In a mere 36 hours our petition asking Kraft to remove artificial food dyes from their line of macaroni and cheese products has gone viral and now has more than 170,000 signatures. We are so taken aback by the instant and widespread media attention on this topic, which we think indicates how this much-needed change in our Food Industry has been imminent for some time. One of the big guys just needed a little push in the right direction, and we hope this is it. (Be sure to sign the petition if you haven't already!).
We want to take a moment to share that this petition is honestly much bigger than just macaroni and cheese or even Kraft. There are many large US companies that use artificial dyes – as well as other additives – in their food products here that are not used overseas. Everyone from General Mills to Kellogg’s to Pepsi, and of course Kraft, have formulated safer, better versions of their products for other countries and this petition is a vehicle to let these companies know it’s time for American consumers to get the same.
Our petition in particular is focusing on an iconic food product like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese because we thought this would be the best place to start to generate public awareness. If Kraft, the largest US-based food company, takes the lead by voluntarily removing potentially harmful – yet unnecessary – artificial food dyes our hope is that the others will follow suit. Whether or not you buy or eat this product think of those who do (the average consumer assumes products on grocery store shelves are completely safe and seldom reads ingredient labels). The UK version, which we made and sampled ourselves, is dyed with natural colors (paprika and beta carotene) and looks and tastes almost exactly the same. This is not about taking away anyone’s beloved mac and cheese.
Here’s the Bottom Line
Artificial food dyes are derived from petroleum, they either require a warning label or have been phased out in other developed countries due to health concerns, and they add NO value to the foods they are in whatsoever. These dyes are purely for aesthetic reasons only. Check out my post sharing the 7 reasons I hate artificial dyes for more information.
Some of the Comments
We’ve gotten all sorts of interesting feedback from readers and commenters about our crusade…everything from:
“Whenever my son has artificial dyes his behaviors really increase!! It is time to remove these harmful ingredients once and for all!!”
“Signed your petition and I fully support you! Thanks for opening our eyes in the US!”
To some that aren’t so positive like:
"Then just don't buy it"
FYI - Just for the record we don't buy it and happen to care about more than just ourselves.
And even one commenter said:
“If you dont like it dont eat it. stop messing things up for the rest of us”
Another reader "Marcie" summed it up well:
How is removing a harmful ingredient “messing things up for the rest of us”? Kraft has successfully reformulated this product in other countries without sacrificing taste.
Kraft's Response
Kraft has responded to our petition stating that “The safety and quality of our products is our highest priority and we take consumer concerns very seriously.” They also shared that they have just over a dozen versions of macaroni and cheese in the US that do not contain artificial dyes. Vani and I are still concerned though about the 30 or so that do contain these dyes, over half of which are targeted at children.
Unbelievable Media Attention!
So we will continue to fight this fight and in case you’ve missed some of the national coverage here is a little summary of the news clips!
- Good Morning America
- ABC News
- CBS News
- Fox News
- NBC Nightly News
- USA Today
- Yahoo!
- UK Daily Mail
- MSN
- Chicago Tribune
If you or anyone you know is adversely affected by the consumption of artificial food dyes we’d love to hear your story below. And before I let you go I thought a few of you may be interested in getting a link to my homemade mac and cheese recipe (it's what we had for dinner tonight)…enjoy! :)
dawn font says
if Kraft has a bunch of products with no dyes in them i'd like to know which ones they are!! (we specifically asked about the mac & ch) do they have one with no dyes? if so i really haven't seen it in my grocery stores!
Anna says
Back to Nature is owned by Kraft and has many kinds of dye free macaroni and cheese.
Here is where they are sold http://www.backtonaturemeals.com/where-to-buy.html. :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Dawn. We are going to do a petition update post which will include the list of Kraft Mac and Cheese products that do not contain artificial dye. Look for it soon. ~Amy
Kathy says
Lisa, thank you so much for all you do educating the public on food issues and food safety! In response to food safety issues within the US, there is a growing movement across the country to open community-owned grocery stores (food cooperatives), which provide clear labeling of all food products and do not sell products that contain unsafe ingredients. Hopefully, our cumulative efforts will result in real change within our food system.
Danika Amott says
http://www.gotpetroleum.blogspot.com/ This is our old blog. It's not well done but it's our real and raw truth about how terrible artificial colors are for our kids. They seem to de-evolve my son, cause aggression, depression, etc. We do eat real food at our house but it makes me sick that our European friends can stay away from nasty artificials so much easier than we can in America. I help coordinate for exchange students and as such we travel now. We always bring an extra suitcase when going into Heathrow or any European airport simply to buy a 6 month supply for our family of artificial free m and m's, mars brand chocolate bars, starburst candies and many many other great candies. The people there have demanded safer foods. Why aren't we doing the same?
Cassie says
I wish could post pictures of my kids faces right now. They have had birthday parties and candy over the last few days. Their faces are blotchy and dry. It's horrible! That is what happens after 2 days of crap. Oh and did I mention they are such joys to be around when they eat it? (that was sarcastic)
Patsy P says
I saw the tail end of the clip on the news tonight here in Atlanta. I laughed because I told my husband I just read about this whole thing this morning on the real foods blog I read. Thats the lady who started it! GOOD JOB LADIES!!!!! My kids don't have food dye issues that I know of but i am beginning to check it out due to a recent diagnosis of SPD for my son and his MANY regular food intolerances in the form of Food Protein Induced Entercolitis Syndrome and Eosinophilic Esophogitis. He rarely eats anything processed (except for a few corn cereals, Daiya cheese, and corn pasta) since he is top 8 free plus a ton others so doubt its dyes but i still keep them away as much as possible.
Nicole B says
Keep up the great work! I signed the petition earlier this week and encouraged my friends to do the same. This is just one of the first steps to big change in our country! Thank you and Food Babe (and a few other of my favorite real food leaders like Carrie from DO and Margaret from Eat Naked) for educating us!
Jackie Barthel says
I have 2 children on the Autism spectrum, we have a dye free household and notice a marked difference in behaviors. I find it amazing that "big" companies make the same products dye free in other countries. Thank you for bringing this to Americas attention!
Heather says
I'm amazed at the folks who aren't infuriated by the fact that these American companies produce a safer version of these products for other countries yet continue to give us the toxic filled versions. Is the health of our families less important than families in these other countries??? Heck no!!! I'm thrilled to see all the attention and awareness this issue is getting. The bottom line is that so many people are clueless about the hazards of consuming artificial dyes but everyone deserves to be protected. They don't have any nutritional value and shouldn't be in our food supply. Thank you for standing up and working towards making a difference.
Kimberly says
We discovered that when our 5 year old daughter consumes these artificial food dyes, she goes CRAZY! She finds it hard to control herself, therefore, she becomes defiant, argumentative, hateful, unsafe (quick to hit and scratch others and herself). It lasts for up to 2-3 days. We were so thankful to realize this discovery so we could remove those foods (which she really only got on special occasions or during a school party.....and, it didn't take much! Only a few small pieces of candy would send her into this dark, downward spiral)! Thank you, Thank you for all the work you are doing!
Aimee says
Great job. I have been working for years to remove artificial dyes from my family's diet. Orange powder in no way resembles actual food. One of my kids has allergies to food dyes and preservatives. I often wonder how many kids diagnosed with behavioral problems are really reacting to dyes and preservatives.
Susan says
I stopped buying Kraft and switched to Annie's Mac and Cheese because of the dyes. What is so great about your petition is that it has reached the mainstream media. Most parents are well informed and seek out the nutritional information regarding the food they purchase, however there are many lower income families in particular that may not be inclined to do this. Kraft knows this and prices it's product lower than it's competitors. Parents have a right to be informed! Don't stop with Kraft...have you seen the Jell-o brand labels? By the way when is 100 Days of Real Food going to have its own cooking show?? Keep up the good fight! :)
Kodi says
Annie's is so yummy, and so much better for you! I don't even know the last time I ate Kraft!
Carrie says
You are doing a great job!! Thank you. Do you know if Canadian Kraft Mac and Cheese also has food dyes?
Lisa says
Carrie - Yes it does and Canada was added to our petition earlier this week!
Nicole says
I'm from Canada, and a quick look at our Kraft Whole Wheat Mac'n'Cheese shows the Tartrazine chemical. BUT, in the box of Kraft Smart Vegetable Three Cheese Mac'n'cheese ....there is no tartrazine. The front of the box states No artifical flavours, colours or preservatives. However, the ingredient list has something called Annatto (for colour) in it ......a quick google search shows that Annatto is a natural colourant...is it safe that you know of Lisa?
Thanks for the work you do!!
Jenny says
Nicole, from what I've read, Annatto is a natural coloring agent derived from a plant. Most of the cheddar cheese I've seen in the supermarket contains annatto to give it an orange color. It's commonly regarded as harmless but can be an allergen to some folks. Here's a link to general info, but you might want to search further on the Internet to see if there is more info. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annatt.
Lisa says
Yes annatto is natural and what you'll find in most cheeses. Tartrazine is another word for Yellow 5. The Canadian version only has Yellow 5 and not Yellow 6 (although I am not sure why).
Lisa says
Annatto is a natural color that is commonly used to make cheese orange. I believe it's safe (it's not artificial), but I have heard from some who aren't so sure. It is not something I have researched in detail (yet) myself.
Aubrey says
We removed dyes from our sons diet and noticed as dramatic improvement in his ability to control himself. Now, we recognize a change in his behavior if he ingests even the slightest bit of dye. Unfortunately, it is in so many things that you wouldn't even think would have dyes that sometimes he ingests them without us realizing. It isvery frustrating to us trying to avoid dyes when they're in so much food. When he starts school next year I can only imagine the new troubles we will face. Thank you for your efforts in this area.
Cheryl says
I agree with the above comment that the two of you are a force to be reckoned with. Keep at it. We're cheering you on north of the border and hoping that any changes to Kraft products in the USA are made in Canada as well. Thank you for bringing this issue to the attention of the public and using your influence to do some good. Hip hip hooray!
Erin says
I am really glad you guys are doing this. We lived in the UK for five years, and it was amazing how many American made products were manufactured without artificial dyes or sweeteners there. Coca-Cola is a prime example. In Europe, there is no high fructose corn syrup, so the soda is sweetened with sugar. I am not a fan of any processed sweetener, but there is no reason products like this have to be unhealthier here than they are in other countries.
Lucinda Perry says
I am allergic to Red Dye #40. It caused me to go into anaphilaxis. As far as versions of the same/similar food, it has been my understanding that other countries are not required to disclose what, if any artificial dyes are used in their foods, as their foods aren't regulated by FDA type agencies. I have done a lot of traveling and a lot if research due to my own allergy. I would be interested to know if you have found that to be true at all in your research. I think artificial dyes should be banned altogether. Red Dye has been used as a preservative in some foods...that's just gross!!!
Emily says
This is really, really exciting! Thanks for starting this.
Tammy says
I'd also like to know WHERE are these other versions that Kraft makes without food dye are actually sold. I've never seen them. And while we haven't eaten this crap in years, I fed it to my kids a lot when they were little. I considered myself educated on nutrition, but honestly didn't realize where the artificial colors came from (I assumed from other food sources), and I think many people still think the same.
Anna says
Kraft owns Back to Nature which sells it's dye free macaroni and cheese products at Target,Walmart, Whole foods,and others. Source http://www.backtonaturemeals.com/where-to-buy.html
That being said, they sell for a much higher price so few mainstream costumers would choose them.
Susan @ Our Family Eats says
I discovered a few years ago that artificial ingredients were causing my daughter's ADHD-like symptoms. I started my site, Our Family Eats, to spread the word and help families cut artificial ingredients out of their diets through my ADHD Diet. I've had nothing but positive feedback for the last 3 years from other families over who are astonished at the changes they see in their own children after following the diet. I'm excited that you are bringing us closer to a common understanding of how dangerous these ingredients are! Thank you!
Kristin says
We have cut out all foods that contain dyes from our household. My son, who just turned 4, has shown signs from the beginning that food dyes adversely affect him. I find myself in complete shock at some of the products that have dyes in them (try Red Wine Vinaigrette dressings?? Yep-- Red 40.... Ummm, helllloooo it's already red! Ok, well maybe pinkish, but not unattractive, so what is the need for food dye??) I am not saying we live in a house devoid of processed food choices, however anything with dyes (and certain other unnecessary ingredients) are strictly prohibited. I think this is great what these folks are doing and I support it 100%. Thank you for caring so much!!!
Elise says
Thank you for bringing this into the light so the main stream population can stop to think about what they are eating. I do not feed Kraft to my family because we do our best to eat real food and stay away from processed. You asked if any of your readers have bad reactions to food dyes and I can say a big "YES" for my family. I still remember the day my mom stopped giving me food with any food coloring in it. I was in the 7th grade and they gave out rainbow colored candy canes. I was actually standing on my desk along with another friend, laughing and acting nuts! I told my mom it made me feel so weird and I could not calm down. I stay away from it the best I can. I am now in my 30's with children of my own. I have seen what it does to my kids if they get a hold of anything with food coloring in it. You can't always keep it out of their hands. There is always a well meaning neighbor or something from a friend... My son gets down right mean if he eats anything with food coloring. Thank you for taking up the fight. I signed and shared your petition.
Chrystal says
My childrens behavior is directly linked to what they eat, and even though it is not as sensitive as others children, I can tell when they have had entirely too much yellow or red dyes.
Thanks for spreading awareness.
Michelle says
Thank you so much for your work to clean up our food supply. It looks like some don't understand the "big picture". This is not about just Kraft Mac and Cheese and yellow food dye. It is about getting chemicals out of our food supply and awareness. I truly appreciate what you are doing.
Sarah says
I work with low income families and most make very unhealthy food choices. Some who have children with behavioral issues etc tell me they have never even looked at the nutrition/ingredient label and had never made the connection between their health and emotional well being and the food that they eat. I hope that Kraft learns something from this and starts educating themselves and the families that buy their products. Because of the low cost of their Mac and Cheese, I see it in almost every pantry of the homes I visit!
Sarah says
I also wanted to add that my daughter was having issues with sleep (we think possibly night terrors...or horrible random fits...like we were watching an exorcism in the middle of the night) and behaviors (hurting herself when angry or frustrated). Her doctor suggested we give her Benedryl to her her sleep...REALLY?! Instead, I did some research and we removed food dye from her diet. She sleeps through the night most nights now and our family is on board too. I am so thankful for all the information I find here!
Amber says
Personally, I've mostly given up on the idea that the food manufacturers in America are going to be transparent and trustworthy. I think this is a perfect example of why it matters, thanks for the reminder.
Katie says
My 2 year old daughter breaks out in hives from artificial food dyes. Red food dye actually makes her legs turn bright red along with hives. She is sensitive to other chemical food additives too. After seeing what they can do to her skin, I can only imagine what they do inside our bodies. That is what led me to the Feingold diet and my real food journey. I love your website and am so thankful for the information you provide and that you are leading the effort to clean up our food supply.
Chrisite says
My son is adversely affected by artificial colors. Several months ago we removed all foods with artificial colors and flavorings from his diet to see if his behavior would improve. We were amazed to find that by removing these from his diet he has a better attention span and is less fidgety. If there is ever a time when he does eat something with these dyes in it, after about 20 minutes I can tell.
Stephanie R. says
My daughter has a terrible reaction to artificial dyes, her behavior is uncontrollable! We discovered her sensitivity after she ate maraschino cherries. Following her consumption of the cherries she was a total different child, so out of control my husband and I couldn't handle her!! It was really, really bad. Even the lipstick she wore to her dance recital had red #40 in it and I didn't realize it until later in the day when she was off the wall. I believe more than half of the problem with children is not behavioral issues, it's the consumption of processed artificial foods. Everyone is so quick to prescribe pills to mask the problem, we need to educate the parents on what their child eating on a daily basis.
Michele says
My son has aspergers, a form of autism. Food dyes significantly affect his behavior sometimes leading to explosive tantrums. Red dye #40 causes aggression and self injury. Blue #2 and yellow #5 affect his communication and emotional state. Basically, he becomes nasty and grumpy. Unable to tell us how he is really feeling, this behavior leads to tantrums. Food dye is not allowed in my house. Why do I care if other children eat it? Because until people are fully educated on the side effects of the poison they feed their children they are not able to make rational choices.
Kayla says
Over a dozen in other countries???
Because last I checked in the United States we run only one! Unless your counting Shells & Cheese but that probably even has it in there. Thank you for addressing this!!!
Lisa says
Kayla - According to Kraft there are 14 varieties of Mac and Cheese here in the US without artificial dyes. But without reading the ingredient label all the boxes look mostly the same.
kimberly estacio says
They are trying to make a point regarding food dyes in our food supply. Of course they prefer real food, and are not calling it healthy or real. This goes way beyond mac and cheese. So skillfully picked, its inspiring.
Lisa says
Thank you! :)
Courtney says
So glad this issue is finally coming to light for American consumers! I cook home cooked meals all throughout the month due to being scared of what's really used & added into different products. Hopefully like you said earlier other companies will take notice & follow suit!
Alison says
I am so excited for all of the impact that your work has done for this country! I so appreciate you, a fellow mom, who has taken the time to inform us of the simplest changes to help our children and ourselves.
About the Kraft MacNCheese - I don't buy it anymore for these obvious reasons, but I have been on the healthier choice life for many years now and have already known of the horrid affects the chemicals cause. If only one food at a time helps our children learn about the next food... it will make an enormous difference in the behavior and health of our kids.
THANK YOU!!
Melissa @ My Whole Food Life says
Good work ladies! So excited this made world news! I am hopeful that things will change in the future.
Jamie says
They are not calling it real food. Lisa added her recipe for mac n cheese at the bottom of her article. The idea is to attack an American icon so that the nation sits up and takes notice. The idea is to stir a national awareness and activism. I have seen the change.org link on friend's FB pages who never seem to care about healthy eating. Well done Lisa.
Lisa says
Well said Jamie...thank you! :)
Patti Reis says
You are doing great work. Every small change is a step in the right direction. I don't buy this stuff and haven't for years, but despite my efforts at education, even members of my own family (mom and mother-in-law) do not understand the dangers of food dyes and other additives. I can refuse to serve it in my own home and I do, but I have no control over what my children are served elsewhere, including at school, grandma's house, and at friends' homes. Anything that brings attention to the dangers while also letting these big food companies know that many consumers have had enough is good. A HUGE thank you to you and the Food Babe for all you do.
Steven Hong says
You should start it on wethepeople and petition the fda to ban it. Not only that, carmel color as well. Then next round GMO labeling!! Keep at it! You gals have so much more power than you think.
Lisa says
I don't know...I might be worn out after this. Someone else might have to lead the next charge after we win mac and cheese!
Jennifer says
Wait, THEY as in Kraft, has over a dozen varieties that don't have yellow dye? Where?
Lisa says
Exactly Jennifer - All the boxes look the same. There is no way the average consumer can even tell the difference. This is one of our counterpoints.
Erin S says
You go! I am disappointed in their reply to you but not at all shocked.
I am shocked at the comments you got about it, rude people suck.
Kristin says
Comments like the above further prove some people just don't get the bigger picture....
April Noble says
Honestly, ladies, even without the artificial food colorants, I don't think Kraft Mac n Cheese could be called "real food."
Try Alton Brown's stove top man and cheese instead. It's a bit more involved, but kind of like making pancakes from scratch, rather than from a mix. It tastes a heck of a lot better and is better for you, too!
Elizabeth M says
I don't think they're trying to call it "real food", but they're just trying to make it more healthy than it is :)
Amber says
I second Alton's recipe! I like it because we don't drink milk anymore, like my original recipe calls for, so it's easier to have the canned evaporated milk on hand.
Anna says
Evaporated milk most likely isn't real food....