They’ve been called the “rainbow of risk” by the Centers for Science in the Public Interest: a group of artificial colors that include Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40.

In fact, in England and elsewhere in Europe, food dyes like these must carry a notice informing parents that the dye may impact a child’s concentration and attention.

In 1906, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act, “For preventing the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or misbranded or poisonous or deleterious foods…” It specifically banned food dyes and artificial colors that were dangerous for human consumption. 

Over time more and more artificial flavors were banned, like Orange 1 in 1950. And today we’re left with 7 FDA-approved colors, that are increasingly coming under fire from health advocates. Yellow 5, for example, is currently undergoing tests from the Food and Drug Administration because of links to hyperactivity, anxiety, and migraines. The link between artificial colors and behavioral problems is growing more concerning.

Renee Shutters, a mother of two from Jamestown, N.Y., says that by eliminating certain foods from her son Trenton’s diet, especially petroleum-based food dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, his behavioral and focus problems improved and today he excels at school and in sports. “I know for sure I found the root cause of this one because you can turn it on and off like a switch,” Ms. Shutters said to the New York Times.

Shutters started a petition on Change.org asking Mars to phase out artificial colors from its candies and confections. For example, M&M’s in Britain are made with natural colors while in the U.S., they are still made with artificial colors.

The most popular artificial color, Red 40, is also highly controversial. According to a CSPI report, “the most-widely used dye, may accelerate the appearance of immune-system tumors in mice. The dye causes hypersensitivity (allergy-like) reactions in a small number of consumers and might trigger hyperactivity in children. Considering the safety questions and its non-essentiality, Red 40 should be excluded from foods unless and until new tests clearly demonstrate its safety.”

But there’s hope. In the U.S., many popular products rely on artificial colors but even still, many companies are taking a different approach. For example, using annatto color, it’s a natural food coloring made from the ground up seed pods of the annatto tree. Also, more and more candies are using naturally derived colors and flavors.

Related on EcoSalon

Would You Rather…Eat Artificial Colors or Flavors?

The Best Organic and Vegan Lipsticks

The Facts About Food Dyes

Image: twenty questions

The post Artificial Colors Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6 Called the ‘Rainbow of Risk’: So, Where’s the Pot of Gold? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Should you avoid artificial food coloring?

Mmm…Nothing says homemade like Red #40, Yellow #5, and Blue #1.

If you eat any processed foods, chances are there’s some type of food coloring in it. Even stuff that’s natural might have it; oranges are often injected with dye to give them their bright orange color. Seriously, oranges.

Food dyes are regulated by government agencies around the world. In the United States it’s the FDA doing the work, and what they ban and allow doesn’t always match up.

For example, Blue #1 and Blue #2 are banned in Norway, Finland and France, but allowed in the US and included in everything from candy to pet food. The golden yellow of Kraft macaroni and cheese? Brought to you by Yellow #5 and #6, both banned in the European Union. That bright blue in Nutrigrain Blueberry bars? That’s not thanks to some wild sourced blueberries. Nope, it’s Blue #1.

To be clear, these products exist in other countries, they’re just colored naturally instead of with artificial food coloring. Fanta in the UK for example is colored with pumpkin and carrot extract, while in the US it’s Red #40 and Yellow #6. Food chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s refuse to sell products with artificial food coloring. If they’re not willing to sell it, are you willing to buy it?

There’s a laundry list of research out there that shows how the body reacts to these synthetic dyes. There have been reports of allergic reactions to Yellow #5 and various studies have shown links between the consumption of food dyes and hyperactivity.

Americans are eat five times more food dyes in 1955, and while there are arguments for and against the safety of food dyes, one thing is sure: they’re artificial and synthetic. If you believe in putting whole, natural food in your body, products with artificial food coloring, which are often the processed products to begin with, shouldn’t make the cut.

For a visual of food dyes, where they are banned and health-related issues that they are linked to, check out this infographic, which covers artificial food colorings and their links to everything from brain tumors to insomnia.

Infographic: Special-Education-Degree.net

The post Is Artificial Food Coloring Bad For You? appeared first on EcoSalon.