Food that is bright and colorful is appealing; the brighter it is, the louder it screams "Eat me!" However, not all food colors are safe; here's everything you need to know about artificial food dyes, including where they hide, how they harm your children's (and your own) health, and how to restrict their use.
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- 1. Food dyes are exclusively used for aesthetic purposes.
- 2. Food dyes originate from a surprising place.
- 3. They may be found in a variety of meals that children like.
- 4. Food dyes may also be found in non-food items consumed by your children.
- 5. Foods marketed as "healthy" often include artificial coloring.
- 6. They are not usually readily apparent on food labels.
- 7. Artificial food dyes have been related to a variety of behavioral disorders in children.
- 8. Avoiding AFCs is becoming simpler.
- 9. There may be additional reasons to avoid artificially colored foods.
1. Food dyes are exclusively used for aesthetic purposes.
AFCs (artificial food colors) do not improve the nutritional value of food and beverages. They're often used in artificially flavored meals to give them the color of a natural flavor (such as the bright orange color of an orange-flavored drink), to increase the color of natural foods, and even to make foods seem more natural (for instance, adding yellow to baked goods to make them look like they contain eggs).
2. Food dyes originate from a surprising place.
AFCs are often made from petroleum by-products or coal tar, which many people are unaware of.
3. They may be found in a variety of meals that children like.
Drinks—fruit juices and punches, soft drinks, sports, and energy drinks—are one of the major ways kids get exposed to AFCs in their diet, according to a 2013 study by Purdue University researchers in Indiana. This is because kids eat bigger quantities of beverages than other foods containing AFCs. Purdue University researchers discovered that high-sugar breakfast cereals and candies have seen the most significant growth in the usage of food coloring over time. Boxed supper mixes, ice cream, snack foods, cakes, icings, cookies, pudding, candies, and Popsicles are all frequent hiding locations for AFCs.
4. Food dyes may also be found in non-food items consumed by your children.
AFCs are found in a variety of children's drugs (both over-the-counter and prescription), vitamins, toothpaste, and mouthwashes. Dye-free choices are currently available from several companies.
5. Foods marketed as "healthy" often include artificial coloring.
Surprise! According to Purdue University researchers, AFCs may be present in your morning yogurt. The same may be said for several cereal bars and baked items. AFCs may have been used in muffins and cookies to turn them yellow to imply the presence of eggs or brown to make them seem more healthful. Food color may be used in cereals and baking mixes that include fruit—for example, a blueberry muffin mix—to make the fruit pieces seem more bright. (See below for a complete—and often surprising!—list of AFC-containing foods.)
6. They are not usually readily apparent on food labels.
Health Canada has advocated more clear labeling for allergens in foods, such as AFCs, which may now be identified by their true name (caramel), color and number (Red #40), or the non-specific "color" on ingredient lists. Working ahead of the curve, the European Union decided in 2010 to put a warning on food labels that not only identified individual AFCs but also said that they "may have a detrimental impact on activity and attention in youngsters." As a result, the number of goods containing AFCs and their usage in the EU has decreased.
7. Artificial food dyes have been related to a variety of behavioral disorders in children.
AFCs may have an influence on the behavior of a small percentage of children with hyperactivity or an ADHD diagnosis, according to some studies. While some data suggest that AFCs may enhance hyperactivity in children who do not have ADHD, these findings cannot be applied to all children (those studies observed kids after drinking a beverage with both AFCs as well as a preservative). Some children have also suffered allergic responses, irritability, and sleep difficulties. While study into the link between AFCs and children's behavior continues, both Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration believe the AFCs found in food today to be safe for the general public.
8. Avoiding AFCs is becoming simpler.
Some food firms have reacted to public criticism by developing organically dyed products—for example, vegetable extract-colored snack crackers, macaroni-and-cheese mixtures, and sweets infused with natural fruit and vegetable colors.
9. There may be additional reasons to avoid artificially colored foods.
Avoiding AFC-containing meals usually means eating less processed, high-sugar foods, so restricting them is already a smart choice. Fruit and sports drinks, for example, are generally rich in AFCs and sugars and should be avoided in favor of water. A word of caution to parents considering a more natural, dye-free diet for their children or simply reducing the number of AFCs their children are exposed to because food dyes are so prevalent in the foods and beverages children consume, it's best to consult with your child's doctor or a registered dietitian before making any significant dietary changes.
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