Charcoal is the new black: Are charcoal products healthy or just a fad?

28 Nov 2018 --- Foods fortified with charcoal are becoming increasingly popular for their distinct black color and perceived health benefits. However, as “instagrammable” as black foods may be, experts note that there is little research proving charcoal’s effect on wellness.

Activated charcoal has no effect on taste and adds vibrant black color to products. Companies are combining the color trend with traditionally perceived health properties, despite the potential lack of substantial scientific evidence. 

The color of health?
Charcoal has long been touted to promote kidney health, aid with diarrhea and gastrointestinal issues and even have anti-inflammatory properties. Charcoal infused products boast “detox” claims yet there are limited recent studies to date looking at the effects of long-term use at the levels of charcoal present in “health” and “detox” products.

“There are claims that activated charcoal can help reduce gas, bloating and flatulence. However, the studies available are significantly limited. Most studies are around 30-40 years old and have been carried out with limitations, using tools which have not been validated in order to gain results,” Kirsten Jackson, Consultant Dietician and Director for the British Dietetic Association (BDA) tells NutritionInsight.Beverage containing charcoal are increasingly marketed as “detox” products.  The results from these studies are conflicting. Some suggest activated charcoal may be useful while others show that taking this ingredient provides no benefit. It has also not been tested in anyone who actually has digestive problems, for example, IBS,” she adds.

Activated charcoal is a powder, made from bone char, coconut shells, sawdust and coal. The charcoal becomes activated when processed at high temperatures. The ingredient is widely used to color food black and is seen in coconut ash ice cream, pizza crusts, burger buns, lattes, lemonade drinks, pastry, pasta and even cocktails.

Natural health advocates have long claimed that activated charcoal has anti-aging properties, aids in weight loss and lowers cholesterol. Ayurvedic and Eastern medicine practitioners used it to whiten teeth and cleanse toxic mold spores from the body.

Often used as a treatment in some cases of poisoning, charcoal has the ability to absorb toxins.

“The surface of activated charcoal is very porous. This means that it is good at absorbing things and is commonly used by doctors in emergency situations to absorb poisons before they get into the body,” says Jackson. 

Personal care
In personal care, charcoal is claimed to have skin care properties, promote oral health and even whiten teeth. This is supported by a number of personal care and oral health products in the market that contain charcoal.

“There is actually no evidence that suggests activated charcoal provides any benefit to our oral health. Instead, many products with activated charcoal may actually be harmful as they don’t contain the right amount of effective ingredients (such as fluoride) which help prevent tooth decay and other oral health problems. In addition, some products may be over abrasive, meaning they can wear away the enamel of our teeth, which is known to cause pain and increased sensitivity,” an Oral Health Foundation spokesperson tells NutritionInsight. 

Regulatory reactionsOral care products containing charcoal may claim teeth whitening benefits.
In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that it currently has no regulation on activated charcoal as an ingredient to be added to food, such as a food additive or color additive. However, companies may apply for “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS) status for their use of activated charcoal. If granted this status after approval from “qualified experts,” the charcoal-containing ingredient/product can be legally used before official FDA approval.

However, only this past summer, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) put a ban on all charcoal applications in food and beverage citywide, deeming it dangerous and of having insufficient health claims. According to the DOHMH, the ban is based on charcoal use lacking clear FDA guidelines. 

This announcement may have come much to the dismay of NYC businesses that used activated charcoal infused products as a selling point. 

The black foods trend can be maintained by using alternative options to activated charcoal, like black food coloring, black sesame seed powder and cuttlefish ink.

Dark matter
As a color trend, charcoal is still going strong and it is seen in numerous product applications. Back in April, Swirl’s Ice Cream launched black ice cream to the food market in the Netherlands, and the company believes that black ice cream will be popular with consumers looking for new eating experiences.

“The black food trend has been obvious internationally for quite some time now. We’ve seen black hamburgers, black macarons and even black pasta. We are very proud to be the very first to introduce black ice cream to the Netherlands,” says Tjerk van der Linden of Swirl’s Ice Cream to our sister website FoodIngredientsFirst.

The black color of this ice cream is created by adding a plant-based black carbon powder, made from coconut shells, so that it also fits within plant-based food trends. The powder is tasteless, ensuring the ice cream keeps it delicious and familiar vanilla taste, according to van der Linden.

By Kristiana Lalou