The toxic truth behind the colors in your food

Federal health officials announced plans to eliminate petroleum-derived food colorings from American food products, representing a major policy shift under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health reform agenda.

The initiative targets six artificial food dyes widely used in candies, breakfast cereals, soft drinks and processed snacks, including Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3. Food manufacturers would work with federal regulators to establish transition timelines for switching to plant-based alternatives.

Kennedy told supporters that eliminating synthetic colorings represents an initial step toward reforming America's food system to combat chronic disease, stating "For too long, some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent." He characterized these additives as "poisonous compounds" that provide no nutritional value while posing health risks to developing children.

Researchers have studied possible links between artificial food dyes and hyperactivity in children. A comprehensive 2021 analysis by California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment examined 25 clinical studies and determined that 16 investigations showed evidence of positive correlations between food dye consumption and problematic behavioral outcomes in children. The same analysis found that 13 of those studies demonstrated statistically significant associations.

The California assessment concluded that consuming foods with added synthetic colorings correlates with increased hyperactivity, restlessness and other neurobehavioral difficulties in certain children, though individual sensitivity varies widely. Laboratory studies using animals have shown more definitive behavioral effects, with researchers documenting hyperactivity and memory impairment in rats, mice and rabbits given synthetic colorings.

Long-term animal studies reveal inflammatory bowel symptoms, DNA damage and endocrine disruption tied to prolonged dye exposure. While links to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer in humans remain unconfirmed, public health experts call for more research.

According to Harvard Health, the FDA panel finds insufficient evidence linking artificial food colorings to hyperactivity in most children. Certain children with ADHD may show vulnerability to food additives, prompting further investigation.

Food industry representatives continue defending current colorings as safe. Melissa Hockstad, who leads the Consumer Brands Association, maintains that ingredients in America's food supply have undergone thorough scientific evaluation using objective, risk-based assessment processes demonstrating their safety, according to NPR.

The FDA has a list of natural compounds that can be used in foods, of which galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and calcium phosphate were approved recently. Common plant-based coloring options include beet juice for red tones, turmeric for yellow hues, spinach for green coloring, and butterfly pea tea for blue to purple shades, though these alternatives may prove less stable and more expensive than petroleum-based versions, according to CNN Health.

Artificial food dyes are commonly found in unexpected items like salad dressings, instant oatmeal, flavored applesauce, cheesy chips, pickles, sports drinks, and even products in your medicine cabinet such as cough syrups, toothpaste, and children’s medications. These synthetic colors often appear as Red 40, Yellow 5, or under the label “FD&C,” which indicates FDA-approved dyes.

To avoid them, experts suggest scanning ingredient lists carefully, especially for products with unnaturally bright colors, and don’t be misled by vague terms like “natural flavors.” Synthetic dyes remain in the food supply mainly because they are inexpensive and visually appealing, not because they add nutritional or taste value.

Consumer advocacy has intensified regarding synthetic food colorings, with Environmental Working Group research documenting that Red 40 appears in over 36,000 American food products. Over nearly two decades through 2019, American consumers have purchased growing numbers of products containing synthetic additives. States have responded to public pressure, with California prohibiting six colorings from school foods and West Virginia enacting similar legislation.

The Make America Healthy Again movement, supported by "MAHA Moms" and health influencers, has built a coalition of parents concerned about chemicals in food, with activists like Vani Hari delivering 400,000 petition signatures to Kellogg's headquarters demanding removal of artificial colorings from cereals, according to CNN Politics. The movement gained political momentum when Kennedy brought up health and food safety issues into mainstream Republican politics.

Also Read:
1. FDA bans Red 3 dye from food and drugs – a scientist explains the artificial color’s health risks and long history

2. 100 years of cereal boxes show food dyes’ connection to US breakfast

3. What products contain Red 3 dye? Checking ingredient labels is the best way to find out4. FDA bans on red dye No. 3 after long-standing delays in food safety