A Rainbow Palate: How Chemical Dyes Changed the West's Relationship with Food

An illuminating history of food coloring and chemical confidence.

In 19th-century Britain, coal tar dyes, first developed for textiles, found their way into food. That unlikely journey is the focus of Carolyn Cobbold’s A Rainbow Palate, a rigorously documented but accessible exploration of how industrial chemistry entered the kitchen, the market, and the public imagination.

Bright synthetic colors offered convenience and visual appeal, but they also raised concerns about adulteration, safety, and the limits of scientific authority. Cobbold, a research fellow at the University of Cambridge, connects these debates to broader cultural and political shifts in the period, showing how questions about food coloring mirrored deeper tensions over modernization and trust.

While the book centers on Britain, its insights resonate more widely, especially in an era still wrestling with how to evaluate the risks and rewards of chemical additives.

Scholarly without being remote, and strengthened by its focused scope, A Rainbow Palate offers valuable perspective to food historians, science-minded readers, and anyone curious about how we came to eat with our eyes.

Paperback. Color and black-and-white illustrations throughout.