Food coloring is a natural or synthetic ingredient added to give foods a more vivid or consistent hue. It generally has little to no flavor and, when used in small amounts, does not noticeably change a dish’s texture. Around the world, it is used in sweets, drinks, sauces, and festive dishes such as brightly colored rice or noodles. People have colored food with ingredients like saffron and beetroot for centuries, while modern manufactured dyes became common in the 19th century.