The coloration of different polymer films (from commodity and packaging films to performance films) by contact with various food coloring substances was evaluated. For this purpose, both solubility parameters as a prediction tool, and immersion experiments for time range between 24 and 1000 h were established. The two predicting tools are the Hoy and Hoftyzer-Van Krevelen (HVK) methods. For PE and PP, HVK's method is preferred for predicting coloration. Neither of the HVK's and Hoy's methods was able to establish a coloration prediction for PET while both methods could predict the staining of PEEK. The coloration of partially and fully fluorinated polymers is well predicted by the Hoy's method. The behavior of PP/PA and PP/PA/PP multilayer films was also studied. Crystallinity degree of polymers, temperature and concentration of coloring molecules are also important parameters, which are not taken into account in solubility theories. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013