Food Dyes: What Color is YOUR Sky?

Synthetic food dyes...an undercover agent needing exposure!  Listened to a great webinar last week which really enlightened me on the dangers of these sneaky agents. Here is the link to Center for Science in the Public Interest: http://www.cspinet.org/fooddyes/ and the full report at: http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/food-dyes-rainbow-of-risks.pdf from which much of the info came. Here are the highlights and my take:

Synthetic food dyes include: Blue 1 & 2, Red 3 & 40 & Citrus Red 2, Green 3, and Yellow 5 & 6. These are all made from petroleum (petrochemicals) and can cause hypersensitivity, hyperactivity, behavioral problems, allergic reactions, neuroendocrine toxicity and possibly cancer; they may also be contaminated by carcinogens during processing. In lab animal studies, many of these DO cause cancer. That means they can be considered carcinogens. The definition of a carcinogen (per Merriam-Webster dictionary): "a substance or agent causing cancer." WOW.  Would you readily ingest a cancer-causing agent? Suck it back like, say, your favorite drink or snack? 

Even if the studies are mixed, the behavioral issues should be a big red flag for us parents. Who wants their kid flying off the handle, being the loudest at the party or disrupting the classroom? There may be something to that Feingold diet after all. The Feingold site: http://www.feingold.org/ gives loads of info (since like 1970!) on how diet affects childrens' behavior. For more info on food dyes and their prevalence: http://www.iatp.org/files/421_2_105204.pdf  and note that in Europe and especially Great Britain, most of the same dye-laden items we sell here are dye-free versions there! They use natural colors like beet juice and turmeric instead of artificial colors as their government has mandated.

The problem lies with the amount of synthetic food dyes being ingested in the US. Also, combinations of dyes used together in one product or when multiple colored foods/drinks are ingested together, may have a cumulative effect in humans.  The major issue in my view is the consumption in children, whose bodies are smaller and may absorb greater amounts of these dyes, not to mention their love of all things brightly colored! The most commonly used are Red 40, Yellow 5 & Yellow 6. These 3 combined account for 90% of all dyes used (per CSPI's report) and it appears their use has increased 5-fold since the 1950's.  Think about how many colored foods and drinks you and your family ingests in a day!

Safer alternatives ARE available for commercial food manufacturing! These include beta carotene, beet juice, paprika, and turmeric. There is really no need for synthetic dyes in our food supply; they serve no safety or nutritional purpose. And they may truly cause harm. They are very, very prevalent: check your packaged food and drink labels! These dyes are used in practically EVERYTHING: juice drinks, yogurt, bread, cereal, granola bars, pop tarts, fruit snacks, frozen desserts, jelly/jam, cookies, etc. It takes a lot of detective work in the food store (like you even have time to check!) to seek out those few items without dyes!  I say reward those companies who do avoid them! Here are some of my recommendations for dye-free kid-friendly food/drink items:

• Motts Fruit Snacks (these are the ONLY fruit snacks I have ever found without dyes!)
• Nature Valley granola bars
• GoGo squeeZ applesauce (sold at Target)
• Pepperidge Farm Goldfish: most versions (although not the colored ones!)
• Nature's Path Toaster Pastries (Awesome pop tarts sold at many supermarkets like Giant)
• Utz Potato Chips (even the Old Bay chips have no dyes)
• Fiber One granola bars
• Planters NUTrition Energy Bars (these do contain peanuts FYI)
• Kraft Deluxe macaroni & cheese (do check carefully here & pretty much you have to avoid the character versions: sorry! Get your Sponge Bob fix elsewhere)
• Back to Nature mac-n-cheese (many big-name supermarkets do carry)
• Annie's mac-n-cheese (got it at Giant)
• Danimals yogurt (this is a tough area, so check carefully on labels)
• Town House Reduced Fat Light Buttery Crackers (and NO trans fat either: WOW)
• Cheez-It crackers (most versions are dye-free: they use annatto extract though)
• 100% Juices (even Capri Sun makes a version: check labels!)
• Trader Joe's snacks: this is a great place to let your kids pick their own stuff: pretty much the whole store is dye-free! (just note that many of their personal care items do contain parabens, but that is a whole other blog!)

By the way, to get more natural products (and organic produce), just ask! Most supermarkets are franchised and run by a local manager, who wants you to keep spending your money with them, so they are glad to please you if you will buy it!. For more resources on where to buy dye-free items or what to substitute: http://www.allergyfreeandsugarfreesnacks.com/dye-free-snacks.html and http://halfasgoodasyou.com/?p=5796: just scroll down to see the listing of foods (FYI: there is some adult language in this blog)
And for Easter Eggs: http://chemistry.about.com/od/holidayhowtos/a/eastereggdyes.htm

In terms of getting this artificial food dye out of our food system, this is a much bigger problem. Think of the tip of the iceberg and the Titanic and you have some idea of what we are up against.  One excellent way to indirectly remove the dyes is by governing food manufacturers to post warning labels on the front of the foods and drinks containing artificial dyes and that they may be linked with ADHD.  So far this has not panned out, but we can hope!
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/health/policy/30fda.html and http://www.fairwarning.org/2011/04/panel-rejects-warning-labels-for-food-dyes/ and http://cspinet.org/new/201112081.html
You can take action here: http://my.cspinet.org/site/PageServer or by contacting your elected officials at http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Here are some other linked blog sites for your perusal: http://fooddyediaries.blogspot.com/2008/08/whats-up-with-food-dye.html and http://colorfreediet.com/

Remember also that artificial food dyes are also in many personal care items which are often marketed for kids: is it possible to absorb dyes via the skin?  If so, this would add to your total exposure and may have a cumulative effect. Your skin and scalp are porous tissues: they readily absorb ingredients topically applied and these can go throughout the body via blood vessels just beneath the surface. The skin is your largest organ! Just start being aware of what ingredients you give yourself, but especially those small people in your life who are still growing.

Bottom Line: start using your eyes and READ YOUR LABELS! Good luck y'all

OKAY! I have finally had it with everyone editing my stuff! Now I can FINALLY post my writing and ranting unedited (except by me, which is great as I do have a journalism background).  Here is my original blog article slated for the Sun (printed today in the Taste section) but cut up! They are sooo conservative. Here is my original submission on Aphrodisiac Foods: just in time for Valentine planning :)

Aphrodisiac Foods

Ah L’Amour. It’s that time of year when love is in the air-and the kitchen.  Whether you add gusto to a greeting card or bake a bevy of bites for your better half, here’s the lowdown on which romantic foods may actually rev you up-and add some nutrition too.  Aphrodisiacs are foods used historically to get blood flowing, stimulate hormones or affections, promote fertility, raise body temperature, or just be psychologically suggestive.  Whether they actually work is subjective, but you can bet your libido on this list of healthy picks. Multiple foods are considered aphrodisiacs but those noted here (in italics) are rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and antioxidants: now that’s seductive!

Sassy Sweets.  Life is short: eat dessert first. Pick up some chocolate and do it in the dark. Dark chocolate is higher in cocoa and lower in sugar: try it melted or as a fondue with fresh pineapple and watermelon. Chocolate fondue recipe with espresso: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/chocolate_fondue.html_0  Rally some raspberries with slivers of fresh aromatic mint leaves.  Get your endorphins going with honey: try drizzling it on fresh fruit, like grapes or bananas, which can also be baked into bran muffins or sliced into whole wheat pancakes: don’t forget to add the vanilla bean.  Fit fancy figs into your festivities or pop pomegranate seeds for pleasure.  And consider champagne, which in moderation can be enjoyed with some strawberries. End the meal with a stimulating demitasse of coffee stirred with cinnamon.

Savory & Sensual.  Looking to zap some zest in your zucchini or liven up your linguine? See red with spices and capsaicin-rich hot chilies. An asparagus appetizer, like revenge, can best be served cold with a sexy citrus dipping sauce. Or try arousing avocado mixed with olive oil, tomatoes, onion and garlic as guacamole, served with carrots, celery, radish and red peppers.  Herbs like basil, rosemary and sage add bright color and flavor with minimal effort.  Increase excitement with ginger, nutmeg, saffron and mustard.  Up the satisfaction of salad with arugula, and increase virility with bites of broccoli rabe and other bitter mustard greens. Steam up attraction with artichokes: try roasted garlic and artichokes: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/artichokes-with-roasted-garlic-wine-dip-10000001622453/. Ruby red wine can be stirred in stews or used as a marinade (the alcohol burns off as the food cooks).

Powerful Protein.  Looking for love? Try oysters, but cook before eating as a food safety precaution.  Nuts seduce in so many ways, so sprinkle pine nuts into a white bean chili or top off a meal with fragrant almonds, pistachios or licorice-flavored fennel, coriander and anise seeds. Toss your salad with walnuts, pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds.  Get big flavor in a small package with musky truffles (the mushroom not the candy): found in specialty stores.  Get euphoric with eggs: consider a frittata built with black beans to offer a high-fiber expression of desire. Seductive Salmon should be Coho, Pacific or wild Alaskan (but not farmed): top it with a small dollop of lusty caviar or try almond-crusted salmon: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Almond-Crusted-Salmon

Master your Meal.  Whether planning a quickie feast or an all-day affair, adding aphrodisiac foods can be fun and nutritious.  Gustatory stimulation starts in the nose and the eye, so allow aromas to waft in the air and serve passionate colors on a beautifully prepared plate to tempt all the senses. When in doubt, use heart-shaped cookie cutters, and set the table with a bouquet of roses. For more tips and tidbits, see Inter Courses: an Aphrodisiac Cookbook by Hopkins and Lockridge.