 1860’s. Limited application of grape-derived pigments began shortly thereafter.
1906: By the early 1900’s, eighty synthetic dyes were in use as food colorants. In 1906, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act, which began the process of giving the federal government control of food additives. The law also prohibited use of color to conceal inferior quality or damage, such as coloring meat to conceal spoilage, common practice in the 1800’s.
1938: In 1938, Congress revised the 1906 Act with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. This revision mandated the color application designations FD&C (colors for use in food, drugs and cosmetics), D&C (colors for drugs and cosmetics), and Ext. D&C (colors for external-use drugs and cosmetics).
1960: In 1960, the 1938 Act was amended, allowing the FDA to set safety limits on color addition. The amendments also enacted a pre-marketing approval process. This demands proof of safety and subjects dyes to review should safety questions arise later. The Delaney Clause was also added at this time. The Clause prohibits the addition to food of any substance that has been shown to cause cancer in animals or man, regardless of the dose.
1990:
The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 requires all certified dyes
to be named in the ingredient listing on manufactured products.