Blue raspberry flavor

Blue raspberry is a manufactured flavoring and food coloring for candy, snack foods, syrups, and soft drinks.^[1]^[2] The color does not derive from any species of raspberry;^[2] however, the flavor is intended to mimic that of a blackcap raspberry.^[1] Its flavor was developed using esters that are part of the flavor profile of pineapple, banana and cherry.^[2] Sugar is commonly added to create taste appeal for the blue raspberry flavoring.^[2]

Food products labeled as blue raspberry flavor are commonly dyed with a bright blue synthetic food coloring, such as brilliant blue FCF (also called Blue #1) having European food coloring number E133.^[3] The blue color was used to differentiate raspberry-flavored foods from cherry-, watermelon-, and strawberry-flavored foods, each of which is typically red.^[1]^[2] The use of blue dye also partially is due to the FDA's 1976 banning of amaranth-based Red Dye No. 2, which had previously been heavily used in raspberry-flavored products.^[4]

Blue raspberry flavor and color were first used in the United States in 1958 to add interest to snow cones.^[2] Regulatory agencies, such as the US Food and Drug Administration, provide guidelines on artificial flavors and colors for manufacturers out of concern for consumer safety,^[5] and have approved the use of blue raspberry as a safe ingredient since 1969.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Matt Soniak (November 10, 2015). "What is a blue raspberry?". North Dakota State University. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Michael Y. Park (August 1, 2016). "What even is blue raspberry anyway?". Bon Appétit, Condé Nast. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
^ "E133: Brilliant Blue FCF". Food-Info. 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
^ Park, Michael Y. (August 1, 2016). "What Even Is Blue Raspberry Anyway?". Bon Appétit. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
^ "Overview of Food Ingredients, Additives & Colors". US Food and Drug Administration. February 6, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2022.