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The Guardian
7 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
RFK Jr wants bright artificial dyes out of food. Are Americans ready to let go?
The Make America Healthy Again (Maha) movement celebrated this month after the US dairy industry voluntarily pledged to remove all artificial dyes from ice-cream by 2028. In April, US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr prevailed upon the food industry to stop using artificial dyes, and many of the nation's largest food manufacturers, including Nestle, Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo, have already promised to comply. But the ice-cream pledge made Kennedy especially happy because, he said, ice-cream is his favorite food. Prepare to say goodbye to the brilliant pink (from red dye No 40) that signifies strawberry, the cool green (yellow 5 and blue 1) of mint chocolate chip, and the heroic combination of red 40, blue 1, and yellow 5 and 6 that makes up Superman. One of the goals of the Maha movement is to prevent childhood diseases, which Kennedy argues can be accomplished by, among other things, addressing the use of additives in ultra-processed foods. A recent study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics calculated that, in 2020, 19% of food products contained artificial dyes – 'the most egregious' additive, according to Kennedy. Those dyes, he claims, are responsible for a host of health issues, including cancer, hyperactivity and possibly autism. 'The American people have made it clear – they want real food, not chemicals,' Kennedy said in a statement. Aside from jokes on social media about Donald Trump's skin tone and Kennedy's alleged use of methylene blue (an artificial dye that some claim boosts 'mitochondrial efficiency' and longevity), the initiative has faced little political opposition. In January, when Joe Biden was still president, the FDA announced a ban on red dye No 3 scheduled to go into effect in 2027. Red 3, the FDA explained, was shown to cause cancer in rats, and while it does not show up in food in large enough quantities to affect humans, it still violates a law forbidding additives that contain carcinogens. Meanwhile, states as politically varied as West Virginia, Texas and California have already established their own bans or requirements that foods containing artificial dyes carry warning labels, citing the need to protect kids. (In the UK and the EU, restrictions on artificial dyes have been in place for years.) Why the fuss over food coloring? Are natural dyes really that much better for our health? 'They're better for some people's health,' says Jamie Alan, a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. 'There is a very small percentage of children who are very sensitive to these dyes. And when they eat these dyes, they display behaviors that we sometimes associate with ADHD.' Alan stresses that there is no evidence that those kids actually develop ADHD. But research has found that after eating foods containing certain dyes, children, including those diagnosed with ADHD or autism, can show signs of hyperactivity, moodiness and inattentiveness. However many of these foods, particularly candy and soda, also contain sugar, which has also been connected to hyperactive behavior. Alan recommends that parents talk to a pediatrician and try an elimination diet to make sure the dye and not another ingredient is to blame. But she largely supports phasing out artificial dyes; most public health advocates think this is a good idea. 'In my opinion,' Alan says, 'because we're talking about children and because they are a vulnerable population, I do think this is a great thing to do. But I will recognize that it is not going to impact the vast majority of the population.' One group that the change in dyes will certainly affect is the food manufacturers themselves. Switching from artificial to natural dyes is a complex process, says Travis Zissu, the co-founder and innovation lead of Scale Food Labs in Golden, Colorado, which offers a program to help manufacturers with the dye conversion. Unlike artificial dyes, which are derived from petroleum, natural dyes come mostly from plants: turmeric, for example, is used for yellows; algae and butterfly pea flower for blues; lycopene from carrots and tomatoes for reds. These dyes can be less stable, so Scale's program begins with finding natural pigments that will not be affected by heat and other chemicals, followed by tests to determine which combination of dyes will produce the most reliable color. Next, Scale helps companies lock in contracts that will not force them to raise their prices too much and secure light-sensitive packaging to protect the colors. Finally, there are nine to 12 months of product testing to make sure production runs smoothly and that there are no adverse effects for consumers, such as red-dyed feces (something that has been known to happen with beet powder and extract; Alan says it's harmless, but admits it can be unnerving). But Zissu's biggest concern is that there won't be enough to go around. Natural color demand is already up between 30-50% across the industry since food companies began announcing their intentions to stop using artificial color, he says, and the earliest deadline – 2027 – is still years away. 'There is simply not enough supply to replace every single item in the market,' he says. 'You'll see the largest companies locking down colors soon, but there will not be enough until 2030.' There is also the worry that American consumers will reject the new colors altogether. While their counterparts in Europe, Canada and Japan have peacefully accepted the duller hues of natural dyes, Americans remain stubbornly attached to neon-bright candy and cereal. Case in point: in 2015, General Mills pledged to remove all artificial colors and flavorings from its products. The following year, it rolled out a natural version of Trix, the kid-friendly fruity breakfast cereal. But the muted Trix, colored by radishes, purple carrots and turmeric, was a flop. Customers missed the vibrant colors and complained that the new version didn't taste right. By 2017, 'classic Trix' had returned to grocery stores. On the other hand, when Kraft reformulated the powder for its macaroni and cheese and quietly began selling the all-natural version in December 2015, there was much less protest. As an Eater headline at the time put it: 'Kraft Changed Its Mac and Cheese and Nobody Noticed.' Perhaps it was the marketing strategy – Kraft did not bother to make a big announcement until after it had sold 50m boxes – or maybe it was because the natural dyes were just as orange as the original. (Alan recalls that her young nieces and nephews were slightly worried about the change but accepted the new mac and cheese without much fuss.) As the adage goes, we eat with our eyes. The appearance of food should not change our perceptions of how it tastes, but, as anyone who has ever bought produce knows, it definitely does. In nature, brighter colors indicate that foods are ripe and will taste good. This principle also applies to human-made food. As far back as the Middle Ages, according to Ai Hisano, a professor of business history at the University of Tokyo and author of Visualizing Taste: How Business Changed the Look of What You Eat, dairy farmers would mix carrot juice and annatto from achiote trees into their butter to make it a more appetizing yellow. When scientists discovered petroleum-based dyes in the mid-19th century, the dairy industry was one of the earliest adopters: the artificial dyes were cheaper, and they helped create uniform yellows for butter and cheese that appealed to shoppers. Other food producers quickly followed suit. Meat would be red! Sandwich bread would be white! Oranges – which sometimes stayed green, even when they were ripe – would be orange! By the early 20th century, the US government had started regulating food coloring to make sure it didn't kill anyone. This was also the beginning of the golden age of industrial food such as candy, breakfast cereal and, most notoriously, Jell-O, which came in colors never seen in nature. Food dye became vital for branding, Hisano writes. Even if brighter color didn't really affect flavor because the food was entirely manufactured, people perceived that it did, and that was what mattered. Would a beige Flamin' Hot Cheeto taste as spicy? 'I assume many consumers in the early 20th century were frightened by those bright-red foods,' Hisano told the Atlantic in 2017. 'But one reason consumers liked them is because they were excited about these colors they had never seen before.' And the knowledge that they were regulated by the FDA made them feel they were safe to eat. Because the identity of their products depends on color, the most resistance to Kennedy's initiative has come from America's candy manufacturers. A spokesman for the National Confectioners Association said that candy makers will not adopt natural dyes until federal regulations compel them to. Of all the biggest US food companies, only Mars, maker of M&Ms, Skittles and Starburst (incidentally, Trump's favorite candy), has not yet pledged to give up artificial dye, except for the already banned red 3. However, FDA commissioner Marty Makary told Fox News that he thinks Mars will come around sooner than later. Zissu, the food dye consultant, foresees 'an R&D sprint' to develop natural dyes before the 2027 deadline. And indeed, since May, the FDA has approved four new natural colors – three blues and one white – for a wide range of food, including juices, milk-based meal replacements, cereal, chips, sugar and ready-to-eat chicken products. But Zissu does not think that a transition to natural dyes means that the color of food will revert to a pre-industrial dullness. 'I believe we will always see the bright colors in candy and other items that consumers come to expect,' he says. 'There will just be a lot more research dedicated to getting those colors if artificial [dye] is banned.' It may also help if America's food manufacturers act en masse, as they appear to be doing: the change will be so overwhelming that, as Zissu puts it, 'neon synthetics will look as dated as trans fats.' Perhaps in a few years, we will look back at green mint chip ice-cream in wonder. (Some people already do: many ice-cream producers, including Ben & Jerry's and Häagen-Dazs, don't use green as the signifier for mint.) It seems Maha is poised to help shake America of its affair with artificial colors. But it celebrates this victory at the same time as the Trump administration guts public health infrastructure. The ice-cream industry's pledge came just 11 days after Congress passed a spending bill that will cut Medicaid spending, and therefore healthcare for millions of children, and slash Snap food assistance for US families. It came the same day that the Department of Health laid off thousands of employees. Under Trump, the government has also cut research grants to scientists studying, among other things, disease prevention and vaccines (of which Kennedy is a notorious skeptic). Underlying issues such as food and housing insecurity and child poverty that devastate children's wellbeing are likely to worsen. Alan thinks that if Kennedy is serious about improving the health of America's kids, there are much more pressing issues than food dye to work on. 'I just can't believe that someone would be given a chance to make such an impact,' she says, 'and this is what they choose to do.'
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Mooen, CSK, and Dhoni through the eyes of father Munir Ali
MANCHESTER: Moeen Ali represented Chennai Super Kings in four IPL seasons starting from 2021 winning two titles - one each in the first year and 2023. He was the third leading scorer for them in his maiden season scoring 357 runs from 15 matches. It was during that edition, he was given an opportunity to bat at No 3 and the English all-rounder made the most of it turning it to be his most successful IPL stint so far. Munir Ali, Moeen's father, said IPL played a big role in Moeen's growth as a cricketer and affirmed it was skipper MS Dhoni and CSK that used the all-rounder to the best of his potential. "Playing him at No 3 was the best thing that happened to him when he was with CSK. I always say Moeen as a batting all-rounder but hardly he was used in that capacity while playing for England. CSK rightly promoted him up the order and it augured well both for him and the team," father Munir told this daily. The 30-year-old all-rounder played his first three IPL seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru before being bought by five-time champions. Munir, who left no stone unturned to make sure Moeen makes it big at the international level, said his son learnt a lot from skipper Dhoni, which eventually helped him when he captained a few sides in England.
TimesLIVE
07-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Mulder makes history for Proteas, but should it have been more?
South Africa will win the second Test against Zimbabwe very easily, but Wiaan Mulder's selfless call to declare his side's innings at lunch will be debated for as long as the game is played. In that regard, this second Test match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo that the Proteas have dominated and that otherwise would have had very little attention, will have its place in history. Mulder scored 367 not out, the fifth-highest score in a Test innings, in which the stand-in captain then declared at lunch on day two with South Africa on 626/5. However, given the outcome is inevitable and with so much time left in the match, the opportunity not to push on past Brian Lara's world record of 400 is one that already lit the fires on social media on Monday. Mulder had certainly earned the right surpass the great West Indies batter's landmark, even if this version of Zimbabwe have been poor and conditions in Bulawayo as batter-friendly as anywhere on earth. He played with style and aggression, and other than two instances on the first day, never looked uncomfortable. It was a remarkable display of mental fortitude and fitness, with Mulder batting for 10 minutes short of seven hours. He was still running quick singles on Monday morning, and when he accelerated after passing Hashim Amla's previous South African Test record of 311, his shot-making allied power with the elegance he'd shown throughout. Mulder's approach had created the time that allowed him the chance to chase an individual record. So why not do so? In looking back at Mulder's career, he's always questioned whether he truly was worth all the hype that there'd been around him as a schoolboy, which was still there when he was elevated into the professional ranks while still completing his matric. It's perhaps worth recalling that before this Test, Shukri Conrad in explaining the reasons he decided to make Mulder captain after Keshav Maharaj was forced out with an injury, also Said he hoped Mulder got 'the sense that we back him'. Temba Bavuma mentioned something similar after Mulder won his first player of the match award against the West Indies last year. Mulder's self-belief is something he has struggled with throughout his career and perhaps the decision to declare with an all-time record in sight is wrapped up in his own sense of where he stands as a cricketer. For one he is still coming to terms with batting at No 3 — a spot he's cemented after this series — and also as captain. He doesn't want to lose his first assignment in that role. Whatever the reasons, Mulder is firmly in the history books. After Amla, he sailed past legends, who've been knighted for their achievements — Don Bradman's 334, Len Hutton's 364 and Gary Sobers' 365* — now all lay in Mulder's shadow. Besides all that, his is the first triple hundred by a captain in their first Test in the role and when he reached 300, he did so off 297 balls, the second-fasted in balls faced behind Indian superstar Virender Sehwag, who needed 278 balls when he did so against South Africa in Chennai in 2008. Of the six batters to make 350, he also did so the quickest, needing just 324 balls, beating Matthew Hayden's mark of 402 in the Australian's innings of 380, also against Zimbabwe in Perth in 2003. Mulder struck 49 fours and four sixes, the second most boundaries in a Test innings behind England's John Edrich, who hit 52 fours and five sixes while making 310 against New Zealand in 1965. Those categories all indicate the nature of the innings and will make those who felt he should have chased Lara's record even more incensed. That mood would not have been helped after Zimbabwe capitulated for 170 when it was their turn to bat. That first innings lasted just 43 overs. In total Zimbabwe's batters faced 74 balls less than Mulder managed throughout his innings. Debutant Prenalen Subrayen took 4/42, while Mulder also helped himself to two wickets and held a catch at slip.
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Wiaan Mulder becomes sixth South African Test captain in last two seasons; WTC champs widen Test pool
Wiaan Mulder – Pieter Willem Adriana Mulder – became the sixth Proteas Test captain in two years, and 18th overall of South Africa, after Keshav Maharaj had to opt out due to a groin injury. The World Test champions who cannot afford longer Test series on their calendars, have rotated players plenty in the last WTC cycle, and inadvertently developed a leadership cohort as some of the main players get rested, as they straddle multiple formats. Nicknamed Mr Cool due to his calm demeanour, the SRH batter looked ready for the responsibility. Temba Bavuma opted out of the Zimbabwe series, alongside other frontliners Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada as Keshav Maharaj was named captain. The Proteas smashed Zimbabwe in the first Test, and have called up ready replacements after injuries. Wiaan Mulder who starred with bat and ball, with a century at No 3, was named captain earlier this week. He became the 18th captain in the country's 34-year-old Test history post Apartheid re-entry. The juggling of personnel has also meant the WTC champs have had 6 captains since the last WTC cycle two years ago. Mulder follows Maharaj (1 Test, 2025), Temba Bavuma (10 Tests, 9 won, 2023-25), Neil Brand (2 Tests, 2024), Dean Elgar (18 Tests, 2017-2024) and Aiden Markram (2 Tests, 2024). Prior to that Quinton de Kock (4 Tests, 2020-21) and Faf du Plessis (36 Tests, 2016-20) led the Saffers. AB de Villiers captained in 3 Tests, and Hashim Amla in 14. Big Biff Graeme Smith led in 108 between 2003-14 and won 53, losing 28. Senuran Muthusamy replaced Maharaj on the spinner's spot for the Bulawayo Test. Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Friedel de Wet and Imraan Khan joined up the squad as Proteas Test caps bulged to 139. Mulder had a brilliant opening Test against Zimbabwe as he bagged 4 wickets and scored a ton, amongst other things, though youngster Lhu Andre Pretorius starred with a M-o-M show. Mulder after the match explained how things were coming together at No 3. 'To be honest I wanted to get some runs at No 3. I've had a couple of chances now. Very chuffed to put second innings hundred on board. Bowlers with new ball in that phase here is tricky. Something I'm trying to figure out how to go about it. I try to get more positive in innings. Put bad balls away consistently. And not worry too much about making too many mistakes up front because you are bound to get good balls. It's all about body language and what you trying to achieve. That's what Chips has been trying to push me towards,' he told Cricket SA Instagram. Mulder said he enjoyed batting at No 3, a position he had batted at since early years, which he reckoned brought both responsibility and reward. However coach Shukri Conrad has had to convince him to loosen up a little to not draw on extra pressure. 'I'm a pretty conservative person generally. So I think I always have to be perfect. He's trying to get me out of that box,' he said. On his batting process, he said, 'I'm trying to get my mental routine right. Consistently want to be in a place where I can perform at best. Right from WTC I'm feeling well. Right through to now, Like I've trained well, played well. Bat and ball. Have been catching-wise as well. My game is in a good place,' the new captain, 27, said. His form has been a fuschia pink in Zimbabwe. 'Put runs on board when you feeling good. Lot of times feeling and looking good doesn't translate to runs. I'm happy it worked out well that way. I put it down to mental routine and mental focus. Technically I'm pretty sound generally. On a wicket like this where there's so much for seamers. If you don't get it right, you will get Out,' he elaborated. 'In this team, it seems like because of how close we are, our character consistently shows on being on top. So far so good,' the new captain assured.
IOL News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Proteas batting dilemma: Will Wiaan Mulder or Zubayr Hamza slot in at No 3 in Zimbabwe Tests?
TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Proteas all-rounder Wiaan Mulder looks on after being dismissed by Australian captain Pat Cummins. Photo: AFP Image: AFP One of the key topics in the Proteas camp heading into the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo later this week is whether Wiaan Mulder will continue to bat at No 3 for the foreseeable future. The 27-year-old did not look best suited for the position in the first innings of the World Test Championship final at Lord's earlier this month, despite having lasted 44 deliveries against one of the best bowling attacks Australia have ever had. However, batting at No 3 is not only about surviving, but also about being able to transfer pressure back to the bowling attack, a feat that Mulder executed well in the second innings in London, where he scored 27 off 50 balls. In the current Test squad, there is a specialist No 3 batter in Zubayr Hamza, who, despite having had his own run there previously, will most likely be considered for the position for Saturday's first day against Zimbabwe. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Mulder told the media that it is unclear where he will bat in the series, as coach Shukri Conrad has not informed the squad of his plans as yet. Moreover, Mulder highlighted that there is a chance he could take on the position once again at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. 'I wish I could tell you where I'm going to bat. I don't know. Shukri announces the team the day before. He doesn't speak to us in between. So, it's not just me that doesn't know,' said Mulder. 'I think I've got an idea from the recent past that there's a chance I can bat at three.' Technically, Mulder is without a doubt a top-order batter, but at the moment, he lacks experience. However, how else can anyone gather experience if they are not given an opportunity to do so? Mulder reckons he has got the game to bat in that position for the world Test champions. 'Batting at three, I think technically, I've worked really hard to get my game in a place to be able to manage with the new ball and score runs during the new ball phase of every innings,' he said. 'I think I learned a lot playing in the WTC final about batting at three. That was only the second time I batted at three in Test cricket without a broken hand. 'So, the way I want to go about it is be positive and have good intent from ball one. 'I think in the first innings in the WTC final, it taught me that the positions I need to get into to be able to transfer the pressure are more important than just surviving. 'Even though you can look at it however you want, that (second innings of WTC final) was an important phase of the game, not to lose wickets. That's history now. 'But I think the important thing about it is that we look to score all the time, and that's a mindset that, when I play that way, I play at my best. 'I think the second innings in the WTC final represented that a bit more about what I want to bring. It's been a conversation with Shuks from the beginning of batting at three. 'It's something I haven't done a lot before in first-class cricket. 'So, I'm going to have to figure it out, and sometimes people will say figuring it out on the job is the deep end.
