The answer is no; Universal Orlando Resort does not color its food with charcoal.
We’ve all seen it – the Burning Blade Burger, the Burning Cheddar Bites, the sauce drizzled on top of the Darkmoor Black Wings. They’re unique and captivating, and quite frankly just plain delicious, but since the opening of Epic Universe, some people have been hesitant to try these blackened food items.
Concerns over whether or not black burger buns taste good isn’t the issue. In fact, reports of food at Epic Universe put it all a cut above the rest of the resort. But fans of the parks across the internet are exercising caution, as uncertainty about the black color’s origin crops up in forums across the internet.
It’s an understandable concern to have; those suggesting that the black color may be achieved with the use of activated charcoal remind prospective diners that ingesting charcoal can interfere with certain medications, posing a danger to those on medications. 79 different medications are known to interact with charcoal, including OTC medications like Advil, as well as more serious medications like birth control, anti-depressants, and anti-psychotic medications. When you’re taking medication to manage or prevent a condition, it’s imperative to know what you’re eating and how it might interfere with your medication.
Given that charcoal is not FDA approved to be used as a food additive, it was highly unlikely that Universal Orlando Resort would use it as a food dye at their newest park, but in the wake of these concerns, Theme Park Shark reached out to Universal’s Food and Beverage department to clear up what exactly Epic Universe uses to dye the foods in Darkmoor.
When asked if any of the colored food items at Epic Universe utilized activated charcoal to achieve the deep black colors seen in Darkmoor, a Universe representative responded: “We do not use charcoal to color any of our items. All items that are colored are done so with a synthetic food dye.”
And so, the verdict is in: this rich black was achieved by using a synthetic food dye, which the FDA has approved for consumption in food, and does not interact with medication or major food allergies such as seafood (a similar concern about the use of squid ink as a potential additive).
Regardless of one’s opinion on synthetic food dyes, being able to have confidence that the black buns, cheddar bites, or wings will not interact with a guest’s medication is good news for the approximately twenty million people who visit Universal Orlando Resort every year.
Check back soon, as we will continue to report on all the details of Epic Universe’s unique food and beverages. In the meantime, check out Theme Park Shark on your favorite social media platform, like Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and expect to see even more theme park news from Disney, Universal, and theme parks from all across the world!
