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New York Post
22-04-2025
- Health
- New York Post
All the health risks of the 8 food dyes the FDA is banning — including cancer and behavioral issues
The hateful eight? The US Food and Drug Administration announced a plan Tuesday to phase out eight petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from America's food supply in the coming months. 'Food dye is just a no-brainer. Nobody wants to eat petroleum. Everybody knows there's enough science out there that we know it's terrible for you. It causes health problems but also behavioral problems,' Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said at a Tuesday news conference. Advertisement 7 US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has long targeted artificial dyes found in candy, cereals, sports drinks and processed snacks. Kennedy is pictured here at a March 2025 event. AP The FDA already banned the dye known as Red No. 3 in January after it was shown to cause cancer in lab rats. A deadline was set to remove Red 3 from food by January 2027 and from medications by January 2028. FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said the agency is requesting food companies remove Red 3 sooner than these deadlines. Kennedy has long targeted artificial dyes found in candy, cereals, sports drinks and processed snacks. Advertisement The FDA plans to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings — Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B— in the coming months. The other six would be removed from the food supply by the end of 2026. Here's a look at the health concerns surrounding the eight artificial dyes on the chopping block. Blue 1 7 The artificial coloring Blue 1 gives Takis their blue hue. Mdv Edwards – Also known as Brilliant Blue FCF, Blue 1 is derived from petroleum to give foods such as M&Ms and Takis a blue hue. Advertisement An unpublished study on mice suggested a potential link between Blue 1 and kidney tumors, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The non-profit watchdog has been calling for more Blue 1 testing, as a preliminary test-tube study raised questions about its possible effects on nerve cells. Blue 2 7 This photo shows blueberry Pop-Tarts on display at a confectionery shop in London. Blue 2 is banned in some European countries due to concerns about its potential carcinogenicity. I-Wei Huang – Blue 2, also known as indigo carmine or indigotine, mimics the color and properties of plant-based indigo dye in products like Skittles and blueberry Pop-Tarts. Advertisement Research indicates a higher occurrence of certain tumors, particularly brain gliomas, in male rats exposed to Blue 2. 'Blue No. 2 cannot be considered safe for human consumption,' researchers from Poland wrote in a 2021 study. Citrus Red No. 2 7 Florida oranges are sometimes treated with Citrus Red No. 2 to enhance their appearance. Jan Ebling – It's used to color the peels of oranges, particularly those grown in Florida, that are not intended for processing. Citrus Red No. 2 is not allowed on the edible parts of oranges — like the pulp or flesh — and it's banned for citrus grown in California and Arizona. It can cause cancer in rats and mice. Green 3 The artificial green dye, called Fast Green FCF, is produced through chemical synthesis. It's not as widely used as the other food dyes, but it can be found in processed foods like canned peas and sherbet. Banned in Europe, the additive has been linked to a significant increase in bladder tumors in rats. Orange B Advertisement 7 Orange B use in the US is limited to hot dog and sausage casings. Getty Images The color additive is only permitted for use in hot dog and sausage casings. In high doses, it can damage the liver and bile duct. Red dye 40 Red 40, aka Allura Red AC, gives red color to products like Kool-Aid, Starburst and NyQuil. Studies suggest that the dye may increase hyperactivity and irritability in children, especially if they have ADHD, and trigger allergic reactions in others. Yellow No. 5 Advertisement 7 Mountain Dew gets its neonish hue from Yellow No. 5. gubernat – Commonly known as tartrazine, Yellow No. 5 can be found in brightly colored sodas like Mountain Dew and processed snacks like Twinkies. Some research has warned that it can damage DNA, cause inflammation and increase hyperactivity in children. It is known to cause allergic reactions. Yellow No. 6 Advertisement 7 Lucky Charms contains Yellow No. 6, as well as Red 40, Yellow 5 and Blue 1. Getty Images Yellow No. 6, or Sunset Yellow FCF, imparts a vibrant yellow-orange hue to Airheads, Jolly Ranchers, Lucky Charms and other processed foods. It can be contaminated with the carcinogen benzidine during the manufacturing process. Studies have linked Yellow No. 6 to neurobehavioral issues in children as well as allergic reactions.
Washington Post
15-02-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Red dye No. 3 has been banned, but what about other artificial food dyes?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the dye known as Red 3 from the nation's food supply in January, setting deadlines for stripping the brightly hued additive from candies and cough syrup, baked goods and frozen treats. The agency said it was taking the action because studies found that the dye, also known as erythrosine, caused cancer in lab rats. A federal statute requires FDA to ban any additive found to cause cancer in animals, though officials stressed that the way Red 3 leads to cancer in rats doesn't happen in people. But the dye is only one of several synthetic colors widely found in common foods and other products. As their use is questioned by experts and consumers, here's what you need to know: Synthetic dyes are petroleum-based chemicals that don't occur in nature. They're widely used in foods to 'enhance the visual appeal' of products, according to Sensient Food Colors, a St. Louis-based supplier of food colors and flavorings. Nine dyes, including Red 3, have been allowed in U.S. food. The other common color additives in food are Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. Two permitted colors are used more rarely: Citrus Red 2 and Orange B. The FDA certifies synthetic color additives and regulates their use. With the FDA's recent order on Red 3, manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove the dye from their products. Makers of ingested drugs like cough syrups have until January 2028. Consumer advocates, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, had long lobbied to ban Red 3 from food because of the rat-cancer link. The dye was prohibited for decades in cosmetics, but not in food or ingested medications. Other research has tied artificial colors to behavioral problems in some children, including hyperactivity and impulsivity, particularly for those at risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. 'Artificial colors are not the main cause of ADHD, but they may contribute significantly to some cases,' said Dr. L. Eugene Arnold, an emeritus psychiatry professor at Ohio State University who studied dyes and their effect on behavior and now advises CHADD, a support group for people with ADHD. The FDA says it has reviewed and evaluated the effects of color additives on children's behavior. It says its scientists believe that most children suffer no adverse effects when consuming them, though it acknowledges some children may be sensitive to them. About two-thirds of Americans favor restricting or reformulating processed foods to remove ingredients like added sugar or dyes, according to a recent AP-NORC poll. Momentum is building for the removal of synthetic dyes in foods. Last year, California became the first state to ban six artificial food dyes from food served in public schools. More than a dozen state legislatures may take up bills this year that would ban synthetic dyes in foods, either for school lunches or in any setting. In October, protesters demanded that WK Kellogg Co. remove artificial dyes from cereals such as Apple Jacks and Froot Loops. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , recently confirmed as the U.S. secretary of health and human services, campaigned on a promise to 'Make America Healthy Again,' including a focus on artificial dyes and other chemicals in food. His support has been buoyed by 'MAHA moms,' women on social media calling for an end to artificial ingredients and ultraprocessing in the U.S. food supply, among other concerns. 'I was called a conspiracy theorist because I said that red dye caused cancer,' Kennedy said during his confirmation hearing. 'Now, FDA has acknowledged that and banned it.' It is possible to add color to foods with natural ingredients. Some manufacturers have already reformulated products to remove Red 3. In its place they use beet juice; carmine, a dye made from insects; or pigments from foods such as purple sweet potato, radish and red cabbage. But it's tricky, said Meghan Skidmore, a Sensient spokesperson. Natural dyes may be less stable than synthetic dyes and may be affected by factors including heat and acid levels. 'It's not impossible to replace, but there's not a single solution,' she said. Because the dyes are so widely used, it can be difficult to find foods that don't contain color additives. The best to way to avoid the dyes is to read ingredient labels, said Arnold. 'If the list is so long that you don't want bother reading it and it probably has things in it you can't pronounce, don't buy it,' he said. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
