Artificial food dyes are used to give processed foods their optimal appearance. You’ll find them in drinks, candy and baked goods alike – typically derived from petroleum and coal tar – making their presence potentially dangerous to health in terms of allergies or hyperactivity in children.
Select snacks without additives by opting for healthy and wholesome options like fruit kabobs.
They are harmful to our health
Artificial colors are used in many processed foods, such as sodas, breakfast cereals, candy and snacks; vitamins; and other products marketed towards children. Unfortunately, artificial dyes may have harmful health impacts, increasing hyperactivity in children as well as gastrointestinal distress and allergic reactions such as hives in some individuals. Some dyes contain tartrazine (a compound which causes severe allergic reactions in some) while other coloring agents contain natural components like beta-carotene chlorophyll titanium dioxide mica iron oxides or carmine (derived from beetle scales).
To avoid artificial dyes, select unprocessed whole foods like milk, yogurt, cheese and eggs; fresh fruits and vegetables naturally contain no dyes while most unprocessed meats and seafood do as well. Foods containing artificial dyes tend to be higher in fat, sugar and calories compared with natural alternatives; switching can significantly improve health benefits – avoid fried food which often comes coated in unhealthy oils with artificial colors!
They are addictive
Artificial dyes can be found in many processed food items marketed towards children. Used to add appeal and increase sales, artificial dyes also appear to contribute to behavioral issues in some children. The Food and Drug Administration monitors reports of problems related to artificial food coloring additives and may revoke approval or require warning labels on them.
But it may not be enough to satisfy everyone. Our bodies contain many chemicals, making it hard to isolate just one as the source of an adverse reaction. Furthermore, some individuals may be sensitive to certain dyes while others do not show any reactions at all.
Avoiding additives by choosing whole, unprocessed foods is the easiest way to stay away from additives. When possible, go organic. However, be wary as even pantry staples might contain dyes; fish might contain FD&C Yellow 6, while some children’s candy contains Red 40 and other artificial colors.
They cause obesity
Artificial colorings may make food look vibrant and appealing, but they can be detrimental to health. Made up of chemicals derived from petroleum sources, artificial food colorings may lead to obesity issues in adults and children alike as well as hyperactivity, allergies, or other potential side effects.
Studies have linked artificial dyes with various health issues, including cancer and ADHD. Furthermore, some of these dyes may even cause mutations to chromosomes; nevertheless, these chemicals remain on store shelves without warning labels.
There are plenty of natural alternatives to synthetic dyes for those concerned about health: fruits and vegetables are naturally free from artificial coloring agents; similarly meat products and fish products do not use dyes either. Furthermore, some brands of natural cosmetics make use of organic hues from turmeric and beetroot, providing another healthy option instead of synthetic ones.
They are not natural
People have long used color-changing chemicals in food for hundreds of years. Elizabeth Raffald in 1782 recommended copper salts to make pickles more green in The Experienced English Housekeeper book, however these dyes could also be poisonous to consume. Today we are aware of their risks, yet companies still rely on artificial dyes to make their products brighter and more appealing.
Food and beverage manufacturers made pledges years ago to remove synthetic colors from their products marketed specifically toward children, which often cause hyperactivity among them. Unfortunately, none of them have met this goal as yet.
The Center for Science and the Public Interest’s study seeks to influence policy on both state and national levels. A wave of states passing labeling laws could push Congress or FDA into making similar changes nationwide, as was seen with GMO labels in 2016. For now, consumers can choose products without these ingredients by reading ingredient lists carefully and looking out for natural dyes in products.
