[Sca-cooks] OT/OOP: Wazzup with "Red Velvet Cake"

[AEllin Olafs dotter]

I figured you would clarify that!

But, speaking of red dye 2 and, um, residue... I'd totally forgotten 
this, but I now remember my family noticed that dog poop indeed became 
much less red when it was banned. (My grandmother lived in a 
neighborhood that was shall we say pet friendly, before pooper scooper 
laws in NYC. We had the chance to observe a scientific sampling...) 
Evidently they stopped using it in dog food, too.

AEllin

Carol Eskesen Smith wrote:

> Yes, AEllin, the artificial colors we use are coal tar derivatives, with a couple of minor exceptions, such as caramel color.  You probably can't make the "old" red velvet cake any more, since Red #2, Amaranth, was banned (back in the late '60's or early '70's), but there are replacements (usually a blend of FD&C Red #40 Allura Red and FD&C Blue #1 Brilliant Blue), which is not the same.  Red #2 was a purple-leaning red; Red #40 tends more toward orange.  Still, a quarter cup is a lot of color.  There's an industry standard "GMP" (good manufacturing practiced), which states that one uses the minimum amount necessary to achieve a desired effect, and it especially applies to artificial colors...
> changing the color of one's pee or poop is WAY beyond good practice!
> 
> Regards,
> Brekke (probably preaching to the choir)
>