How artificial food dyes are regulated in Canada

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans to phase out some food dyes, most of which remain allowed in Canada. CBC News spoke to experts about the safety of these dyes and how they are regulated in Canada.

Stephane Bayen, an associate professor and chair of McGill University's Department of Food Science & Agricultural Chemistry, told CBC that some synthetic food additives have a petrochemical origin and others don't.

Artificial food dyes offer no nutritional advantages, said Bayen, noting that they're added to make products more visually attractive to consumers.

Bayen explained that Canadian regulators assess the risk of all food additives including artificial food dyes and that, in Canada, food colourings are required to be listed on the label.

Canadian regulators may take action if a food product contains a colour additive that is found in a food that's not approved.

"At the end of the day, you should not be using the food colour to cheat the consumer," Bayen said.