Hi

I added some red Supercook food colouring to a cake yesterday and as I don't use it very often-like once a year(!) I had a look at the label.... Eek, all those E numbers! I was horrified.

Can anybody PLEASE recommend any natural no E number food colourings and where can I buy them from? I've just started a job as cook at my daughter's little nursery (basic hot lunches and teas. I have loads of ideas for hallowee'n meals and treats and had planned to put some green food colouring in a couple of dishes. I don't want to poison the little people or make them get so hyper that we have to peel them off the ceiling. Any hints?

Do a Google search for Natural Food Colours, you should find all the info you need and quite a few suppliers too. But don't forget to bear in mind that some food colours that are natural still have an E number.

Hi

I tried the search but all I got was a load of American food corporations and a couple of european ones which supply food colouring agents to the food industry. I did finally manage to find through Yahoo a London based company called the Spice Shop. After contacting them, they do a green and red natural food dye, derived from Spinach and beetroot respectively...

The only things I use colouring in are my pasta and icing. For pasta I use beetroot and spinach as you say. Also you can use squid ink to make it black but I have never dared!

For icing I use commercial food colourings but you only need a teeny weeny drop.

I find kids go hyper on bought ice cream, bought brightly coloured jelly, and smarties.