Processed food often contains artificial food dyes that keep food looking the same on the shelf for months at a time, while also giving foods an appealing color. Nine food dyes are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use. Many concerns about food dyes' safety have prompted research and investigation into their effects.
Types
Food dyes used in the United States are mostly petroleum based and include Blue No. 1, or brilliant blue; Blue No. 2, or indigotine; Green No. 3, or fast green; Citrus Red No. 2; Red No. 3, or erythrosine; Red No. 40, or allura red; Yellow No. 5, or tartrazine, and Yellow No. 6, called sunset yellow. Food coloring that dissolves in water is called a dye; food colorings added to nonsoluble foods such as hard candies, gum and to outside coatings are called lakes.
Purpose
Food dyes serve no purpose except to enhance or change the color of a product. Artificial coloring is not just added to processed food; oranges have Citrus Red No. 2 sprayed on them to enhance their orange color, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy reports. Hot dog casings and butter are among other foods that have food dyes added.
Allergies
The color FD&C Yellow No. 5, or tartrazine, may cause more reactions than other food dyes, MayoClinic.com reports. An FDA conducted study in 1986 concluded that fewer than 1 in 10,000 people might develop hives from FD&C Yellow. The same study found no increase in asthma symptoms in people consuming the dye. Foods with tartrazine commonly added include beverages, custards, candy and ice creams, according to the FDA.
Hyperactivity
While MayoClinic.com states there's no evidence that food dyes and other additives cause hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder in children, the dyes may worsen symptoms in children with ADHD. A British study reported in "Archives of Disease in Children" in June 2004 by lead author Belinda Bateman of the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom found that hyperactive behavior increased in children given 20 mg of food coloring plus 45 mg of sodium benzoate, a preservative. Hyperactive behavior decreased when the additives were withdrawn.
Considerations
In 2008, Great Britain called for a voluntary removal of several dyes used in the United States, including tartrazine, sunset yellow and allura red dyes. Some products marketed in both the United States and Britain now contain different levels of food dyes. In Britain, the Mars candy company removed food dyes from Skittles and Starburst Chews and is removing dyes from M&Ms as well. Kraft Lunchables in the United States contain food dyes, while Lunchables produced for the British market do not. It is possible to create food without artificial coloring.
References
- MayoClinic.com: ADHD Diet: Do Food Additives Cause Hyperactivity? Dr. John E. Huxsahl: Nov. 6, 2009
- Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy: Smart Guide to Food Dyes: February 2009
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Food Ingredients and Colors
- "Archives of disease in childhood":The effects of a double blind, placebo controlled, artificial food colourings and benzoate preservative challenge on hyperactivity in a general population sample of preschool children.: Belinda Bateman et al.: August 2005
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