Colours in sweets: how to read the label

Colour makes a sweet recognisable, but does not tell you exactly what is inside. A red or yellow sweet can get its colour in different ways. The ingredients list is more useful than appearance alone.

Find the function and name

An added food colour is listed with its function and name or E-number. Manufacturers may also use colouring ingredients, such as certain fruit and vegetable concentrates. These are not automatically the same category as colour additives.

Azo is a specific group

Not every synthetic colour is an azo colour. ‘Without azo colours’ and ‘without synthetic colours’ therefore mean different things. Read our separate azo-colour guide if you would like more detail.

Compare the exact product

Recipes can differ between brands and versions. Check the current information for the product you are buying. The absence of a particular colour is not a health promise in itself. Choose sweets that suit your preferences, using clear information as your starting point.

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