Food Coloring Chemicals – what are they? Are they something I can eat and still be healthy?
Food dyes really ARE ingredients to become aware of to protect our health.
Why Do Food Coloring Chemicals Matter?
Why Do Artificial colors/food dyes matter? They are made from petroleum chemicals.
Gasoline, tar, asphalt, diesel fuel all have a common connection with these food additives. Even though there ARE natural ways to make food coloring (beets, onions, plants), it is cheaper for food manufacturers to use synthetic, petroleum based additives.
That is a BIG pile of stuff to worry about!
Artificial colors offer ZERO nutritional value. They are only included to trick our brains into thinking the food is more pretty and fools us into believing it tastes better.
Some Artificial Food Dyes can affect the hormone balance in our bodies. Hormones are part of the Endocrine System. If you’d like to read more about this, check out my earlier post about Endocrine Disruptors.
Let’s Look At Risks From
Food Coloring Chemicals
Red Dye No. 40
The Food and Drug Administration deems Red Dye 40 to be safe and regulates its use in food; however, other organizations, such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest, believe it to be carcinogenic.
The FDA requires Red Dye 40 to be listed on the ingredients list of food products that use the coloring. The ingredient may be listed under one of the following names:
Red 40
Red 40 Lake
FD&C Red No. 40
FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake
Allura Red AC
CI Food Red 17
INS No. 129
E129
Red No. 3
Red No. 3 has limits of how it is used in the U.K.
However, The USFDA approved this dye in 1931, and later banned many uses of this additive.
WHY was it partially banned in 1991? Research showed it can cause cancer when used in high doses. BUT despite that partial ban, Red No.3/Erythrosine is still found in many foods here in the U.S
Yellow No. 5
The way Yellow 5 is shown on labels can FOOL US. Yellow 5 food dye may appear in the ingredient lists in the following forms:
1310 or 1409 Yellow
Acid Leather Yellow T or Acid yellow 23
Calcocid Yellow MCG
Cilefa Yellow T
Dye Yellow Lake
E 102
E102
Hispacid Fast Yellow T
Hydrazine Yellow
Lake Yellow
Lemon Yellow A Geigy
Maple Tartrazol Yellow
Oxanal Yellow T
Tartraphenine
Tartrazine
trisodium salt
W-107716
Wool Yellow
Yellow No. 6
Yellow 6 may contain contaminants that are known cancer-causing substances. Benzidine, 4-aminobiphenyl and 4-aminoazobenzene are potential carcinogens that have been found in food dyes.
Norway and Finland have banned Yellow #6. Why? It contains cancer-causing compounds. In addition, Yellow #6 causes tumors in the kidneys and adrenal glands of laboratory animals.
Yellow #6 dye has been known to act as estrogen “enhancers”. This means that these particular dyes have the ability to behave like estrogen in the body which can in turn cause a number of other issues for both men and women.
American cheese, macaroni and cheese, candy, and carbonated beverages may contain Yellow #6, so check labels.
Green No. 3
Green No. 3 has been researched and is tied to bladder and other cancers.
It is also known as Fast Green FCF
Blue No. 1
Blue #1/Brilliant Blue is most often used in beverages, baked goods, and other sugary foods. This artificial additive has been found to cause kidney tumors in mice.
Blue No. 1
In 1999, reports began associating Blue #1 with digestive tract problems and then passed into the bloodstream.
BTW – Indigo Carmine/Blue #2/Indigotine, is used in food, drinks, prescription drugs and could be in your pet food, too. It has been shown to cause tumors in male rats, most often brain tumors.
So NOW What Do We Do About Food Coloring Chemicals?
It’s time to start reading food labels. And looking for artificial food dyes is a great place to start!
Look for “FD&C dyes” or the words “Artificial color” or “Added colors”
Start with something obvious and something that likely has these chemicals. Do you see it there?
Ok. Switch your attention to something less obvious. Look at fruit roll-ups or maybe dried fruit. Do you see it there?
NOW you are rolling! Pick one or two foods you typically eat, that are using artificial colors. Can you decide upon something healthier that can replace these?
THAT’s the way of the Chemical Minimalist! YAY for YOU!
I love to help you to Enjoy Your Healthy Life!
Pam Schmidt
Chemical Minimalist
Mindfulness Mentor
P.S. Get the support you need to get things rearranged and reduce the chemicals in your home, food, cleaning supplies, and healthy supplements. Request a private consultation with me.Find more articles about reducing toxins or join our community…. https://ChemicalMinimalist.com
