Today's Messages

The Chemistry Department will host a graduate student Master's Project seminar on Thursday, April 23, during Bengal Pause (12:15 to 1:30 p.m.) in SAMC 151. Our speaker will be Mikayla Bush, a graduate student in the forensic science master's program. 

Talk Title: Quantitative Analysis of Blue 1 Dye in Commercial Sports Dinks Using UV-VIS Spectroscopy and HPLC-DAD

Food dyes are natural or synthetic substances added to foods, beverages, and cosmetics to enhance color and visual appeal. Although they provide no nutritional value, they are widely used to attract consumers, particularly children. Concerns have been raised about the potential health effects of synthetic dyes, including links to hyperactivity in children, tumor formation at high doses, and possible impacts on gut and brain function. In response, regulatory efforts are ongoing. In April 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an initiative to phase out petroleum-based food dyes, including Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Green 3.

This project focuses on the quantitative analysis of Blue 1 dye (Brilliant Blue FCF) in commercially available sports drinks. Beverages of different colors, including blue, purple, and yellow, were analyzed. Blue 1 concentration were determined using UV-visible spectroscopy and diode-array HPLC (HPLC-DAD), and results were compared across brands and methods. Method validation included determination of limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), percent recovery, and robustness. The developed method is reliable and can be applied to the analysis of other food dyes.

References:

1. Ferreira, L. G. B.; Faria, R. X.; Da Silva Ferreira, N. C.; Soares-Bezerra, R. J. Brilliant Blue Dyes in Daily Food: How Could Purinergic System Be Affected? Int. J. Food Sci. 2016, 2016, 1–13.

2. Olas, B.; Białecki, J.; Urbańska, K.; Bryś, M. The Effects of Natural and Synthetic Blue Dyes on Human Health: A Review of Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Perspectives. Adv. Nutr. 2021, 12 (6), 2301–2311.

3. Erickson, B. E. FDA Eyes Phaseout of Petroleum-Based Food Dyes. Chem. Eng. News 2025, 103.