Artificial dyes derived from petroleum can be found in thousands of food products, such as breakfast cereals, candy, snacks, drinks and vitamins marketed specifically to children. Artificial dyes have also become an increasing presence in child-oriented products.
General Mills made headlines last year with their pledge to remove artificial colors and flavors from Trix, Lucky Charms, Reese’s Puffs, Cocoa Puffs, and other cereals – it did not go well.
1. Avoid Processed Foods
Avoiding artificial food dyes by choosing foods made from natural ingredients is the best way to steer clear. Processed food contains artificial dyes and will contribute to weight gain while being low on nutrients; by opting for natural alternatives instead, not only can you save calories but also protect your children from being exposed to such dyes.
Natural colors come from plants, vegetables, minerals, and animals; however they tend to be more expensive than artificial food colorings and may impart unwanted flavors when coloring products (1). Artificial dyes made with chemical components usually found in petroleum are significantly cheaper than their natural counterparts while having longer shelf lives and being better equipped to withstand manufacturing conditions like heat exposure (2).
Artificial dyes contain chemicals that may contribute to health issues, such as ADHD, allergies, confusion, itchy skin and mood changes. Furthermore, these dyes have also been linked with obesity problems in both adults and children, with studies revealing that children diagnosed with ADHD become more hyperactive after eating food with artificial colors.
2. Look for Natural Colors
Studies over the last four decades have linked artificial colorings with numerous negative health impacts, including hyperactivity in children, allergies, cancer (particularly brain cancer), genotoxicity (damaging DNA), and more.
Checking the ingredients list of any food purchased for children is vitally important, particularly those that target them specifically. Many contain artificial dyes like Yellow 5, which has been linked to severe allergic reactions among children, or Red 40 which has been implicated as contributing to ADHD in kids.
When purchasing food, prioritize organic and natural options whenever possible. They tend to be safer than their chemical equivalents and provide valuable nutrition. Natural colorants made from vegetables, fruit, flowers or spices offer rich hues while being less likely to trigger reactions in those with nut or gluten allergies.
3. Look for Natural Flavors
If you wish to avoid artificial dyes, you might be tempted to purchase foods with natural colors instead. But this could be a dangerous mistake.
“Natural” often implies processed. For example, food companies that opt for natural flavors instead of artificial dyes still utilize chemical processes; although such flavors must originate in nature (like vanilla) to qualify as being considered truly natural; food companies will sometimes create their own natural flavors in labs using chemical processes.
These natural flavors typically consist of an assortment of chemicals including solvents, emulsifiers, and flavor enhancers; unfortunately the FDA doesn’t regulate concentrations of these ingredients. Therefore, to minimize exposure, choose products with short ingredient lists containing whole ingredients you recognize or try making more food from scratch yourself; also check restaurant menus beforehand if applicable if you follow special diets.
4. Avoid Sugar
Food manufacturers use food dyes to enhance foods with limited nutrition – like candy, cereal and gummy snacks – in order to make them more appealing to children. Unfortunately, dyes such as Blue 1, Red 3, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 can be harmful and especially so for young ones.
They can trigger allergic reactions in many, including severe asthma. Furthermore, these products contain impurities which increase your risk of cancer and endocrine disruption as well as cause hyperactivity in children.
Avoid processed food that’s targeted towards children and look for natural food dyes whenever possible; if not available, synthetic dyes have the highest risk of triggering allergic reactions and should be avoided as much as possible. Also read labels carefully because even products advertised as all-natural may still contain artificial food dyes; to reduce your chances even further by shopping at stores that prohibit them.
