Isolation, separation and identification of food colours used in Sherbets

ABSTRACT

Two hundred samples of "Sherbets" [non-aerated drinks] were collected from private households, "Hakims" and shopkeepers/vendors. Food colours extracted were identified by subjecting them to thin layer chromatography along with the standards. About two third samples 62.5% were found to contain Amaranth a food colour whose listing was terminated by FDA in 1979. Twenty eight percent of the samples were found to contain not colours permitted by FDA as synthetic food colours