Write answers to the following

Write about artificial food colours, the substances used in them and their harmful effects.

Food colours are mixed in most soft drinks and foodstuffs available in the market. These food colours are in the form of powders, gels and pastes. Food colours are used in domestic as well as commercial products. Certain colours and essences are added to ice cream, ice candies, sauce, fruit juices, cold drinks, pickles, jams and jelly. Food colors are often found to be added to packaged meat (chicken, mutton), chilli powder, turmeric, sweets and other similar substances so as to give them a good colour.

The food colours prepared from seeds, beetroot, flowers and fruit concentrate are natural. Tetrazene, sunset yellow are artificial food colours used extensively.

Harmful effects:- (i) Food colours added to pickles, jam and sauce contain small quantities of lead and mercury. These can be harmful for those who consume these products on a regular basis.

(ii) Diseases like ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) can affect children due to excessive consumption of foods with added food colours.