Purple Sweet Potatoes

Purple sweet potatoes are a type of sweet potato with a vibrant purple flesh and skin. They are a root vegetable, grown from the plant Ipomoea batatas. The deep color comes from anthocyanins, the same antioxidants found in blueberries and red cabbage.

Purple sweet potatoes are used as a natural food coloring, adding a rich purple hue to products like chips, baked goods, and beverages. They can also contribute a slightly sweet flavor and texture to snacks, desserts, and savory dishes.

Purple sweet potatoes are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA when used as a food ingredient. They are a source of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. International bodies like EFSA have evaluated anthocyanins, the pigments responsible for their color, and found them to be safe. Research suggests anthocyanins may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but more studies are needed to confirm these effects in humans.