What have you eaten today? Perhaps some cereal for breakfast, a Cuban sandwich for lunch and a salad with smoked salmon and capers for dinner. Now let me rephrase that question, what have you really eaten today?
Confused? Chances are, you’re like many others who don’t know that many of the foods we eat daily contain harmful, artificial food dyes. We all know the main offenders: sugary drinks (not just sodas!), potato chips, and candy. But do you know the names of the dyes to avoid the most?
Toxic Food Coloring
These are just some of the most common food coloring in our food: [1]
Red #40
Also known as “Allura Red”, Red 40 is the most widely used food dye. If you’ve ever seen how vibrant red a cherry sports drink can be, it’s thanks to Red 40. Other common foods that contain red 40 are hot dogs, jams, jellies, candy, potato chips, and pizza. Studies have looked at how it can lead to behavioral problems in children. This popular dye also finds its way into cosmetics, drugs, and vitamins! Make sure you steer clear of this one.
Red #3
Also called “Erythosine” (if that doesn’t scream toxic, I don’t know what does!), Red #3 has been banned for use in cosmetics and certain drugs. The reason? The FDA found that it’s a thyroid carcinogen with notable results in animals. Still, this food coloring can be found in candies, maraschino cherries, and oral medication. Keep your eyes peeled for this one on labels.
Citrus Red #2
A little more uncommon, but still hidden Citrus Red #2 has found its way onto the skin of oranges from Florida. According to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), citrus red #2 is a group 2B carcinogen or a possible carcinogen.
Yellow #5
Also found on ingredient labels as tartrazine, Yellow 5 is known to trigger hyperactive behavior in children. It features prominently in foods that need a bit of yellow to them. This includes candy (like those Peep marshmallows you see every April), soft drinks, corn chips, mustard, and cosmetics.
Yellow #6
Derived from petroleum (!), Sunset Yellow or Yellow #6 is a dye found in candy, desserts, sauces, preserved fruits, cosmetics, and drugs. Yellow #6 has been found to be non-carcinogenic. Compared to the other dyes on this list, Yellow #6 may sound much tamer, but that’s certainly not the case. One study of 153 3-year olds and 144 8/9-year old children found that children given a drink with artificial colors experienced increased hyperactivity compared to a placebo drink. [2]
Green #3
Green #3 is also known as “Fast Green” and is often found in canned green peas (they have to keep their colour somehow right?), jelly, veggies and desserts. While it may be one of the least used of the dyes, you may still come in contact with it. The consequences of green #3 aren’t to be taken lightly either. In a study of rats, it’s been shown to promote the growth of tumors of the bladder. It is currently banned in many European countries.
Blue #1
In 2003, Blue #1 or Brilliant Blue was at the center of controversy regarding its use in feeding tubes. The FDA warned that Brilliant Blue in feeding tubes caused side effects ranging from blue-tinged skin to hypotension and even death. [3] More recent research published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology has found that Brilliant Blue is able to enter the bloodstream. This is a significant study as it has long been assumed that most dyes are broken down by your digestive system and aren’t absorbed. Definitely steer clear of this one! [4]
7 Shocking Foods You Didn’t Know Have Toxic Dyes
While we all know about dyes in candy, very few people I’ve spoken to know these 7 common household foods can have toxic food coloring too! [5]
- Cereals
- Smoked salmon
- Flavored Yogurt
- Salad Dressing (try making your own instead!)
- Salsa and Hot Sauce (try these 26 delicious dips and sauce recipes out)
- Pickles
- Applesauce
Shocked? Always make sure to look at the labels of food before you put them in your mouth, toxic food dyes can find their ways into the meals of even the most holistically healthy people! For good measure, avoid the food from these 10 companies.
Organic Food Coloring
Of course, everyone loves having beautifully colored foods, especially when it comes to special occasions such as birthdays or holidays with theme colors associated with them. Instead of turning to artificial food dyes, try these natural alternatives for brightly colored food without the dangerous side effects.
Have you found dyes in any other surprising foods? Let us know in the comments below!
Sources
[1] Center for Science in the Public Interest. (2010, July 1). Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risk. Retrieved from https://cspinet.org/resource/food-dyes-rainbow-risks
[2] McCann, D., Barrett, A., Cooper, A., Crumpler, D., Dalen, L., Grimshaw, K., . . . Stevenson, J. (2007, November 03). Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17825405
[3] Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. (2003, September 29). In Medical Devices – FDA Public Health Advisory: Subject: Reports of Blue Discoloration and Death in Patients Receiving Enteral Feedings Tinted With The Dye, FD&C Blue No. 1. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ColorAdditives/ColorAdditivesinSpecificProducts/InMedicalDevices/ucm142395.htm
[4] Lucová, M., Hojerová, J., Pažoureková, S., & Klimová, Z. (2013, February). Absorption of triphenylmethane dyes Brilliant Blue and Patent Blue through intact skin, shaven skin and lingual mucosa from daily life products. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691512007727
[5] Stevens, L. J., Burgess, J. R., Stochelski, M. A., & Kuczek, T. (2014, April 24). Amounts of Artificial Food Dyes and Added Sugars in Foods and Sweets Commonly Consumed by Children. Retrieved from http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0009922814530803
Image Sources:
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