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CHARCOAL COLORANT

Activated charcoal

What it is

Powdered charred carbon, used to dye foods black — the goth-ice-cream pigment, riding a "detox" halo it doesn't earn.

Why your biology objects

It genuinely adsorbs — it's the ER's poison-control decontaminant — so it can bind drugs and nutrients in your gut, including reducing absorption of medications like oral contraceptives if taken together. A purely cosmetic colorant (not even US-approved) carrying a real interaction concern.

Would your ancestors eat this?

Point your camera at any label and get the verdict in seconds. Coming to the App Store.

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