Artificial dyes may not pose serious threats in one slice of cake, but when children eat them regularly they get exposed to small doses of synthetic color additives throughout their day – from Red 40 in sports drinks and mac-and-cheese to Yellow 5 spread throughout food sources – and before you know it their diet has become saturated with them!
Annie’s Homegrown
Annie’s Homegrown has made quite an impactful presence in the food industry over 25 years. Started by co-founder Annie Withey in her garage with the mission of cultivating a healthier world through delicious yet kind foods that nourish people and the earth, Annie’s Homegrown quickly become an industry giant.
Annie’s is still owned by General Mills but upholds their commitment to organic ingredients and sustainable practices with products including macaroni & cheese, fruit snacks cereal, dressings and much more for children to enjoy!
Annie’s offers a high percentage of organic dairy and uses only natural colors and flavors, including cheese from cows not treated with rBST and pasta made with organic wheat. Annie’s has an extensive line of vegan products available and are committed to using more renewable resources; additionally they participate in Good Food Donors Collaborative which encourages companies to donate money directly to organizations supporting local and organic farmers.
Cliff’s Organic Snack Bars
The best nutritional bars provide a combination of carbs, protein, and fat in one convenient bar. To achieve this balance, they typically feature whole grains, nuts and seeds, dried fruit as well as no more than 17 grams of added sugar – the amount recommended by health authorities. Concentrated fruit juices or honey may provide healthier sources of added sugar than syrups and cane crystals used in many bars; some even use “stealth sugars” such as brown rice syrup, tapioca syrup or barley malt.
Though many bars boast healthy claims on their labels, it’s essential that you carefully read their lists of ingredients to select one suitable to your diet and health goals. Look out for organic plant-based proteins, natural sweeteners in smaller amounts, and fiber-rich ingredients – these choices can make an enormous difference to both daily nutrition and energy balance over time.
Natural Colors Inc.
Natural colors in food products are an ideal way to demonstrate that you care about their ingredients, not only because they’re safer than synthetic hues but also because they add flavor and nutrition. Turmeric provides vibrant yellow hues while simultaneously offering anti-inflammatory benefits; other natural sources include purple sweet potato, beetroot and spirulina.
Artificial colorants contain chemicals linked to health concerns such as allergies and hyperactivity in children. As a result, consumers are demanding natural foods and beverages without chemical additives.
Oterra, for instance, recently established an 185,000-square-foot innovation, collaboration, and production hub in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin that features an innovation lab as well as new manufacturing, logistic, and partner pilot production lines – part of Oterra’s strategy to offer customers a full selection of natural colors.
Organic Valley
Organic Valley, based in La Farge, Wisconsin is a farmer-owned cooperative producing milk and dairy products sold throughout the US and worldwide through Meijer grocery stores. Recently they became embroiled in controversy regarding allegations at a Texas dairy farm that violated organic standards by failing to provide sufficient pasture for their cows while expanding its herd by adding year-old heifers raised on conventional feed containing toxic pesticides.
Organic Valley’s farmers believe that cows are at their happiest and healthiest when allowed to eat what Mother Nature intended, which allows them to produce high-quality milk rich with nutrients. Their farmers do not use antibiotics, synthetic hormones or chemical pesticides on their farms and do not feed grain or processed foods such as corn or soy to their cows – they only feed their cows grass diet free from chemicals!
