When bright shades of blue, red, green, yellow, and purple turn cakes, donuts, and candy into works of art, it’s hard to resist them. But behind the colorful appeal of these foods lies a dark side. Over the past decade, there has been growing concern about the potential health risks of consuming artificial food colors.
Unlike natural food dyes, which are made from vegetables, fruits, and spices, artificial color additives (also known as synthetics) are derived from petroleum and refined and tested until they no longer contain traces of petroleum, according to the American Chemical Society.
What are the artificial colors used in food?
Color additives are added to foods for a variety of reasons, including to compensate for color fading due to exposure to light, air, and temperature, and to correct and enhance natural colors. The color additives we see in food have undergone a rigorous certification process for safety approval, and there are two types.
- Dyes : Dyes come in powders, granules, and liquids and dissolve easily in water. These dyes are often found in baked goods, beverages, and dairy products.
- Lakes: lakes are forms of water-insoluble dyes. Lakes are ideal for contaminating foods that tend to be rich in fats and oils. Sweets, chewing gum, supplements and some cake mixes use lakes instead of dyes.
Here are the nine certified synthetic color additives approved for use on ingredient labels:
- FD&C Blue No. 1
- FD&C Blue No. 2
- FD&C Green No. 3
- FD&C Red No. 3
- FD&C Red No. 40
- FD&C Yellow No. 5
- FD&C Yellow No. 6
- Orange B
- Citrus Red No. 2
But there are certain color additives that are exempt from certification, and these colors are derived from natural sources, such as vegetables, minerals, or animals. Although exempt, these ingredients are still considered artificial color additives and must meet regulatory requirements.
Some examples include:
- Anato extract (yellow)
- Dehydrated beets (bluish red to brown)
- Caramel (yellow to tan)
- Beta-carotene (yellow to orange)
- Grape skin extract (red, green)
Why are natural derived dyes considered artificial?
According to the FDA, some ingredients found in nature (such as beets and grapes) can be produced more economically in a laboratory. These types of food colors are generally not linked to the adverse effects associated with other artificial colors.
Whether you are concerned about artificial food colors or not, the bottom line is that you can make an informed decision for yourself by looking for these color additives in your food. Artificial colors are not only found in sweets and cakes; They are also used in some cheeses, sauces, yogurt, packaged foods, snacks, and drinks.
One of the drawbacks of artificial food colors is the foods in which they are used. Often they are high in sugar, have very little fiber, and may contain other overly processed ingredients .
Should you be concerned about artificial food colors?
Relationship with allergies
Although the FDA still supports the decision that artificial colors, whether man-made or derived from natural food sources, are safe for consumers, science has shown certain compounds, such as those found in FD&C Yellow No .5, can cause itching and hives .
Although the research sample size was small, it is important that sensitive people are aware of this.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology says that while some studies have linked food dyes to allergy symptoms, reactions are generally very rare . For example, a previous study from July 2000, published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, shows some link between FD&C yellow No. 5, also known as tartrazine, and allergic reactions.
The researchers said that the 2,210 patients, who were exposed to psychotropic medications containing tartrazine, developed allergic reactions, but they also noted that some of the patients had a history of tartrazine allergies and aspirin sensitivity.
Additionally, a small March 2014 study of 100 people, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, found that only one percent of patients with chronic urticaria showed symptoms after being exposed to tartrazine and others. Food Additives.
Link with behavior problems in children
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer advocacy group that promotes nutrition, food safety and health, has conducted extensive research on food dyes and has also found links to synthetic food dyes and behavior problems in children.
Previous research also raised concerns about hyperactivity in children who consume certain food colors.
Due to these health issues, CSPI formally petitioned the FDA to ban the use of artificial food dyes in food in 2008. However, it has since been reviewed by the FDA and found that these studies did not prove a link between color. additives that were tested and behavioral effects.
For example, an August 2005 study, published in the Archives of Disease in Children, which included 1,873 children, reported significant reductions in hyperactivity in children when they eliminated artificial food coloring from their diet . The children’s parents also reported increases in hyperactivity when they consumed beverages containing artificial colors.
CSPI also cites numerous studies highlighting the toxicity and carcinogenic effects of artificial food colors in a June 2010 report, Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks. However, it is worth noting that many of the studies were conducted in rats.
Because of these health problems, CSPI has formally petitioned the FDA to ban the use of artificial food colors, such as Yellow 5 and Red 60, in foods in 2008.
What about natural food colors?
If you’re concerned about artificial food colors, there is now a variety of natural plant-based food colors that you can buy at the store. Some of these food colors are made with ingredients like red radish juice, spirulina extract, and turmeric extract.
Basically, if something stains your hands when cutting it, it can stain the food . The advantage is that it also means that it is also rich in antioxidants. However, it is important to note that natural food dyes still contain some processed ingredients to help maintain their color.
‘Processed’ is not necessarily a term to be feared, but more so keep in mind how the particular food is processed to make sure it aligns with your particular eating style. As with anything, sweets made with natural or synthetic food colors should be eaten in moderation.
How to make your own natural food coloring?
Natural food dyes make it easy to recreate many of the colorful baked goods and snacks you love at home, but they tend to be more expensive than artificial ones. An easy solution is to make natural food colorings using vegetables and fruits, which are not only free of synthetic ingredients, but are packed with health-enhancing nutrients and minerals .
For example, you can use spinach to give a green color; dried wild blueberries for blue ; beets for a dark pink or purple; freeze dried strawberries for red or pink; and turmeric for yellow.
