Artificial food dyes are common ingredients found in breakfast cereals, sodas and candies; however, studies have linked them with behavioral changes among children as well as skin and digestive problems – possibly leading to cancer-causing carcinogens.
While some CPG companies made promises to move away from synthetic dyes, their goals have yet to be fulfilled in full.
Real food
Real food means eating actual, unprocessed ingredients like kale and chia seeds instead of processed products that mimic food in appearance and taste. While real foods might seem trendy today due to being featured on blogs, these ingredients have actually been around for many years and continue to exist today.
Real foods offer variety and come naturally adorned with vibrant hues that surpass those produced with artificial dyes. Not to mention they also taste incredible and uniquely different from highly processed food that have been designed to always taste the same!
Real foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains (such as brown rice and quinoa), nuts and seeds, grass-fed meats, as well as foods made with ingredients you can pronounce – without chemical additives or more than five ingredients. If you want to switch over to real diet, discuss setting nutrition goals with your primary care provider as well as meeting with a health coach.
No labels
Sweets and breakfast cereal may surprise you by containing artificial colorings, while soda and other beverages are the primary sources. But you can avoid artificial colors by selecting drinks made with natural ingredients instead.
Lefferts from CSPI hails the new report as “excellent”, employing sound scientific arguments to show why artificial dyes should be banned. She hopes it will spur state labeling laws, ultimately pushing FDA and Congress towards making national changes.
Some CPG companies have pledged to remove artificial dyes from their products, yet have failed to meet their own deadlines and most brightly hued foods ranging from Mars’ Skittles and M&Ms to Kellogg’s Trix and Lucky Charms are still using synthetic dyes for color. Companies argue that consumers do not wish to switch over to natural color reformulations while noting the higher production costs involved with producing them.
Healthier options
Popsicles and pistachios are among the many snack standbys now available as dye-free versions if you wish to limit your child’s exposure to harmful synthetic dyes. Look out for these alternatives when purchasing snacks for children.
Foods made with minimal processing and whole ingredients tend to be free from artificial coloring agents. Therefore, opting for dairy products, fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds as a source of nutrition may help to minimize dye usage. Look for brands that use natural colorings such as beta-carotene, chlorophyll, mica, iron oxides or titanium dioxide. Finally, opt for healthier beverages like unsweetened water or organic juices as alternatives. BodyArmor Lyte or Ultima Replenisher are great sports drinks made without artificial colors or sweeteners, shipped in small containers that you mix at home to save packaging costs; you can customize flavor and sweetness levels according to family preferences! For even greater savings, Superieur Electrolytes powder provides another way to create customized sports drinks!
Easy recipes
Artificial colors can be found in nearly all cake mixes, frostings and snack foods sold to children on store shelves. Products specifically targeted towards children often contain them – breakfast cereals, candy bars, snacks drinks and vitamins are just some of the ways artificial colorings are being added into our lives – even fresh oranges may be dyed bright colors in order to add vibrancy!
Children can be particularly sensitive to the harmful effects of chemicals, and have been shown to exhibit hyperactivity and other behavioral issues when exposed. Furthermore, studies have linked some of these chemicals with genotoxicity – the ability of producing mutations within genes – which further heightens concerns over exposure.
Finding alternatives to chemical dyes can be straightforward. Herbs, vegetables and fruit make for tasty natural colors in food products; however using natural colors may add another level of complexity to recipes and lead to unexpected flavoring and texture changes (for instance cakes not rising properly). Furthermore, most natural coloring options aren’t vegan friendly.
