Candy color cereal. Neon pickle. Wasabi Peas. Many popular foods complain from artificial dye. Artificial dyes make it look appealing to children and adults with synthetic coloring agents used in food.
In recent years, artificial dyes have become a topic of debate. You may have seen the topic pop -up in news and social media.
Some of you can be surprised, so you can understand if some of the grocery store may be harmful to your health.
As a registered nutritionist, I came to share the facts about artificial food dyes and the potential effects.
What is artificial food dye?
Artificial food dyes are often derived from petrochemicals.1).
Many artificial dyes have been approved by the US Food Pharmacy (FDA) and the European Food Safety Bureau (EFSA) to use them for processed foods, Gumi vitamins and medicines. (1,,, 2).
The most commonly used artificial food dye (10) include:
- Red 3 (Erito): Cherry red shades.
- Red 40 (Allura Red): Dark red dye.
- Yellow 5 (Tard Trazin): Lemon-yellow dye.
- SUNSET YELLOW: Orange-yellow shades.
- Blue 1: Green dyeing dye.
- Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine): Royal blue color.
- Green 3 (fast green): Grass green dye.
The FDA has recently banned the use of RED 3 to food, supplements, and oral drugs, but there is a company to remove dye from January 2027 or 2028.14).
Currently, FDA and EFSA are still approved using Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 and Blue 2. (12). Other dyes were approved by one regulatory agency, but other regulators are approved. Red 40 is the most widely used food dye.3).
This artificial color can appear in the same food.11)::
- Morning cereal
- Packed baked food
- Preserved
- ice cream
- JARRED Pickle
- Packaging soup
- Ice Candy
- Candy and Fruit Gumi
- Seasoning
- Cheese snack
- Tasteful popcorn and chip -like snacks
- Dull and frozen drink
- Sports drink and soft drink
- Cake decoration gel and icing
Since 2010, foods with certain artificial dyes in Europe can adversely affect children’s activities and interests (”5).
There is no equal labeling system in the United States. According to the FDA, there is no evidence that the approved dye is not safe (it is not safe.12).
Potential health effects of artificial food dye
Some studies have raised concerns about artificial food dyes. This study suggests it Artificial dyes can affect children’s behavioral health. (6).
For example, California’s OEHHA’s 2021 report links artificial dyes with behavioral problems such as hyperactivity in children.7). According to a 2024 review of 15 studies, artificial food dyes can harm health. Again, this danger is a much bigger concern for children (8).
California banned six artificial dyes at public schools in 2024 due to the study of possible behavior. This is California School Food Safety Act. Since then, 11 states have introduced a similar bill that prohibits specific food dyes and additives.15,,, 16).
The allowable daily intake for this dye was set up decades before the latest research was carried out.6). In a new study, this suggests For children, the currently acceptable daily intake can be too high.A person who can be more vulnerable to the potential impact of food dye (6).
According to a report from the 2018 American Academy of Pediaatics, we urged safety review.9). More research is required to fully understand the possible effects of food dye..
What does all this mean to you?
If there is no decisive study on the health effects of artificial dyes, Especially if you feed children, you can consider limitations by preventing measures.. Luckily, this has become easier when many naturally colored foods enter the market.
If you want to keep in mind artificial food dye
To limit artificial food dye on the diet, the following are as follows:
- Select the whole food: Reduce the consumption of super processed foods and focus on a diet rich in healthy and healthy foods. This automatically reduces the intake of artificial food dyes as an additional bonus for overall health improvement.
- Get information: Check the food label. Foods identify dyes and naturally find or make alternatives.
- Teach children a healthy eating habits: Show how to choose food. This will help you understand why you switch to a new choice for some of the snacks.
- Go naturally: Thanks to the demand for shoppers, you can buy food dyed with natural ingredients at most grocery stores. In addition, you can experiment with alternatives naturally to add colors and flavors to food at home.
- Blue Spirurina (blue)
- Red candy powder (red)
- Turmeric or carrots (orange)
- Spran (yellow orange)
- Strawberry like Raspberry and Blueberry (pink, blue, purple)
- Red cabbage (blue)
- Matcha or spinach (green)
Each natural dye has a slightly different preparation method. You can easily find it online. This is an interesting activity for children and knows how to color food without using artificial dyes.
This step allows you to limit your artificial dyes for you and your family.
Artificial food dye is a popular topic for health -sensitive consumers. Some people choose to limit artificial food dye in the diet. Studies have found that these dyes can especially affect children. More research is needed.
It may not be realistic to completely remove artificial dyes in the diet. Therefore, enjoy your favorite candy, drinks, or other snacks, whether natural or artificial materials are available. Balance!
Posts that nutritionists want to know about artificial dye were the first to appear on the MyfitnessPal blog.
