(From left) Aiman Hakim, Muhammad Ameer and Syed Adheem with their innovation called Colourguard. — Bernama
Three Form Three students from Kota Baru, Kelantan, have created an innovative product using purple cabbage extract to detect artificial colouring in food and beverages.
SMK Dato’ Ahmad Maher student Muhammad Ameer Jamaludin said the product was the result of a study that found purple cabbage containing anthocyanin, which is a natural substance that reacts to the acidity levels and chemicals found in artificially coloured foods.
Colourguard, created with his two friends Syed Adheem Syed Khairudin and Muhammad Aiman Hakim Najeli, not only helped consumers detect unsafe colouring, but also supported healthy eating practices and the use of natural ingredients, he told Bernama.
Muhammad Ammer was speaking after presenting the innovation at Festival of Ideas 2025, a state-level event held at Chancellor’s Hall in Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Bachok campus.
The Colourguard product also met with success when it won the gold medal for Best Cluster Award (Science) in the secondary school category.
The award was presented by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.
Muhammad Ameer said the idea for Colourguard emerged to raise public awareness on the dangers of excessive use of artificial colouring and to encourage the use of natural dyes.
“We started developing this product after learning about this competition.
“This idea was born after we realised the negative effects of excessive synthetic colouring that can harm the kidneys and cause hyperactivity in children.
“With this product, we hope to raise consumer awareness on food safety and reduce the use of artificial colouring in the food industry,” he said.
