More than likely, the next orange you purchase at your local market will have had its colouring modified to increase its appeal. Since the 1950s, the FDA has authorized the use of dyes to enhance the skin of oranges. They allow farmers to dye oranges in two ways. The first option is to spray the dye Citrus Red 2 on the skin of the oranges. However, there is one strict limitation – this dye cannot be applied to oranges used in the production of juice. The second option involves exposing oranges to Citrus Red 2 through the use of ethylene gas, this typically occurs immediately after they have been picked from the trees.
The use of synthetic dyes on oranges is not without its critics. Many of whom believe them to be carcinogenic. To be safe, experts recommend you buy organic oranges when adding the rinds to any of your food. And just so you know, oranges aren’t the only ones to receive a bit of window dressing. Dyes are used to alter the colours of the following fruits and vegetables: red delicious apples, blueberries, red potatoes, strawberries and pickles.