Artificial Couloring in Strawberry Impact Whey Protein and Instant Milk Protein.

**jaq1967** · 18-06-2010 10:58 AM

Does anybody know what artificial colouring is specifically used in these products?

Thanks...

Jaq1967

**khris** · 18-06-2010 10:59 AM

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Originally Posted by jaq1967

Does anybody know what artificial colouring is specifically used in these products?

Thanks...

Jaq1967

your best bet would be to email MP directly mate, they usually get back to emails very quick and will give you an accurate responce.

**jaq1967** · 18-06-2010 11:10 AM

Thanks. Will let you know. I was asking as I was also wondering if other persons also may have had issues with this product and are aware of this. I switched my protein flavour earlier this year and since had an outbreak of skin problems - namely eczema. I've recently switched back to my old Chocolate flavours hoping this will clear. It is believed certain artificial colours trigger eczema (...and other problems) and I'm wondering if the 'red' they use is one. I'm 42 and have never suffered from eczema - at least not in the quantity I am suffering now! I'll keep you posted. Thanks again...

**Weaves** · 18-06-2010 11:23 AM

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Originally Posted by jaq1967

Thanks. Will let you know. I was asking as I was also wondering if other persons also may have had issues with this product and are aware of this. I switched my protein flavour earlier this year and since had an outbreak of skin problems - namely eczema. I've recently switched back to my old Chocolate flavours hoping this will clear. It is believed certain artificial colours trigger eczema (...and other problems) and I'm wondering if the 'red' they use is one. I'm 42 and have never suffered from eczema - at least not in the quantity I am suffering now! I'll keep you posted. Thanks again...

If you look in the ingredients it tells you.

**khris** · 18-06-2010 11:34 AM

Quote

Originally Posted by jaq1967

Thanks. Will let you know. I was asking as I was also wondering if other persons also may have had issues with this product and are aware of this. I switched my protein flavour earlier this year and since had an outbreak of skin problems - namely eczema. I've recently switched back to my old Chocolate flavours hoping this will clear. It is believed certain artificial colours trigger eczema (...and other problems) and I'm wondering if the 'red' they use is one. I'm 42 and have never suffered from eczema - at least not in the quantity I am suffering now! I'll keep you posted. Thanks again...

Strawberry Impact Whey Colouring

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Cochineal Red A

**jaq1967** · 18-06-2010 11:47 AM

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Originally Posted by Weaves

If you look in the ingredients it tells you.

It was the first thing I did. It says 'artificial colouring'. Nothing more. No 'E' numbers. Nada.

**Weaves** · 18-06-2010 11:54 AM

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Originally Posted by jaq1967

It was the first thing I did. It says 'artificial colouring'. Nothing more. No 'E' numbers. Nada.

As Khris said above and I said on facebook. It states Cochineal Red A!

**NU_nutrition_TS** · 18-06-2010 12:53 PM

It is cochineal red A, as stated above, and it does tend to aggravate eczema in those that are sensitive to it. Best stick to chocolate where the colouring naturally comes from the cocoa powder.

**jaq1967** · 18-06-2010 01:03 PM

Thanks for the answer. If that is what it is then that is what it is. A shame both my bags of impact whey protein and instant milk protein only state 'artificial colour' but not what type. Sorry, I wouldn't ask the question if the packaging was clearly labled. Now I know then that is different! Will go back to good-old chocolate and see if the eczema clears up. I have read E124 can cause issues. Maybe MyProtein can think about not adding colours to jazz up the milk shake as the reason I switched was bordom. Strawberry was a great taste... Shame about the possible side-effects!

**NU_nutrition_TS** · 18-06-2010 01:16 PM

If you look at the product description and ingredients list for Impact Whey Protein on MPs main website, you will find all the colourings listed for each flavour:

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Colouring (Quinoline [banana & melon flavours only], Sunset Yellow [banana flavour only], Carmosine [raspberry flavour only] Cochineal Red A [strawberry & summer fruit flavours only] Green S [melon flavour only]).

EDIT: It's an unfortunate quirk of human nature that we associate colours with flavours. I'm sure MP have done their market research and concluded that most people would not be happy with a strawberry-flavoured protein shake that was off-white rather than pink. It is why tinned peas contain food colouring - the canning process turns them an unappetising grey colour!

There are natural, plant-based - even organic - colourings in use: red is usually derived from beets. Unfortunately they are not so colour stable as the synthetic food colourings and, in the case of beet-derived colourings, can be affected by the pH of the product and any heating that may occur in it's final preparation before consumption.

I was fortunate that I did not suffer any overt symptoms from food colourings so, when I trained regularly at a local gym and had a protein shake, I was free to choose any flavour - though I mostly preferred chocolate or vanilla anyway! However, as there were several flavour options available - and we usually had three scoops of powder per shake - some of us would often order a 'Neapolitan': one scoop each of chocolate, strawberry and vanilla flavours!