Food colorant has been used as a means of enhancing the aesthetic pleasure of food for centuries. Archaeological evidence dates the use of color additives in foods to over 3000 years ago. Since WW II there has been a huge increase in synthetic (chemical) food dyes to meet consumer demands for colorful food.
Many synthetic food dyes used today have been proven to cause cancer, hyperactivity (particularly in children), inattentiveness, asthma, and in rare cases death.
Evidence is World Wide
In February 2007, The Brazilian Journal of Biology published their findings on tartrazine (yellow dye). It is a nitrous derivative and is known to cause allergic reactions such as asthma and hives. Tartrazine belongs to the “azo class” of food dyes meaning it is a possible carcinogen. Azo class is derived from petroleum distillates.
The UK Food Standards Agency commissioned two studies in 2003. Both in-depth studies concluded that food dyes adversely affect children. Some increased behaviors include lack of concentration, lack of focusing, interrupting conversations, talking too much and fiddling with objects or their own body.
This 2003 study coincided with results from an informal study conducted with 8 and 9 year old students at a school near Toronto, Canada in 2008. For one week, students were asked what they ate for breakfast and their snack and lunch foods were recorded. Behaviors were monitored throughout the day. Those students who ingested a minimum of three food dyes demonstrated increased levels of lack of concentration, restlessness and fiddling with their shoes or their own body. It's also interesting to note that the children with increased behaviors also take a daily multi-vitamin that contains synthetic food coloring.
Food Color Bans Do Not Keep People Safe
“Street Foods”, written by A.P. Simopoulos and R.V. Bhat, report that banned colors (rhodamine b and metanil yellow) appear in many street foods in several countries. Rhodamine b was banned 50 years ago and is used today as a dye in the textile and plastic industries.
Every country has some bans on some synthetic food colors. The FDA was even quoted as saying “there continues to be a large number of detentions for illegal and undeclared food color additives, from approximately 35 countries.” Products such as Vietnamese sweet and sour mustards, Chinese strawberry creme filled crackers and Orange Fanta from Mexico are a few products that have been detained.
Bottom line, no matter what country, not all imported foods and beverages are inspected and caught immediately. Food colors that are banned in one country still have imports on store shelves with food and beverage items containing the banned substance in other countries. Trade agreements should not override health issues. In order for bans to be effective, they must be global.
Know What Food Dyes are Unsafe
The following is a brief description of some known food dyes that can cause adverse health effects:
- FD&C Yellow 5 (tartrazine): breakfast cereals, jams, snack foods, packaged noodles, soups, dry drink powders, candy, pudding. May cause palpitations, hives and itching in children, restlessness, sleep disturbances, asthma and allergic reactions.
- FD&C Blue 1 (brilliant blue dye): dairy products, jellies, icings, syrups, extracts, drinks and candies. Cause of death in some elderly patients due to enteral (tube) feeding. Banned in many countries but not the U.S. or Canada. This is derived from petroleum distillates.
- FD&C Red 3: E127 (erythrosine): used in dental labs, printing inks and food dye. Found in candies, baked goods, condiments and snack foods. Has estrogen-like growth stimulatory properties. Significant risk factor in human breast carcinogenesis. Possible thyroid tumors and chromosomal damage.
- FD&C Red 40 (Allura Red): snack foods. Can cause tumors, lymphomas and adhd in children.
Taking responsibility for what is served to our children is paramount. Read labels and ask questions. Most food manufacturers have their website address on the packaging. Send them an email asking what specifically is in the food you're eating. There are also reliable online resources that can help.
Natural alternatives do exist. Ask your local health food store for suggestions or look online for suppliers. Enjoying colorful food shouldn't be harmful to your health.
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