Ban Urged On Common Food Dyes
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) says food dyes pose a number of risks to the American public and is calling on the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) to ban three of the most commonly used dyes: Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. A new CSPI report says “Food dyes—used in everything from M&Ms to Manischewitz Matzo Balls to Kraft salad dressings—pose risks of cancer, hyperactivity in children, and allergies, and should be banned.”
“These synthetic chemicals do absolutely nothing to improve the nutritional quality or safety of foods, but trigger behavior problems in children and, possibly, cancer in anybody,” said Michael Jacobson, co-author of the report. “The Food and Drug Administration should ban dyes, which would force industry to color foods with real food ingredients, not toxic petrochemicals”.
The FDA has reviewed the report yet but a spokesperson said “We appreciate the report from CSPI and look forward to reviewing it. We take our commitment to protecting children seriously”.
Dyes currently approved are Blue 1 and 2, Citrus Red 2, Orange B, Red 3 and 40, Yellow 5 and 6. Every year about 15 million pounds of dyes are used in our food despite health concerns.
The Food Standards Agency, a government agency in Great Britain, found a link between hyperactivity in children and certain food coloring. Starting July 20th food in Europe containing some of these dyes will require a label warning of possible health effect on “activity and attention in children”.
In Britain McDonald’s Strawberry Sundaes get their color from strawberries, whereas here they get their color from Red Dye 40. Also Fanta orange soda in Great Britain gets its color from pumpkin and carrot extract whereas here it comes from Red 40 and Yellow 6.
CSPI Says Food Dyes Pose Rainbow of Risks.
