
From the 20th century, there has been an increase in the processing of food, which has led to the usage of new types of food additives such as nutritional agents, processing agents, preservatives, sensory agents, flavourings, colour retention agents, baking agents and acid regulators, among others. In recent decades, sensory agents, a type of food additive, registered enormous growth in the market. Sensory agents are colorants that are added to food and beverage products. Colorants are an important characteristic of food as they directly influence the impression of the quality and the flavour of food. Erythrosine is a type of food colorant that is red in colour and is made from coal tar. It is an organic dye that consists of sodium and iodine. It is commonly referred to as red dye due to its appearance. Erythrosine dyes are used in many modern foods such as ready-to-eat convenience foods, low-calorie foods, fruit juices and snacks. The burgeoning demand for erythrosine is expected to result in lucrative market growth as it is one of the major additives that is required for processed food products.