The coloured markers on toothpaste do not represent its ingredients - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 5, 2023
A video is viral on social media claiming that the Red, Green, Blue, and Black coloured markers that are printed on toothpaste reflect the kind of ingredients used in them. According to the video, Red represents Natural+Chemical ingredients, Blue represents Natural+Medicinal Ingredients, Black tells that it is completely made using chemicals, and finally, green tells that the paste was made using natural products. Let’s verify this information through this article.
Claim: The colour markers printed on toothpaste represents the type of ingredient used in it.
Fact: The colour markers on the toothpaste are not an indication of the ingredients or the formula of the toothpaste. These colour markers help during the manufacturing of toothpaste. Light beam sensors scan this colour code (markers) and feed the machines instructions where to cut, fold, and seal the toothpaste packet. These colour markers have nothing to do with the raw ingredients of the toothpaste. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
Firstly, to check the veracity of the claim, we searched the internet to see if the colour markings have anything to do with the raw materials in the toothpaste. This led us to an article on Health Line on the same subject. According to them, the various colours present on top of the toothpaste help during the manufacturing process.
Light beam sensors scan this colour code and feed the machines where to cut, fold, and seal the toothpaste packet. These colours are not only limited to blue, green, black, and Red but different types of colours are used in different machines depending on the sensors in them. All colours have the same meaning.
Colgate has explained this matter and made it clear through an article published on their website that the colour code on the toothpaste has nothing to do with the raw materials used. They said that the coloured markers on the toothpaste help during preparation.
The list of ingredients is printed on the top of the toothpaste packet or tube by its manufacturers. For more information about types and raw materials in toothpaste, read the article written by the Indian Dental Association here.
To sum up, the colour code on the toothpaste is not an indicator of its ingredients.