Imagine sitting down to a nice meal with steak, potatoes, and peas, only to have the lights turned on and see your food looking like a horror show – bright blue steak, green potatoes, and red peas. People in the experiment freaked out, some got angry, some felt sick and ran to the bathroom to throw up their neon-colored meals. However, there’s no solid evidence that this specific experiment actually took place. It seems like the story might have been a mix of different tales that got combined over the years.
The first mention of this supposed study was in a 1973 article, but no concrete proof has been found since then. So, it’s possible that the whole thing was just a myth that captured people’s imagination.Wheatley’s article was mentioned in a German perfume company’s newsletter, linking color preferences to emotions. Other articles either referenced Wheatley’s study or just briefly mentioned it. The FDA banned some synthetic red and orange food dyes in 1950.
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In the 1970s, there were various experiments and stories related to food coloring. For example, a study in 1936 used misleading colors in desserts, novelist Shirley Jackson served blue steaks and red potatoes during World War II, and Alfred Hitchcock claimed to serve a meal of blue foods in 1970.
The FDA’s work on food coloring led to bans on certain dyes. People in the mid-20th century were quite concerned about dyed foods. The story evolved over time, with new elements added in the 1970s reflecting consumer concerns about authenticity in food.
Overall, the legend of colored foods became popular due to its connection to consumer worries about food authenticity and the behavior of food scientists and marketers.
