A red azo dye used in food coloring and textile manufacturing, also known as carmoisine or food colorant C3.
From 'azo-' (nitrogen compound) + 'rubin' (ruby red, from Latin 'rubeus' meaning red), named for its deep red color; developed in the late 19th century as a synthetic replacement for natural dyes.
Azorubine was approved as a food dye in Europe but banned in the United States—a perfect example of how the same chemistry that revolutionized color can become controversial when safety standards diverge between countries.
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