Could Edible Photonic Structures Be an Alternative to Traditional Food Coloring? (Advanced Optical Materials 8/2026)

Edible Photonics What if color in food came from photonic structures? This perspective introduces structural color as a next-generation solution to replace conventional colorants in foods. It discusses edible photonic materials, their unique benefits, and the technological, safety, and consumer acceptance challenges that must be addressed to bring this innovation to the table. More details can be found in the Research Article by Miguel A. Cerqueira and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/adom.202502260). Image courtesy of Yuxin Zhou.