Red colors having the anthraquinone structure ##STR1## are disclosed wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from among hydrogen, halos, lower alkyls, lower alkoxies, nitros, and sulfonates, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from hydrogens, alkyls and alkylsulfonates. Precursors are disclosed as well. In a preferred embodiment R.sub.4 is an alkyl-containing polymer linking a plurality of anthraquinones into a polymeric colorant especially useful as a nonabsorbable colorant for edibles.