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Can You Tell If Orange Peels Have Been Artificially Dyed?

It's one of the first things you learn in preschool: the sky is blue, the grass is green, and oranges are orange. While your preschool teacher wasn't exactly wrong, oranges aren't always orange: they're often green. Green oranges aren't necessarily unripe, and they aren't some special variety. The oranges that you see in the grocery store — yes, the ones that look orange — don't always get that way naturally. For decades, citrus growers have dyed their produce bright orange to appeal to customers.

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 What to Know About the 2 Banned Food Dyes

Citrus Red No. 2 is also an azo dye, only approved at a level of no more than two parts per million for adding color to the skins of unprocessed Florida oranges. About 1,500 pounds—enough dye to color two billion oranges—are certified annually by the FDA. “Citrus Red No. 2 is classified as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans,’ which is why it is only allowed for orange peels that will not be eaten, and not for oranges that will be processed, which would release the dye into the edible portions, such as juice. Animal studies found that it can cause bladder tumors,” Quoc Le said.

Articles of Interest

Three food grade colorants identified for citrus

In citrus fruit, the color of the peel is a major factor in consumer selection; fresh oranges with a dark orange peel are favored. In order to appeal to consumer preferences, citrus that is picked when it hasn't reached peak color is often "degreened", and then may be treated with an emulsion containing Citrus Red No.2 (CR2) to improve peel color

Are Oranges Dyed to Be That Shade of Orange?

Not all oranges harvested in the US have a coat of Citrus Red No. 2.: Citrus Red No. 2 is banned for citrus grown in California and Arizona It’s only used to color the skin of non-organic oranges No oranges intended for processing have Citrus Red No. 2, so this dye won’t be present in OJ

Florida oranges can be treated with red dye number 2

Since 1956, the FDA has permitted the use of Citrus Red No. 2 as a food dye to color the peel of conventional oranges. In warmer tropical climates, orange peels can stay green from the chlorophyll content. In more temperate subtropical climates, the cooler nighttime temperatures cause the chlorophyll to degrade and carotenoids to increase in the peel, creating the quintessential orange color. To make the orange peels look more "desirable" for consumers, fruit packing companies will treat oranges with ethylene gas and use an emulsion with Citrus Red No. 2.

Orange: Real & Artificial

One of the approved dyes is not used in the food, rather, it’s on the food—specifically oranges. Did you know the Florida orange industry is allowed by the FDA to enhance the orange color of ripe but not-quite-orange-enough oranges? It’s a synthetic dye called Citrus Red #2, and it’s only used on the skins of the oranges. If you want to avoid it, buy oranges grown in California or Arizona, where growers do not use it.

What is Citrus Red 2? A Look at This Food Dye and Potential Health Issues

Oranges, particularly Florida oranges, may contain Citrus Red 2 on the peel to improve their aesthetic appeal to consumers. This use of this dye is decades old, resulting from the weak natural color of certain varieties of oranges and hybrids grown in Florida. Some packinghouses apply Citrus Red 2 dye to orange peels to improve the surface color before applying fruit wax to retain moisture and enhance shine. The only FDA-approved use of Citrus Red 2 is to alter the color of orange peels.

When an Orange Isn't Orange: Food Dyes in Fruit

Since many people don't read the comments, I'd like to point out that the Florida Department of Citrus confirmed that Red Dye No. 2 is allowed and used early in the citrus season when the fall nights aren't as cold as necessary to develop the desired orange color. Therefore, I want to give you all three suggestions on how to avoid Red Dye No. 2 in your oranges: • Buy organic oranges - the USDA certification process does not allow food dyes. • Don't buy conventional Florida oranges early in the season. In practice, Citrus Red No. 2 is rarely used and only in the beginning of the season before the nights have turned cold. If your conventional orange is bright orange in the fall, it's probably been dyed. • Buy California or Arizona citrus, these states prohibit the use of Citrus Red No. 2.

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8 Foods You'd Never Guess Were Artificially Colored

They’re called oranges for a reason. It’s just that oranges aren’t orange all the time. Early in the growing season before the nights start turning cool, orange skins are green or at least not quite orange enough to have visual appeal in the produce aisle. That’s why some growers looking for year-round sales spray the skins with Citrus Red #2, an artificial dye certified by the FDA to give oranges a consumer-pleasing pop of their namesake color. Unfortunately, like many synthetic food dyes, this one is potentially harmful to human health. To avoid getting too much orange in your oranges, buy organic brands (which don’t allow dyes) or select those grown in California or Arizona (two states that prohibit Citrus Red #2).