Latest news with #RedDyeNo.40
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
I gave up artificial food dyes for a month. It was harder than I thought.
I'll be the first to admit that prior to this project, I did not give food dyes much thought. After all, I eat, shop and cook pretty healthily. I'm a lifelong vegetarian turned vaguely pescatarian, I shop organic whenever possible (at the very least for the Dirty Dozen), I frequent the farmer's market, and I actually enjoy eating all the weird types of plant-based protein. But I'm also a mom of two young kids, and therein, as I quickly learned when I began my first day of eliminating all artificial food dyes from my life, lies the rub. As I whirred my way through my fridge, pantry and medicine cabinet, I was alarmed by how many of my kids' go-tos — mostly treats, but also things like pickles and Tylenol — include synthetic additives like Red Dye No. 40 and Green Dye No. 3. What surprised me even more, though, was the flip side: There was a whole category of neon kid foods I had assumed I'd need to eliminate (mac and cheese, Goldfish crackers, etc.) that turned out to have no artificial food dyes at all thanks to naturally bright colorants like turmeric. Phew. Why try to avoid or eliminate synthetic food dyes in the first place? Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would ban the dye known as Red No. 3, which is petroleum-based and found in common foods like frosting, fruit cocktail and gummies. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently took it a step further, announcing that the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services will eliminate all petroleum-based artificial food dyes from foods sold in the U.S. The primary concern with these dyes is that consumption of them has been linked to behavioral problems in some children, according to analysis from the State of California. Then there's the issue that, while a dye like Red 40, for example, is not currently listed as a carcinogen itself, it does include benzene, which has been linked to increased cancer risk. Plus, these dyes are derived from petroleum. In an era of omnipresent and often ingested microplastics, did I really want to be feeding my kids this stuff? Of course not, I thought. But I wasn't sure how feasible it would be to swap them all out. Where to start? The Center for Science in the Public Interest shares a starter list of common foods that include synthetic dyes, so I stormed through my kitchen and bathroom in search of those and to read all the other labels I encountered. Then I set out for our local Kroger to find the necessary swaps and was only somewhat successful. Since dye-free alternatives weren't always readily available there, I also had to squeeze in a trip to the health food store. Then there are all the difficulties of sourcing dye-free in the wild, like at the gas station next to my son's taekwondo class, where he often grabs a Gatorade. Most notably, our dye-free month coincided with a family trip to North Carolina, and travel definitely put the difficulty of finding alternatives into perspective. It also meant passing up this pretty (but dye-enhanced) sea glass candy. Here are the main food dye culprits I discovered in my family's food rotation, and what I ended up replacing them with. In my research, I discovered that most of the major pickle companies, including Mt. Olive, do offer a dye-free version, but only the Vlasic one was available at my Kroger. I was interested in figuring out whether the dye-free versions would all be more expensive, as NPR's recent reporting seems to indicate, but it was impossible to find an exact dye-free/with-dye comparison within the same brand at the same store. Among Target's wide variety of Vlasic options, price variations are only a matter of cents. So the main reason to skip the swap seems to be if you really, really want your pickles to be neon. Surprise! Who knew my '90s favorite kid drink, Capri Sun, was actually dye-free? Whether we were headed to sports practice or the airport, juice-like drinks marketed to kids, from a rainbow of Gatorades to Sunny D (which includes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6), were items that kept popping up during this experiment. Luckily, my sons were not at all fazed by the (equally sugary, I'm sure) dye-free swap options. The Bubly Burst was a particular hit; it's colored with carrot juice concentrate and is compellingly bright pink. In this mom's opinion, Lily's gummies, colored with vegetable dyes, taste better. The downsides were price (Lily's gummies were $2.50 for one measly pouch at Kroger, whereas Welch's cost $6 for 22 pouches) and availability: Welch's fruit snacks are my kids' favorites to grab at the airport to help their ears pop during takeoff and landing. Sadly, the likes of Lily's have not expanded to the national airport market (yet!). Lily's gummy bears also softened the blow of having to ditch our stash of Blue 1-enhanced Airheads. We have been potty training my youngest, and M&Ms have been a hugely helpful tiny treat. My little one gets two M&Ms when he pees in the potty, three for a poop. I am not above a bribe that makes my life easier! He did not notice at ALL when I swapped his reward, and I'm now obsessed with these better-tasting (to me), off-brand, all-natural alternatives. They're colored using vegetables, and they even use real vanilla. But alas, this was a swap that required a trip to the natural foods store, and I couldn't find them at the airport. The spicy El Yucateca was a stealth culprit; I was surprised to see 'Yellow 5 and Blue 1' listed in the ingredients list. Why is it necessary to dye green peppers green? Luckily, Marie Sharp's variation made for a tasty, dye-free substitute. Ah, the problematic pièce de résistance of the food dye swap-out. My kids love grape Tylenol, but it's colored with Red 33 and Blue 1. When I got the dye-free kind and offered it to my son after a dental procedure, the prospect of sucking down non-purple medication elicited plenty of whines and a lot of pushback. Which led me to … I know I'm not alone as a conscientious yet kinda lazy parent. And while this swap-out experiment was, for the most part, straightforward, the somewhat difficult parts of it (travel, Tylenol) left me asking: How worried do I really have to be about these food dyes? Do I have to keep pushing dye-free Tylenol if the bright purple version makes my life easier? 'It's not a deal breaker at all,' Jamie Alan, an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State University, tells Yahoo Life. When it comes to synthetic food dyes, 'a small, limited dose will likely have no effects on the vast majority of children.' The primary risk to watch for, Alan explains, is the one found in the California report: the fact that 'some food dyes have been linked to neurobehavioral issues and hyperactivity.' But that's only in some kids, and as always it's important to make decisions based on your own individual child's health and behavior (and in tandem with your child's medical care providers) rather than based on what might work best for another child — or worse, what you read on some blog. Alan provides a few helpful suggestions for parents and other individuals who do want to reduce artificial food dyes in their kitchens, bathroom cabinets and lives overall. The first step? Actually reading what you're about to buy or consume. 'Checking the label is important,' Alan says. One smart hack is shopping imported (easier said than done during 2025 tariff days, we know), since 'many other countries have already banned some of these dyes," Alan notes. "Checking the aisles for imported products, like drinks and candies, might be useful." Overall, your best bet is to pay attention to both the ingredients your family consumes and your child's behavior — something we parents should probably be doing anyway, food dyes or no food dyes. But don't stress too much about it. 'Not all children are sensitive to these dyes,' Alan reiterates, 'but there are some children who are very sensitive to these dyes when consumed.' As for me, I'm 100% going to stick with the vast majority of the food swaps I stocked up on in my kitchen — all those treats and pickles taste just as good without the additives. But I'll likely go back to buying the purple Tylenol.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
I gave up artificial food dyes for a month. It was harder than I thought.
I'll be the first to admit that prior to this project, I did not give food dyes much thought. After all, I eat, shop and cook pretty healthily. I'm a lifelong vegetarian turned vaguely pescatarian, I shop organic whenever possible (at the very least for the Dirty Dozen), I frequent the farmer's market, and I actually enjoy eating all the weird types of plant-based protein. But I'm also a mom of two young kids, and therein, as I quickly learned when I began my first day of eliminating all artificial food dyes from my life, lies the rub. As I whirred my way through my fridge, pantry and medicine cabinet, I was alarmed by how many of my kids' go-tos — mostly treats, but also things like pickles and Tylenol — include synthetic additives like Red Dye No. 40 and Green Dye No. 3. What surprised me even more, though, was the flip side: There was a whole category of neon kid foods I had assumed I'd need to eliminate (mac and cheese, Goldfish crackers, etc.) that turned out to have no artificial food dyes at all thanks to naturally bright colorants like turmeric. Phew. Why try to avoid or eliminate synthetic food dyes in the first place? Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would ban the dye known as Red No. 3, which is petroleum-based and found in common foods like frosting, fruit cocktail and gummies. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently took it a step further, announcing that the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services will eliminate all petroleum-based artificial food dyes from foods sold in the U.S. The primary concern with these dyes is that consumption of them has been linked to behavioral problems in some children, according to analysis from the State of California. Then there's the issue that, while a dye like Red 40, for example, is not currently listed as a carcinogen itself, it does include benzene, which has been linked to increased cancer risk. Plus, these dyes are derived from petroleum. In an era of omnipresent and often ingested microplastics, did I really want to be feeding my kids this stuff? Of course not, I thought. But I wasn't sure how feasible it would be to swap them all out. Where to start? The Center for Science in the Public Interest shares a starter list of common foods that include synthetic dyes, so I stormed through my kitchen and bathroom in search of those and to read all the other labels I encountered. Then I set out for our local Kroger to find the necessary swaps and was only somewhat successful. Since dye-free alternatives weren't always readily available there, I also had to squeeze in a trip to the health food store. Then there are all the difficulties of sourcing dye-free in the wild, like at the gas station next to my son's taekwondo class, where he often grabs a Gatorade. Most notably, our dye-free month coincided with a family trip to North Carolina, and travel definitely put the difficulty of finding alternatives into perspective. It also meant passing up this pretty (but dye-enhanced) sea glass candy. Here are the main food dye culprits I discovered in my family's food rotation, and what I ended up replacing them with. In my research, I discovered that most of the major pickle companies, including Mt. Olive, do offer a dye-free version, but only the Vlasic one was available at my Kroger. I was interested in figuring out whether the dye-free versions would all be more expensive, as NPR's recent reporting seems to indicate, but it was impossible to find an exact dye-free/with-dye comparison within the same brand at the same store. Among Target's wide variety of Vlasic options, price variations are only a matter of cents. So the main reason to skip the swap seems to be if you really, really want your pickles to be neon. Surprise! Who knew my '90s favorite kid drink, Capri Sun, was actually dye-free? Whether we were headed to sports practice or the airport, juice-like drinks marketed to kids, from a rainbow of Gatorades to Sunny D (which includes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6), were items that kept popping up during this experiment. Luckily, my sons were not at all fazed by the (equally sugary, I'm sure) dye-free swap options. The Bubly Burst was a particular hit; it's colored with carrot juice concentrate and is compellingly bright pink. In this mom's opinion, Lily's gummies, colored with vegetable dyes, taste better. The downsides were price (Lily's gummies were $2.50 for one measly pouch at Kroger, whereas Welch's cost $6 for 22 pouches) and availability: Welch's fruit snacks are my kids' favorites to grab at the airport to help their ears pop during takeoff and landing. Sadly, the likes of Lily's have not expanded to the national airport market (yet!). Lily's gummy bears also softened the blow of having to ditch our stash of Blue 1-enhanced Airheads. We have been potty training my youngest, and M&Ms have been a hugely helpful tiny treat. My little one gets two M&Ms when he pees in the potty, three for a poop. I am not above a bribe that makes my life easier! He did not notice at ALL when I swapped his reward, and I'm now obsessed with these better-tasting (to me), off-brand, all-natural alternatives. They're colored using vegetables, and they even use real vanilla. But alas, this was a swap that required a trip to the natural foods store, and I couldn't find them at the airport. The spicy El Yucateca was a stealth culprit; I was surprised to see 'Yellow 5 and Blue 1' listed in the ingredients list. Why is it necessary to dye green peppers green? Luckily, Marie Sharp's variation made for a tasty, dye-free substitute. Ah, the problematic pièce de résistance of the food dye swap-out. My kids love grape Tylenol, but it's colored with Red 33 and Blue 1. When I got the dye-free kind and offered it to my son after a dental procedure, the prospect of sucking down non-purple medication elicited plenty of whines and a lot of pushback. Which led me to … I know I'm not alone as a conscientious yet kinda lazy parent. And while this swap-out experiment was, for the most part, straightforward, the somewhat difficult parts of it (travel, Tylenol) left me asking: How worried do I really have to be about these food dyes? Do I have to keep pushing dye-free Tylenol if the bright purple version makes my life easier? 'It's not a deal breaker at all,' Jamie Alan, an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State University, tells Yahoo Life. When it comes to synthetic food dyes, 'a small, limited dose will likely have no effects on the vast majority of children.' The primary risk to watch for, Alan explains, is the one found in the California report: the fact that 'some food dyes have been linked to neurobehavioral issues and hyperactivity.' But that's only in some kids, and as always it's important to make decisions based on your own individual child's health and behavior (and in tandem with your child's medical care providers) rather than based on what might work best for another child — or worse, what you read on some blog. Alan provides a few helpful suggestions for parents and other individuals who do want to reduce artificial food dyes in their kitchens, bathroom cabinets and lives overall. The first step? Actually reading what you're about to buy or consume. 'Checking the label is important,' Alan says. One smart hack is shopping imported (easier said than done during 2025 tariff days, we know), since 'many other countries have already banned some of these dyes," Alan notes. "Checking the aisles for imported products, like drinks and candies, might be useful." Overall, your best bet is to pay attention to both the ingredients your family consumes and your child's behavior — something we parents should probably be doing anyway, food dyes or no food dyes. But don't stress too much about it. 'Not all children are sensitive to these dyes,' Alan reiterates, 'but there are some children who are very sensitive to these dyes when consumed.' As for me, I'm 100% going to stick with the vast majority of the food swaps I stocked up on in my kitchen — all those treats and pickles taste just as good without the additives. But I'll likely go back to buying the purple Tylenol.
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
What is 'Red 40,' food dye banned by FDA and RFK Jr?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned Red Dye No. 40 in food and drinks, citing growing evidence that the artificial colouring may contribute to hyperactivity and behavioural issues in children. Red Dye 40, also known as Allura Red, has been a staple in children's snacks for decades, brightening cereals, candies, and drinks with vivid red hues. But amid increasing scrutiny, the FDA has now prohibited its use, triggering a major shift in the food industry. The agency said its decision followed new research showing potential links between the dye and neurobehavioral changes in children, including hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and attention issues. A 2022 meta-analysis reviewing 25 studies found consistent behavioural effects in some children following consumption of Red 40. Although not all children are affected, the FDA concluded the risks outweigh the benefits of using the dye. Officials also noted allergic and inflammatory responses in animal studies, strengthening the case for a ban. European regulators had long required warning labels on products containing Red 40. The FDA's new ban goes further, removing the ingredient entirely from the U.S. market. Products impacted include cereals like Froot Loops, candies such as Skittles, and beverages including fruit punches and sports drinks. Red 40 has also been used in baked goods, flavoured snacks, condiments, and even some vitamin drinks. Manufacturers are already preparing to reformulate products using natural colourants. These include plant-based alternatives such as beet juice, carrot extract, spirulina, and paprika. Companies like Kellogg's and Mars, Inc. are among those exploring natural replacements. Food scientists say natural colourings may produce subtler shades than artificial dyes, but they expect minimal impact on flavour or texture. The move has been widely praised by parents and paediatricians. Many parents who had already removed Red 40 from their children's diets reported noticeable improvements in behaviour, sleep, and focus. The American Academy of Pediatrics welcomed the FDA's action, calling it a win for child health. Still, experts advise parents to consider other factors such as sugar and sleep that can also affect behaviour. The FDA's decision marks a shift in public health policy, acknowledging consumer concerns and scientific findings. While foods may look a little less vibrant, many families see the change as a positive step towards safer nutrition for children.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is Already Reshaping Your Spice Rack
Spice brand McCormick & Company announced in an earnings call that it is increasing efforts to reformulate products, as the United States Department of Health and Human Services targets food additives and dyes. Several states have already banned a number of food dyes and additives, and the Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of Red Dye No. 3. McCormick & Company may develop new products that align with health-focused food trends, like functional ingredients and high protein States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s influence is already being felt throughout the food industry in the United States, and you may soon see its impact on your spice drawer. In late March, McCormick & Company, one of the largest spice and seasoning brands in the world and a name that's likely in your own pantry, announced on an earnings call that it's working with its restaurant and food manufacturer clients to reformulate products, as customers move away from dyes and other food additives targeted by Kennedy and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "We are seeing a tick-up in reformulation activity," Brendan Folly, the chief executive officer of McCormick & Company, shared on the call. According to Foley, this is happening across its customer base. Per the executive, this aligns with "what you're seeing and being written out in the news media regarding what we're hearing from the new administration." However, it's not just the HHS targeting food additives — individual states are taking action, too. In 2023, California passed a law banning four chemicals from food production: Red Dye No. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and propylparaben. All of these, with the exception of Red Dye No. 3 in a small number of candied and cocktail cherry products, are already banned from use in food across the European Union. "We know they are harmful and that children are likely being exposed at a much higher rate than adults," Susan Little, senior advocate for California government affairs at the activist organization Environmental Working Group (EWG), shared at the time. "It makes no sense that the same products food manufacturers sell in California are sold in the EU but without these toxic chemicals. Our kids need to be protected, too." Related: More Than 10,000 Chemical Food Additives Ended Up in the U.S. Food System — Here's Why In March of this year, West Virginia passed a similar law, banning the use of Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2, and Green Dye No. 3, along with the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, from being used in drugs or food products sold in the state. As Food & Wine previously reported, the dyes will be barred from use in "any meal served in a school nutrition program" starting on August 1, 2025. The dyes and preservatives will be banned statewide starting January 1, 2028. "West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why there's no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission," Governor Patrick Morrisey shared in a statement about the law. "By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, we're taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges." New York state is working on similar legislation, the New York Food Safety and Disclosure Act, which would not only ban specific chemicals, but also require companies to disclose 'generally recognized as safe' (GRAS) additives on food packaging. Several other states have similar bills in the works, which consumers can track using the EWG's interactive legislation map. While McCormick & Company is working on reformulating products, the brand notes that only a small number of its goods contain food dyes. Foley explains on the earnings call, "We don't really have a lot of usage of color in our products as you might expect, at least very, very few overall. Now with respect to [changes to] formulations, we are seeing more activity on that, definitely." Related: States Are Cracking Down on Toxic Food Chemicals — Is Yours One of Them? In January, the Food and Drug Administration officially banned Red Dye No. 3 over concerns about its connection to cancer, noting that it must be removed from food products by mid-January 2027 and from ingested drugs in 2028. McCormick announced in March that it will be phasing the dye out of its products before the ban goes into effect. What can you expect from McCormick & Company moving forward? Foley hinted that the brand may soon launch new products to fit consumers' "healthier lifestyles" and align with growing trends like "hydration, functional foods, [and] high protein." Existing products are being reformulated, and consumers can expect new product releases to come. Read the original article on Food & Wine
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
These 7 Food Dyes Are Starting to Get Banned in States—Should You Still Eat Them?
Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD"Key Takeaways" Food dyes like Red Dye No. 40 and Yellow Dye No. 5 are now banned in West Virginia. Foods containing these dyes won't be allowed in school lunches in the state starting August 1. A dietitian says that more research is needed on food dyes to determine health week, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey signed a bill that will prohibit seven food dyes in school lunches and in food items for sale across the state. The food dye ban in West Virginia schools will start August 1, 2025, and the ban will extend to retail food starting January 1, 2028. The following additives will be included in this ban: Red Dye No. 3 Red Dye No. 40 Yellow Dye No. 5 Yellow Dye No. 6 Blue Dye No. 1 Blue Dye No. 2 Green Dye No. 3 Some of these dyes are commonly found in breakfast cereals, soft drinks, dairy products, candy, jellies and even condiments and canned foods. It's safe to assume that these dyes are on the ingredient lists for thousands of products on the market. Related: Should You Worry About Food Dyes? Here's What Experts Say West Virginia isn't the only state to sign similar legislation. Last year, California banned six of the seven listed food dyes above from schools—and the one dye left out of their list, Red Dye No. 3, was officially banned by the FDA earlier this year. But why are these dyes being banned right now, and should we look for them on our labels? Is it time to avoid food dyes altogether? We asked our nutrition editor and registered dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD to explain. 'It's important to remember that most research done on food dyes is done on animals like mice or worms instead of on humans. And oftentimes, the animals are given a concentration of food dyes that wouldn't be realistic for a human to consume (think three or more times greater than the acceptable daily intake set by the FDA),' shares Ball. 'There is a growing body of research on the potential negative health effects of consuming ultra-processed foods in excess, but this is often related to things like added sugar, sodium and saturated fats rather than food dyes. The science does not suggest that food dyes are significant contributors to chronic diseases like obesity, heart disease or diabetes.' If you would like to avoid these dyes for personal reasons, that's understandable and you're free to do so. There are plenty of products and retailers like Trader Joe's that promise high quality dye-free foods. But because of the limited science and the lack of proof that these dyes can cause health concerns, this isn't a swap that you need to make. 'There are a lot of well-researched ways to support overall health, like maintaining a balanced eating pattern, regular physical activity, healthy lifestyle, social support, food access and creating a health-supportive environment,' explains Ball. 'These things are important to focus on when talking about improving public health, and they are supported by science. Claims about the health effects of food dyes are not evidence-backed in that same way.' Related: Why Is the California Prop 65 Warning Label on All of My Food Containers? Read the original article on EATINGWELL
