Are strawberries really dyed?

Question

I stopped by a farm stand last weekend, and found the strawberries were rather pale looking. I commented on this, and the farmer assured me that this was no worry, and that furthermore I should be wary of bright red strawberries. His claim was that bright red strawberries at the supermarket are in fact dyed that color.

Is it common practice to dye berries? Is it even legal? Is this something one would normally expect to find at a grocery store, or is a technique used elsewhere (say, commercially, or in restaurants?) Or is this guy just trying to convince me to buy his product?

Answer 1

Strawberries turn a natural red color in their ripening process. This is usually a very strong, ruby-red color. Rest assured, strawberries in the US are not dyed. FDA clearly lists all adulteration done to fruits (oranges can be dyed), but strawberries only has a regulation of when the product is considered moldy, etc. Note that even though dyed strawberries may not be sold in US, they may be exported in countries that permit it ( fruit intended for export is exempt).

Rest of the world is a different story. It wouldn't be uncommon for you to find strawberries that are picked too early in the process, or are just grown in poor conditions that are dyed red to give it the luscious red appearance. There have been anecdotal reports of this in China - this color comes right off when washed, showing a white strawberry. Strawberries do leech a red fluid when washed, but that shouldn't result in a white strawberry.

Answer 2

I found a patent titled “Method for dyeing strawberry.” That such patents exist doesn't mean it's legal to apply the techniques they describe in food sold for consumption though. It's easy enough to find out that the FDA has regulations for dyed oranges. But I haven't found any page on their site about regulations for dyes applied to strawberries. I'm going to assume that unless someone can dig up such a page, the FDA hasn't approved any strawberry dyeing practices. So to (tentatively) answer your question, oranges might be dyed with “Citrus Red No. 2”, but strawberries aren't dyed (at least in the US).

Answer 3

I just purchased some bright red strawberries from an indigenous seller in southern Mexico. After buying the strawberries I became suspicious of their bright colour and the red moisture. They are really ruby red and almost 'unreal' looking - perhaps too perfect.

I washed the strawberries, and the colour did not change. Upon eating the berries they are bright red throughout, and soft and sweet. I believe they are natural and actually surprisingly the best strawberries I have ever eaten.

Answer 4

I think it's safe to say that most strawberries sold commercially in the US are not dyed, and that this would be an uncommon practice. The label on most boxes just says "strawberries", doesn't it?

I can't comment on the legality of dying fruit to produce a more attractive color.

Answer 5

For personal reasons, I have to wash carefully with baking soda fruits and vegetables for more than 10 minutes, in immersion. So, it is a bad experience every time I deal with strawberries: they are dyed for sure, revealing -after my treatment- all the imperfections hidden with a layer of color.