A Reason for Change: Food Dye
Today, if we could sit down, sip a tea or iced latte, and chat, I’d talk to you about food dye.
Sometimes it’s subtle, like caramel color or dye added to salmon to “enhance” the color so it mimics it’s wild caught counterpart, and sometimes it’s blatant like neon green gummy bears. We learned a few years ago that one of our favorite treat spots boasting herbal tea adds red dye to their hibiscus tea to make it “more pink.” Anyone remember purple ketchup from the late 90s?
Food dye has been included in American food products for more than 150 years, but a 2014 FDA study found that Americans were consuming 5x more food dye than in the 1950s. Data compiled by Laura J. Stevens, M.S. of Purdue University demonstrated that from 1950-2010 food dye consumption increased by nearly 6x.
Researchers have been investigating the link between food dye and hyperactivity since the 1970s, but it’s still a prominent part of the grocery store shelves despite the fact that the FDA has publicly acknowledged the connection between ADHD and some food substances, including food dye, since 2010. Their current position is that “it doesn’t affect enough of the population to warrant action”—which isn’t synonymous with being safe.
A 2013 analysis of 24 studies by researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland estimated that 8% of children with ADHD have symptoms that are worsened and even caused completely by food dye. When you consider that more than 6 million children in the US currently hold an ADHD diagnosis- 8% is a HUGE number that stand to benefit from removing food dyes from the American diet.
If there was absolutely no evidence of adverse affects from artificial food colors (AFCs), I would still advocate that they be completely removed from any person’s diet. Because really- does our cereal need to be blue? Do our popsicles need to be neon yellow? Will athletes stop drinking sports drinks if they can’t have a red one?
Ever been to a kids birthday party? I’ve started paying attention each time the cake is served and it takes about 15 minutes before melt downs happen across the room.
There was a double blind study done in 2010 where 300 kids (mostly without any sort of hyperactivity diagnosis) were given beverages with food dye. A significant number of kids across the age groups displayed “higher levels of impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity after consuming dye.” I don’t know if you’ve been around kids ages 3-9 lately, but they’re already pretty impulsive, inattentive and hyperactive. Let’s not add to it!
In an age where little ones struggle more and more with things like attention, hyperactivity, emotions, and communication to name a few, it’s so deeply upsetting to me that food dye continues to infiltrate so many of the foods marketed to children despite its connection to such struggles.
There is nothing natural about these dyes. They carry zero nutritional value. They have been connected over and over again with medical issues facing people today. These dyes are added to laboratory created food-like concoctions that have no place on our tables!! Food dye side-affects aside. Consider the quality of foods using food dye- it’s not good!
God created so much color in our food- REAL food. Created food. Food that nourishes our bodies!! Let’s literally put our money where our mouth is and spend our dollars on foods that aren’t laced with these dangerous chemical concoctions!!
Can I make one specific request? Ditch those ice pops!! There’s not a single real food ingredient to be found there! Choose cold treats made from real food, or better yet, make your own! If you’re interested in getting food dye out of your diet but can’t quite figure out how to implement those changes we would love to help you! By contacting us about a free 15 minute consultation we can learn a bit about your specific needs and make recommendations on which of our services best fits your needs.
