In their publication, Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks, Dr. Sarah Kobylewski and Dr. Michael F. Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), provide fascinating research on numerous problems associated with the consumption
of synthetic food dyes.
Synthetic food colors have been suspected of triggering behavioral problems in children since the 1970s, when pediatric allergist Ben Feingold began treating allergies by putting children on elimination diets, free
of both synthetic food dyes and preservatives.
Not exact matches
The resolution calls for: nutritionally improved a la carte offerings, the removal
of sodas (including diet sodas) from vending machines, the implementation
of salad bars, more scratch - cooked
food, a reduction
of sugar in school meals, and a ban on
foods containing
synthetic dyes.
After a week
of talking quite a bit about
synthetic food dyes (namely, the FDA's decision not to require
food dye warning labels, even though
dyes exacerbate hyperactivity in some kids), I was happy to stumble on this story.
You may recall that in 2013,
food bloggers Vani Hari (Food Babe) and Lisa Leake (100 Days of Real Food) petitioned Kraft to remove synthetic yellow dyes from its «blue box» product, garnering over 365,000 signatu
food bloggers Vani Hari (
Food Babe) and Lisa Leake (100 Days of Real Food) petitioned Kraft to remove synthetic yellow dyes from its «blue box» product, garnering over 365,000 signatu
Food Babe) and Lisa Leake (100 Days
of Real
Food) petitioned Kraft to remove synthetic yellow dyes from its «blue box» product, garnering over 365,000 signatu
Food) petitioned Kraft to remove
synthetic yellow
dyes from its «blue box» product, garnering over 365,000 signatures.
Indigo appears to be licensed for use as a
food dye in the U.S., but most [
food dyes] are
synthetic and
of broadly similar chemical constitution to those used as textile
dyes.
Take a walk through any typical American grocery store and you will see thousands
of products packed with
synthetic food dyes.
The
food industry's artificial «Red No. 2» accused
of triggering hyperactivity in children and identified as a human carcinogen by scientists, is a
synthetic knockoff
of the original, amaranth derived «Hopi red
dye.»
Researchers noted that the pigment, which was stable in a range
of pH and temperature conditions, might satisfy public demand for safe, natural alternatives to
synthetic food dyes.
Simultaneously, the
food industry is busy dumping 15 million pounds
of synthetic dyes into our
food supply each year.
Manufactured pet
foods can contain umectants like sugar / sucrose, corn syrup, sorbitol and molasses; antimicrobial preservatives like propionic, sorbic and phosphoric acids, sodium nitrite, sodium and calcium propionate and potassium sorbate; natural coloring agents like iron oxide and caramel, and
synthetic coloring agents like coal - tar derived azo -
dyes such as Yellow 5, Red 40, Yellow 6, and Blue 2; emulsifying agents used as stabilizers and thickeners, such as seaweed, seed, and microbial gums, gums from trees, and chemically modified plant cellulose like citrus pectin, xanthan and guar gum, and carrageenan; flavor and palatability enhances include «natural» flavors, «animal digest», and even MSG (monosodium glutamate); natural fiber like beet pulp, and miscellaneous additives like polyphosphates that help retain natural moisture, condition and texture
of manufactured pet
foods.