Artificial food dye, synthetic food dye, food coloring, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Blue No. 1, or Tartrazine (a.k.a. Yellow No. 5)… whatever name it’s listed under, it is all pretty much the same stuff. And as I’ve said on this site before I have no problem occasionally digging into yummy homemade baked goods made with plenty of chocolate, sugar, or whatever else we’re craving, but what I NEVER want to “treat” myself (or my children) to is a dose of chemicals derived from petroleum.
Yep, no typos there…that’s what artificial food dye is made from (it used to be derived from coal tar - so we haven't improved much!) and unfortunately the 15 million pounds of food dye used in the U.S. per year (5 times more than in 1955) is in much more than just colorful icing these days. Dyes, made from the same petroleum that fuels our vehicles, is turning up in an insane amount of packaged foods including Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Minute Maid Lemonade, Lunchables, Fruit Roll Ups, Cheetos, and even “Light and Fit” Yoplait Yogurt.
And the crazy thing is these food manufacturers tell us right there on the ingredient label that artificial food colorings (and sometimes “artificial flavoring”) have been added…but most consumers don’t seem to be fazed by it.
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Upon discovering what this (seemingly harmless and common) additive is made from I had to tell my daughters. I explained how it’s in thousands of products including birthday party cupcakes, salad dressing, cough syrup, and even daddy’s mouthwash. Rightfully so my 1st grader looked at me a little shocked and went on to say, “Can we write a letter to the president?”
Now I love how that girl thinks, but at the same time it broke my heart that my innocent child thought that’s all it would take. If we just told the president that food manufacturers were feeding us petroleum based chemicals disguised as brightly colored food dyes he surely wouldn’t allow it anymore. And while I am not very good at politics myself what I’d like to be good at is educating and influencing all of you to vote with your dollars. I truly believe that if consumers stop purchasing artificially dyed and flavored foods we can make an impact.
If enough of us speak up the big food companies will listen to consumer demand. And I know this for a fact because that’s exactly what’s happened in other countries outside of the U.S (check out #3 below).…we are apparently just behind the curve on this one.
7 Reasons I Hate Artificial Food Dyes
1. They are made in a lab with chemicals derived from petroleum, a crude oil product, which also happens to be used in gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt, and tar.
NPR.org: “Artificial food dyes are made from petroleum and approved for use by the FDA to enhance the color of processed foods.”
2. They’ve been linked to long-term health problems such as cancer. If you’re a child of the ‘80s (like me) do you remember that rumor about red M&Ms causing cancer? Maybe it wasn’t just a rumor after all.
CSPInet.org: “The three most widely used dyes, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, are contaminated with known carcinogens, says CSPI. Another dye, Red 3, has been acknowledged for years by the Food and Drug Administration to be a carcinogen, yet is still in the food supply.” FYI – According to Wikipedia, “A carcinogen is any substance … that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer.” !!!
CBSnews.com: “There's no good reason not to ban Red 3, something then-acting FDA commissioner Mark Novitch tried to do in 1984, saying the dye ‘has clearly been shown to induce cancer’ and was ‘of greatest public health concern.’ … Other dyes, namely Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, are known to cause allergic reactions in some people and have shown signs of causing cancer in lab animals. Of course, this isn't the same thing as leading to cancer in humans, but it argues for limiting intake, especially among children, who are getting the biggest dose of food colorings from a gazillion brightly colored, fun-looking foods.”
3. Did you know that food products containing artificial dye are required to have a warning label in the U.K.? The label states that the food "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." So speaking of M&Ms, they aren’t so brightly colored in some countries outside of the U.S. because manufacturers would rather do away with the artificial dye than have to put a warning label on their products.
Mercola.com: “This is why if you eat a Nutri-Grain strawberry cereal bar in the United States, it will contain Red 40, Yellow 6 and Blue 1. But that same bar in the UK contains only the natural colorings beetroot red, annatto and paprika extract. In fact, the UK branches of Wal-Mart, Kraft, Coca-Cola and Mars have removed artificial colors, sodium benzoate and aspartame from their product lines as a result of consumer demand and government recommendations. In the United States, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to allow these toxic ingredients in countless popular foods, including those marketed directly to children.”
CBSnews.com: Many Grocery Manufacturers Association members (like Pepsi, Kraft and General Mills) “have switched to natural colorings in their products in the U.K., where warning labels are required, but they're not doing that here for the most part. That's because no one's making them do it, and switching would cost a lot of money.”
4. Synthetic food dyes have been shown to cause an increase in hyperactivity in children as well as a negative impact on their ability to learn.
Washingtonpost.com:"Artificial food dyes (in combination with a common preservative) could make even children with no known behavioral problems hyperactive and inattentive."
CSPInet.org: "The science shows that kids' behavior improves when these artificial colorings are removed from their diets and worsens when they’re added to the their diets." and "While not all children seem to be sensitive to these chemicals, it's hard to justify their continued use in foods—especially those foods heavily marketed to young children."
Mercola.com: “According to scientific studies, these dyes are causing behavioral problems and disrupting children's attention.”
5. They add absolutely no value to the foods we are eating, but do in-fact pose quite a few serious risks.
FDA.gov: “Without color additives, colas wouldn't be brown, margarine wouldn't be yellow and mint ice cream wouldn't be green. Color additives are now recognized as an important part of practically all processed foods we eat.”
Huffingtonpost.com: "These dyes have no purpose whatsoever other than to sell junk food."
CSPInet.org: “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. The Food and Drug Administration should ban dyes, which would force industry to color foods with real food ingredients, not toxic petrochemicals.”
6. They trick your senses…just like other artificial additives including sweeteners.
In Defense of Food: “One of the problems with the products of food science is that, as Joan Gussow has pointed out, they lie to your body; their artificial colors and flavors and synthetic sweeteners and novel fats confound the senses we rely on to assess new foods and prepare our bodies to deal with them. Foods that lie leave us with little choice but to eat by the numbers, consulting labels rather than our senses.”
7. They are contributing to the obesity epidemic by attracting children (and adults) to highly processed food, which in many cases is being eaten instead of fresh whole foods.
Washingtonpost.com: "Beyond the behavioral problems and cancer risks, the greatest hazard that dyes pose for children may also be the most obvious: They draw kids away from nutritious foods and toward brightly colored processed products that are high in calories but low in nutrients, such as fruit-flavored drinks and snack foods. Those types of foods are a major force in America's obesity epidemic."
Disclosure: My children do occasionally eat foods containing artificial dye because it's provided to them by teachers, other parents, and friends, but it's not something we spend our own money on anymore.
Jessica says
Well, we don't use the word hate in our house. LOL! But, we also don't allow artificial colors, HFCS, or hydrogenated fats. Great post.
Kylie says
My husband brought a backpack full of nutrigrain bars home from work last year & so we were eating them like crazy - they have all kinds of dyes in the filling. DS started acting crazy - banging his head on walls and the floors, screaming, hitting himself and rocking back and forth. It was literally like he had no idea what was going on. I had him on just fruits, veggies and oatmeal for a couple days and he was like a whole new kid again. And now whenever he accidentally gets a colored "treat" from an unknowing relative or friend, we can tell within hours, he'll be more hyper, crabby and somewhat disoriented.
Luckily it wasn't that big of a change for us - we eat mostly whole foods anyway, we just happened to get a bunch of free nutrigrain bars. I'm actually kind of glad that happened because otherwise we might not have ever put our finger on it.
Rebecca says
For skincare (Aisha asked), try http://www.100percentpure.com for totally additive free skincare, makeup, etc. They use veg and fruit coloring only.
And I smiled when I saw that other kids wanted to urgently write to the President about this, as that was my daughter's first reaction, too! She is a very strong and savvy 7 year old and has no problem telling folks that artificial additives are bad and why.
For Adam, Please go to the PubMed site and type in these studies and years:
Swanson and Kinsbourne (Science), 1980
Egger (The Lancet), 1985
Kaplan (Pediatrics), 1989
Carter (Archives of Diseases in Childhood), 1993
Boris (Annals of Allergy), 1994
Rowe and Rowe (Journal of Pediatrics), 1994
McCann (The Lancet), 2007
Also try:
Lancaster, 1999
Tanaka 1993, 1996, 2001, 2005; Vorhees 1983
Rosenkranz 1990; Sweeney 1994; Tsuda 2001; Sasaki 2002
Aboel-Zahab 1997
Next please see these studies: http://www.feingold.org/Research/adhd.html
Most powerful is this... Here’s a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics from 2008, confirming what moms all over the world already know (print this for your doc):
“Despite increasing data supporting the efficacy of stimulants in preschoolers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) parents and providers understandably seek safe and effective interventions that require no prescription. A recent meta-analysis of 15 trials concludes that there is “accumulating evidence that neurobehavioral toxicity may characterize a variety of widely distributed chemicals.†[Schab DW, et al. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2004;25:423–434] Some children may be more sensitive to the effects of these chemicals, and the authors suggest there is a need to better identify responders. In real life, practitioners faced with hyperactive preschoolers have a reasonable option to offer parents. For the child without a medical, emotional, or environmental etiology of ADHD behaviors, a trial of a preservative-free, food coloring–free diet is a reasonable intervention.†– Alison Schonwald, MD, FAAP, of the Developmental Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital in Boston (published in the February 2008 issue of the AAP Grand Rounds).
And the Editors’ Note which follows states:
“Although quite complicated, this was a carefully conducted study in which the investigators went to great lengths to eliminate bias and to rigorously measure outcomes. The results are hard to follow and somewhat inconsistent. For many of the assessments there were small but statistically significant differences of measured behaviors in children who consumed the food additives compared with those who did not. In each case increased hyperactive behaviors were associated with consuming the additives. For those comparisons in which no statistically significant differences were found, there was a trend for more hyperactive behaviors associated with the food additive drink in virtually every assessment. Thus, the overall findings of the study are clear and require that even we skeptics, who have long doubted parental claims of the effects of various foods on the behavior of their children, admit we might have been wrong.â€
I am really heartened to read all the comments above. The momentum this movement is gaining is POWER.
Adam says
I appreciate everything I read on the site, and of course since artificial food colorings (AFCs) certainly offer no benefit it would be nice if they weren't in our food. But I always wish that bloggers such as yourself would spend a little extra time to find the REAL sources of information, not popular, non-scientific sources like NPR or the Post. Just as one example, using google scholar it took me less than five minutes to find a 2011 article in the journal Pediatrics (official journal of American Academy of Pediatrics), link pasted below. In the abstract the authors say, "We believe the balance of existing evidence neither refutes or supports the link between AFCs and ADHD, which highlights the need for carefully designed studies to investigate the link between AFCs and ADHD." Of course this says nothing about the potential link with cancer, but again I always just appreciate hearing evidence from legitimate sources. Things are nearly always less clear cut than the sensation-seeking media would have us believe.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/6/e1575.full.pdf+html
Kylie says
Read the "financial disclosure" on that article. Doesn't scream "legitimate" to me.
Jennifer says
I agree Adam. I would like to see more research evidence before I make a decision. For every article, study, or blog that says one thing, there is an opposing view with evidence to support that side as well. And I would also like someone to provide some suggestions for individuals who have a lower socioeconomic status and have limited (or no) access to places such as Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, or Earthfare. Often people are quick to criticize and judge those who "choose" not to make healthier food decisions but what we oft times forget is that those options were never presented as an option in the first place. Fixed incomes and food stamps don't often allow for individuals to shop at these types of places or afford some of the aforementioned options. Although I understand what many of you have said about cutting dyes and the correlation with your children's behaviors but I do think there is more to the behavior argument than just food. I am in no way diminishing your issues but I do think many of the comments are slanted so much that I am having a hard time considering anything presented here and I am a classic fence sitter-I always see both sides of an argument and rarely can pick one side over the other. However the tone with which your comments are posted make me want to fight for the underdog-those who are not able and cannot afford to do what you have all suggested. And just to be clear I do not come to this blog completely uninformed about the have nots- I am currently working on a PhD in community health psychology and these are the very issues we discuss quite often. And I work with those individuals I mentioned and trust and believe, they cannot afford to shop elsewhere because of dyes. I don't doubt the dyes cause problems but we need to be mindful of others when blanket comments are made about "cleaning house" in terms of food.
Kylie says
You do NOT have to shop at those places to eat healthy! And pretty much any mainstream grocery store carries things like steel-cut oats, brown rice, as well as plenty of produce. Real Cheap Food is a GREAT blog for people who want to eat well on a very strict budget. The options are there - it just takes a little education.
http://realcheapfood.com/
BrookeB says
Trader Joe's is 10 times less expensive than my Publix and Kroger. There are links all throughout this post and comment thread to give people ideas of where to start and how to do this.
BrookeB says
Foods that contain dye aren't actually "food." They are petrochemicals. The food industry is very effectively leading you to believe these products are "food."
Every mainstream grocery store carries food without dyes. You don't have to go to a specialty shops. THESE are the myths that are being perpetuated. Food dye being toxic is TRUTH.
BrookeB says
I AM a legitimate source. My family has proven time and time again that dyes impact kids' brains. You don't have to believe it; it is nevertheless the TRUTH. You can go to the Feingold Association website and link to a page with MANY, MANY scientific studies.
Did you miss the part about how these dyes are NO LONGER allowed in food in other countries because the research about their safety is so alarming??
Jennifer says
I teach my students that personal experience does not count when following a claim. There are too many options in terms of research methods to look at a few case studies and believe me a few 100 people or so is not enough to make cause and effect claims. I do believe there is a strong correlation but again I am cautious about reading this information and making cause and effect claims. Did anyone consider another hypothesis? What about alternative reasons for your children's reactions or changes to the removal of the dyes from their diets? What if this were tested keeping in mind the placebo effect? What about children who maintain behavior problems AFTER the removal of dye from their diets? What about genetics- chromosomes and hormones passed down from their parents? All I was simply saying is there should be more scientific evidence published in peer reviewed journal articles before cause and effect claims are made
As for the expense, the families I work with would love to have Kroger or Publix as an option. Those and other national chains do not exist in their neighborhoods- many of them are limited to the "local no name market" where the "food" is cheap and fits their budget. I only brought up those who are not as financially blessed because as I said in my first post, it is important to consider other people when these blanket statements are made. Many of you have talked about how you bring your own foods or desserts to places and that is good for you but if I were a parent who did not bring those foods you would make me feel like less of a parent for not doing so. The tone in many of your statements comes across as though there is something wrong with parents who do not make the switch to dye-free foods. I just wanted to bring awareness that there are some people who don't have that as an option and we should think about them before we judge those who do things differently from ourselves.
Kylie says
There is just no way that these grocery stores you're talking about don't have a least some healthy options. Again, it is entirely possible to make the switch to dye free foods on an extremely limited budget. There just isn't a grocery store where every single item has harmful ingredients in it.
"Cheap food" is really not much cheaper than whole food if you do a little planning and budgeting. Staples like oatmeal, brown rice, beans, frozen produce and cheaper fruits and veggies like bananas and carrots are all great options. So no I don't think I'm "better" than parents who are buying the food that's available but I also just don't buy that they don't have the option at all.
I can't speak for anyone else of course, but personally I don't necessarily judge anyone for eating differently than I do. But I would, I suppose, "judge" a parent of a child with behavioral issues who didn't do some research, see what other parents in a similar situation have seen work for them and see how their child reacts to a change in diet. Especially if their reason for not doing so was lack of healthy food available or cost. My commenting here isn't to try to put my own opinions on a pedestal and act like I'm better than anyone else. It's just that I used to think that eating healthy was too expensive as well and I have learned a lot since then so it's important for me to encourage others to look further into how they can eat well on little money too.
I'm curious about what you think about the fact that these same dyes are banned in Europe.
Last, as far as research goes, you are assuming that most of us aren't intelligent enough to take a close enough look at what's going on with our kids to weigh the different possibilities and take a hard, unbiased look at the results. I can assure you that what happened with my then 1.5 year old was not a placebo effect. You can read about my experience in my other comment but to sum it up red and blue food dyes were the only ingredients that were unusual to our diet. When he stopped eating it, his behavior improved dramatically. Whenever he has a food with certain dyes in it (usually an unknowing family member gives a treat), we can tell within hours and confirm it with whoever he was with. I agree that there absolutely should be more scientific research done on this, but that's what a lot of parents here are pushing for by talking about it and raising awareness about it. It needs to be understood that there's a problem, first, and that's what's going on here. It sounds like you're saying "Just be quiet and let the professionals handle it." But they won't if it's not talked about, if it's not brought up as a problem in the first place.
Larisa says
There's tons of research.
http://feingold.org/research.php
BrookeB says
Feingold Association. That's where you find the link to the scientific studies INCLUDING the one that got these toxins removed from children's products in Europe. Really. You have some interesting points, but all I hear is you questioning the e year hellish journey we went through with my child. Please. You have no idea what it is like to walk in my shoes. Elimination diets are scientific and medically recommended. That is how I KNOW that dyes are the problem for MY child.
Jennifer says
Never said that dye's weren't a problem and never said the statements made on this blog aren't true. Just said we should be cautious about cause and effect statements. And I am not questioning your journey but you are assuming I dont have one. Just because I did not share my story doesn't mean I don't have one.
Jen @ TheUnProcessed Kitchen says
Preach it, sister!! I'm going to send you a couple of links to posts I wrote about this. I love your daughter's natural tendency towards advocacy - a girl after my own heart! The president did actually pass some legislation about food affecting kids; but the lobbyists are STRONG and mighty - and it's just really tough to get anything to change.
Joanna Reed says
I notice extreme changes in my kids' (particularly my boys') behavior whenever they have food dye. We've noticed it is particularly bad with red dye but orange items like gold fish crackers will make them really hyper and unable to listen to simple commands. They aren't happy to skip on some of their favorite things but we remind them that red dye gives them red behavior and that helps. After several years of avoiding food dyes we've recently stopped giving my oldest son cafeteria food at his school and replaced it with home made versions of whatever is on the school menu for that day. So his diet is 99% preservative free. He is happy with that, he will eat what I pack him for lunch and I swear his behavior is improved as a result
Carrie says
Thanks for this! We are trying to remove all of the food dyes from our eating, but they are s want! My husband. Bought reduced sugar jelly the other week, and when I checked it to see if it had artificial sweetener (it did not), I was shocked to see Red 40 as one of the ingredients! Why do you need dye in jelly?? I went out that night and bought some fruit spread. Gotta dump the jelly out, though it will make my frugal heart weep.
100 Days of Real Food says
Return it! I return stuff to the grocery store ALL the time...probably too much, but I also spend most of our money there so I feel I have the right if I am dissatisfied :)
Laura jacoby says
I remember when I was about nine (I am 49 today). I had something with yellow food coloring in it and I swelled up and hives appeared everywhere on my body. My parents had to rush me to the hospital because they knew I was having an allergic reaction which I had once before when they found out I was allergic to penicillin. It was around the time General Mills came out with Lucky Charms Cereal. I have never artificial food coloring since then. Fast forward 20 some years and one of my sons is so allergic to food coloring that it caused his attention deficit disorder. He even feels it today if he has any food coloring. He says that his heart begins to race and he can't collect his thoughts. He is an adult today. Processed food needs the coloring because it would all be grey, it also needs the flavorings, which come from the same source as the coloring, petroleum. If the manufacturers removed the coloring and flavoring from their products then people would not buy them because they would just be grey chemicals.
Color should come from nature, not from a chemical plant.
Rebecca says
I blog about all of this because we discovered that our daughter has a food dye sensitivity, and so do I. I often write that we should vote with our dollars because the food manufacturers have to respond even to a slight shift in sales. Send tweets to your favorite food manufacturers asking when they will ditch the dyes and preservatives. Economic pressure works. We saw that this week with the announcement of Nestle UK removing all artificial addtives from their entire line of 79 sweets and beverages products...and Coke and Pepsi lowering the amount of caramel coloring in their beverages (it's a start). As for the teachers, the USDA recommends that schools NOT use food rewards, and you can bring documentation found online to your school to ask them to stop. If you have a school Nutrition & Wellness committee, join it...if not, start one. My site is at http://www.DieFoodDye.com and I have an active community of helpful mamas on my "Die, Food Dye!" Facebook page- feel free to post any questions there. I am always collecting personal stories of dye sensitivity from guest bloggers too. Writing a children's book about this issue as well. Thanks for spreading the word!
100 Days of Real Food says
Oh I just saw your post on BlogHer before I even saw your comment and blasted out your site on my facebook fans!
Rebecca says
Thank you for that! One of my readers posted the link to this article of yours on my DFD Facebook page today. I think your piece is very well written. :)
100 Days of Real Food says
Thank you...means a lot coming from a food dye expert! :) Have you considered starting a petition or maybe a "pledge" people on your site that people can sign stating they will no longer buy foods with artificial ingredients (since what we do with our $$ is what will really get attention)?
Patricia says
Great article! I'm also a member of Feingold. Also, don't forget that artificial dyes contain mercury, lead, and arsenic!
Chris says
I'm so glad you posted this! I really want to encourage parents of hyper active children to stop giving them processed foods with dyes in them and see what happens. My son, who is 22 now, started having behavioral problems everyday in pre school and occasionally at home. Sometimes he was wired and bouncing off the walls other times quiet and mellow. I started noticing it happened when he ate certain types of candy like M&M's. The reward for being good at his pre school was a few M&M's. He was a differnt kid after he wasn't allowed food with dyes like red or blue anymore. My neice has the same problem with red dyes. She is quiet and shy unless she has had some red licorice--Then watch out!
Alisa says
Check out chosemyplate.gov I agree that our country has allowed some outrageous chemicals to be added to our foods. We are also behind in correcting the problem but they are at least trying to re-educate. It is a start and some helpful information.
Kika@embracingimperfection says
Thank you for the post. This drives me CRAZY!!! My youngest is hyper sensitive to chemicals and has bad allergies. Such a struggle to get people to care/understand this issue.
amelia.louisa says
I think the best thing to do is to vote with your money and not ever spend it on food with artificial coloring. It's not JUST the government that doesn't stop this kind of thing: Companies (the free market y'all!) will fight tooth and nail to keep adding the cheapest possible things to our food. This is not a country that thrives on doing what is best for the community (cause that might smack of socialism!) - this is a country that is all about the individual and their rights. I've heard many people complain about government interference (which truly does a bang up job does it not?) - but who also throw a fit at the idea that the government should get involved and stop them from using artificial dyes. Let the free market decide! Well, ok.. why not? Fine. I'm not spending my money on artificial foods! The problem we face is getting those who could care less (and that's a lot of people!) to recognize the benefits - that we as a society... as Americans... can live without ungodly bright food. I actually read a woman complaining about natural dyes because she promised her daughter a bright purple cake - and heaven knows she "deserves" a bright purple cake. Really? Does she?
I guess my point is, through all my rambling up there, is that for there to be a change in this country with regards to artificial dyes, there is going to have to be a paradigm shift in the way our society defines what we "deserve". Our children DESERVE a society and lifestyle that we leave to them that promotes healthy and sustainable eating and living. So, in the end, with what we are up against, I think the best thing to do is to, again, vote with your money and spread the word as much as possible - and for those who choose to ignore it - it's to their own detriment... and heaven knows, it's their right.
Aisha says
Thank you for this post. Is this the same petroleum that is used to make petroleum jelly (Vaseline)?
If so, I know this is not a skin care blog, but what are your suggestions for body care like lotions that do. It use petroleum or petrolatum?
Marilyn says
The best thing for dry skin is pure coconut oil! It is very soothing and healing. Petroleum is petroleum, regardless of the form it takes. There is also a product called "Unpetroleum Jelly" you can find in health food stores or Whole Foods. Pure lanolin is also very good for healing cracked, sore skin.
Renee says
I agree coconut oil,grapeseed or olive oil are great skin moisturizers found in your grocery store cooking oil section. If you like the lotion feel (as my husband does) try Burt's Bees, Kiss My Face or Shea Moisture brands. I like these as they meet my criteria for being readily available in stores other than health food stores in large metro areas and for being affordable. Shea Moisture is fair trade certified, smells great (no artificial scents either) and can be found at Target and Walgreens for $10-11. Burt's Bees and Kiss My Face can also be found in grocery stores such as Kroger, Harris Teeter or Lowes Foods and are ~$10-14. Check out http://www.thetakebacktour for my listings and recipes
Diana says
I totally agree with so many of you w esp. The ones who've said they get looks from other people when your child is having a meltdown. My son has been in 2 different preschools already because of his behavior. It breaks my heart to hear him say he has no friends or ask if he can go back to his first school because he can listen beter now ! At the same time it makes me SO proud when we are at a party and my 5yo tells an adult that he can't have anything red or with high fructose corn syrup because it gives him "crazy brains" ! I wil continue to keep my family clean and healthy - that's my first job and one that I take pride in discovering with just a little research ! Good luck everyone !
Jennie says
LOL, my 1st grader had a homework assignment to write the president and that is EXACTLY what she wrote to him about. She said that they were bad chemicals and they made her behave badly and she wishes he would get rid of them.
Thanks for the article!
Charissa says
I agree 100%. As a child, we discovered that my younger brother was horribly allergic to Red 40 and other food dyes. He would get violent migraines and would be terribly ill. We started with limiting Red 40, but now that I have a family of my own, I find myself avoiding artificial dyes as much as I can. I do not even dye my icing for various baked goods anymore. White is just fine!
Marilyn says
Charissa--There are some beautiful all natural food dyes and colored sprinkles and sugars out there! Check out Squirrel's Nest,and The Natural Candy Store online, or your local Whole Foods!
Kim says
We have been eliminating dyes for about 4 weeks now and the difference in my child is incredible. I still can't believe what dyes did to him. Sad is not leaving a party b/c he can't eat CERTAIN (not all) foods. What the dyes did to him is what is sad. Sad is being told in September that he can't sit still and can't focus when he was fine last year. SAD is hearing other children say they do not want to sit next to your child at circle time b/c he wiggles and kicks them at lunch when he swings his legs. Sad is watching him be physically out of control running around, kicking, hitting, screaming and fighting with his sister while out in public and getting the "LOOKS" from people who think you are a terrible mom b/c you can't control your child when in fact he was the one with no control due to the effects of food dye. In fact, my son is the happiest he has been in years.
BugladyNora says
No kidding! Sad is crying over what happened at school, church or the store AGAIN. Sad is bawling your heart out because you think you are awful and have no friends because of behavior. Sad is feeling out of control. Sad is feeling like the worst parent in the world, not about missing a push pop or cupcake.
It is all about perspective.
(Plus my rule is I make them a treat to take if I know and or they get a reward at home later.)
Anne says
We are dye-free at home and have been for over a year. We homeschool so no fear of dye at school. She does still get dye from grandma, though. We've tried many times to tell her no, but I think she just doesn't get how easily it hides in everything. My daughter is only 3, so she can't quite control it herself. She knows she can't have dye and sometimes will ask, but most of the time will accept what is given to her.
We lightened up at one point and found ourselves having more dye around than we should and then we had one horrific evening leaving grandma's when she'd had lots of dye and HFCS at grandma's that day. Her behavior was so out of control. I didn't even know that she'd had all that, so it wasn't a biased look at her behavior. We were trying to figure out what was going on with her and finally I asked "what did you eat today?" and I started pulling out of her everything she'd had and it was all dye and HFCS. We tossed all candy and dye that had worked it's way back into our house as soon as we got home.
Marilyn says
Eating beter is neither too expensive or too inconvenient! Just because you work does not mean you can't throw something in a crockpot, or make very fast, simple meals! Real food is nothing more than normal, everyday FOOD--not tasteless or weird. And my kids have NEVER left ANYWHERE "sad" about not eating petroleum. We offer safe, healthy, wonderful alternatives! Why would they be "sad"? I have nine children, ages 5-33, and not once in the nine years we have been eating this way have my kids expressed sorrow over not being allowed to eat things that they (intelligent kids that they are) knew was less than ideal. Why would they feel sad? The other kids were drinking an artificially flavored hot cocoa mix? We made a delicious mix of our own, ready at a moment's notice! The other kids are having artificially colored and flavored "ice cream"? We had premium quality store bought, or delicious homemade ice cream! We're a one income family and always have been. I make 21 meals a week for my family. We are not starving, nor are we eating only organics. Money is tight, but we eat VERY well. I am absolutely unsure as to what's so difficult, expensive, weird, or inconvenient.
Marilyn says
Oh--and I have to say we were ALL "sad" when we had to actually leave places due to one of our kids' out of control behaviors! Now THAT'S "sad". The child feels out of control and guilty, and we are embarrassed, frustrated and unhappy. Bringing along a fabulous looking cupcake and a bag of chips of our own sure beats that!
Kim says
Marilyn,
It might help to look at this Mellissa Rose's comments with compassion. It's wonderful that you make 21 meals a week for your family and that they're all happy and healthy. It's a big, no, HUGE difference to someone who is not accustomed to that. I see that you're unsure about "what's so difficult, expensive, weird, or inconvenient" - but your lifestyle is completely different. If this is an issue that is close to your heart, it might be helpful to point her in the right direction with a reference to a favorite cookbook, website, etc. that has helped you along the way.
But on a personal note? It's never felt difficult to budget your large family's meals? Sure, it doesn't HAVE to be expensive, but it takes time to learn how to shop for bargains (and for each family, what actually IS a bargain) and maximize food dollars. Not to mention the time and love that goes into preparing the meals - that doesn't come easily to everyone.
In other words, be thankful this lifestyle comes easily to you.
Cindy says
Wonderful! Just started dye-free, additive-free
gluten-free eating in our family. Love that you
have compiled all info.... easier to share with
others.
Mellissa Rose says
I am not against eating healthy but it is hard to do and expensive. My husband & I don't have kids (and don't plan on having any) but my opinion is that something is going to kill you. We tried to eat whole foods without dyes for a week and came to the conclusion that we don't like those foods. Perhaps we are too use to the convenience of processed foods but I hated taking the time to plan a menu and then the time to prepare the food. I had a full-time job with a part-time job on the side at that time. I also help take care of my 86 year old father in law. I didn't have the time to do this.
It is wonderful if you can though - good for you! If I had a child, I may be more cautious but I am not sure I would want my child leaving a birthday part feeling sad about not being able to eat the food served.
BrookeB says
You have never seen something sadder than a child physically and emotionally reacting to the POISON being legally placed in processed American food. My son is empowered and educated to avoid petroleum filled foods. At 6 years old, he is smart and savvy enough to ask every grown up who offers him food to read the label. Artificial color does not impact TASTE AT ALL. As this article points out, it is only there to trick consumers into believing the food is pretty and good. And clearly, the marketing tactics meant to deceive people are working very well. Indeed, we are all going to die. And I hope I don't do it wasting away from cancer while my children watch because of something we all could have prevented. Nothing could be easier than reading a label and putting it back on the shelf if it has a color followed by a number.
The implication that because we care about the absolute health of our children is somehow "sad" because SOCIETY tells us something different is insulting at the very least. I am not a sheep who will follow the herd. The point is that once you know better you can do better. A grown up can actively make a choice to ignore what she knows and ingest petroleum and coal tar. Most children cannot. If parents aren't going to protect their kids' bodies, who will?
BrookeB says
Here's another post on the subject with some other comments, to the point that it is a FALSEHOOD to believe that kids who don't get dye are deprived or go without treats. There are plenty of treats in stores and homebaked that are delicious and healthier -- just the way our grandmothers used to make them!
http://www.mamasagainstdrama.com/2012/03/when-just-because-isnt-good-enough/#comment-660
Marilyn says
VERY well said, Brooke! My boys, at 3&4, were able to refuse "bad" foods, and trade junky "rewards" for things I had stashed away for just such an occasion. They critiqued TV commercials aimed to fool kids. They laughed out loud at the unpronounceable ingredients in "convenience" foods in the supermarket (and maybe influenced some of those around us who heard them!). Knowledge is POWER, and to know better but make excuses for not acting on that knowledge is pure and simple willful ignorance. I'm not willing to risk my children's future health for the sake of not wanting to "insult" some soccer mom handing out Kool-Aid and Doritos after practice!
Mellissa Rose says
I agree with you on the issue of parents protecting their children Brooke. But I grew up eating whatever was available to my parents in the 1980's - including fast food. This will sound like bragging but I graduated high school a year early and have a genius IQ. I have never truly been sick (just the occasional cold or whatever). I still eat processed food including store bought granola bars and Tyson chicken. While it is important to eat healthy and teach children food groups, I don't think it is necessary to go to the extreme where you would stop your child from eating a cupcake or pizza at a party.
BrookeB says
Then you haven't clearly understood what I am saying. Letting my child ingest even ONE Dum Dum lollipop results in an immediate (within 30 minutes)NEUROLOGICAL reaction. Why in the world would I negatively impact my child's BRAIN just so he could eat petroleum products with the other kids?? I can make him a cupcake with NATURAL frosting and he's perfectly happy. Because we work hard to educate him about REAL food.
The food we grew up on IS NOT THE SAME as the food these kids are being exposed to on a daily basis. You can Google Robyn O'Brien, a mother turned activist, who wrote a book called The Unhealthy Truth to understand more about how "food" has CHANGED over the last 15 years. I also guarantee that the toothpaste you used as a child did not contain petroleum based dyes. Almost EVERY mainstream toothpaste on the market today contains dyes. So do pickles. And crackers. And breads. To imply that a kid is only getting food dye in cupcakes once in awhile is a complete falsehood.
Diana says
WOW ! Mellissa Rose You really sound so foolish and un-educated. I am not trying to insult you but there are no words to describe how all of this "junk" food impacts our poor children's bodies. My son will go from 0 to full tilt in a matter of minutes after eating anything with red food dye or high fructose corn syrup - he will go into a violent rage and when he is finally finished our house/his classroom has been turned upside down and he is completely exhausted !
We just went to a birthday party on Sunday and our son (5) whispered to me "Mom I know I can't have any cake because of all the food dyes but I don't care because I don't want it to ruin the rest of my day". I couldn't be prouder of him ! For dinner that same night he chose to eat flounder (2 pieces) and red beets with brown rice and a gluetin free carrot muffin for dessert. I know adults who won't eat those things !
I REFUSE to medicate my child (he has ADHD and ODD) when for the most part food is his trigger. Do a little research esp. if you comment on a board such as this !
rachel says
Melissa - as and adult you can make your own choices, and to each his own and I wish you continued health. But I am confused as to why you are on this blog if you are actually taking a stand AGAINST what Lisa and people here are trying to do for themselves and their families -- which is pretty smart? What you said is actually not too "genius", but ignorant if you choose not to learn. If you ARE learning and at the beginning of your journey and trying to process and reconcile all of this information, congrats on taking a step! I am sure you will find support and encouragement among the many here. But I hope you are not here to just bash and try to discredit. I just don't see the point to it.
meriem says
speaking about food dyes,I found the red velvet cake the most outrageous invetion ever. when i arrived in the us a year ago, I could not understand why a red colored cake was so popular. I hope that people will be more aware about the dangers of food coloring. I ve leard so much about food since i’ve been leaving here, most of my american friend don’t know what horrible things are in the food (OGM, food dyes, chemicals,..). so I make a lot if publicity to your website. keep up the good work
BugladyNora says
I never got red velvet cake either.
Michelle says
I'm amazed by red velvet cake, too. Is red food dye the only thing that differentiates it from other cakes?
Amy says
Yep - it's really just a chocolate cake with cream cheese icing!
Lilmrsmchenry says
Personally, I have always followed an old family recipe which calls for roasted beet pulp instead of food coloring. I can not imagine how much dye you would have to use. It is my son's favorite and he just requested it again for his 4th birthday on Friday.
Stacey @ Feeding My Tribe says
Can we get the recipe?
lilmrsmchenry says
This one is extremely similar to the recipe I use. Only I use whole wheat white flour instead of all purpose. I do go buy a small bag of sugar for this one just because it is normally for a special occasion.
http://www.sophistimom.com/red-velvet-cake-all-natural-no-red-dye/
Jessica says
When it comes to red velvet cake it takes about a tablespoon of color for a standard 9x13 pan to make it vibrant... how scary!
Robin says
My grandmother always used the ENTIRE bottle of red food coloring (which amounts to about a tablespoon) when making her red velvet cake. Once I found that out, it lessened my interest in that cake a whole lot even before I jumped on the real food bandwagon, or even started avoiding other artificial ingredients (this was years ago). It just seems really gross when you put it in that perspective.
Marilyn says
I am finding it truly sad to read some of the comments here. We still have such a long way to go before ALL parents get the message about food safety! NO kid "NEEDS" to eat foods offered to him or her--at school, at parties, at scouts or ballet or soccer, or anywhere else! Empower your kids to refuse the unnatural garbage being offered to them. Bring along your own healthy snacks and treats. Offer to be room mom and give parents a list of allowable treats--preferably non-food ones. Ask for parents to contribute to the "snack fund", and YOU buy the Sunday School snacks for the year. Homeschool to avoid the constant bombardment of garbage (school lunches, candy fundraisers, "rewards", parties, etc.) by those who ought to know better. Join the Feingold Association and learn all you can. Buy "safe" candy from natural food stores, and online sources such as The Natural Candy Store, Indie Candy, and Squirrel's Nest. There is NO deprivation when you eliminate the artificial junk from your lives! We still have desserts, snacks, and treats. We still have holiday candy and birthday cakes. They are still sweet, attractive, and my kids love what we eat! AND they no longer have sleep issues, behavioral issues, or learning issues. They take NO medication for ADHD (as one of them once did). And we do not eat bean sprouts and tofu at every meal, we do not use all expensive organics, and all our food is not tasteless and grey. Normal, average families CAN do this!
Michelle says
There are many factors that contribute to ADHD; food dyes, additives and diet are just a few of those factors. Eliminating them, while good for many reasons, may not eliminate ADHD symptoms in all kids. My son is smart enough and bold enough to speak out on behalf of what's good for him and what's not. On the other hand, he's also a headstrong 9-year-old boy who loves sweet treats (and doesn't often get them at home), so if someone offers him one, he's likely to accept it if I'm not there to redirect him. I cannot monitor his food intake around the clock, and since homeschooling is not an option right now, my best hope is that people will eventually realize how harmful food dyes can be and there will be fewer of them in foods everywhere.
BugladyNora says
Good point, and my ADD son has made some choices to eat something he knows he is not supposed to have. When the melt down starts and I ask what he ate, he makes the connection and it happens less and less. I also remind him he has to work extra hard to be in self control after he has had a treat. He is six and he gets it, it is not impossible.
BrookeB says
I feel fortunate that my 6 year old as well has strict instructions to never accept food that contains dyes, and he, so far, follows that rule. He is aware of how it makes him feel and tells others that he is allergic. And at his school, which seems to DEPEND on food to educate children (crazy!), he has plenty of opportunity to slip up. We have been working for three years to help him understand that the way his brain "feels" is a direct result of what he eats. That said, we never had any attention issues or diagnosis of ADD or ADHD. We were, however, seeing an occupational therapist for sensory integration issues: picking at fingernails, unable to get socks on, transition problems, coordination problems, emotional outbursts, tantrums, etc. All those gone with diet changes. Thank goodness!
Joyce says
ecokidsusa.com has egg colorings that are food based and you just add water instead of vinegar to them
Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama says
Great article--I totally agree! I enjoyed reading and learning from the commenters, too.
Jill says
I believe Whole Foods does not sell any products with artificial dyes.
Your daughter is smart and I like the way she thinks! I was trying to explain to my 4 yr old that not all children have food and he should try not waste food. He told me that we should pray to God and tell him the children need food.
Anyway, I really don't think our President/government cares one iotta about our health. After all, fresh raw milk is illegal is a lot of places. They rather us eat that "pink slime". I'm not as good as you in food preparation but I'm so much better than I was. I shop at Whole Foods even though its more expensive. I can't stand the taste of the unhealthy foods anymore. I love your website because it makes me feel I'm not totally alone in my quest to raise my child to eat properly. This morning when I dropped him off at his preschool, a child was eating a Dunkin Donut and my son said "mommy, that's garbage". So, I think he is starting to understand and I always tell him mommy gives him good & healthy food. Again, I don't think our government cares about additives/chemicals and the such. It's all about politics and big money. Seems to me our only chance is to boycott the grocery stores and/or not purchase all the "junk food".
BrookeB says
Absolutely love this post and love to see this subject getting more and more attention. We have been 100% fake dye free for almost 3 years after we discovered synthetic dyes were the cause of my then 3-year-old son's hours long tantrums (yes, HOURS) in which he would scream, "I can't stop, Mommy," while destroying his bedroom. He could not transition from one activity to another without a meltdown; he picked at his fingers until the bled. And on and on. Thank God an occupational therapist told us about going dye free. And, almost like magic, our son's symptoms were gone. Going dye free LITERALLY saved my family. How horrifying that people do not know what they are eating because they have been purposefully deceived into believing that if it is on a grocery shelf, it is safe. We do not allow our children to eat ANY food dye -- not from friends or teachers. My son has a bag of safe candy and snacks that his teacher gives him if the other kids are getting food for some reason. The school has clear instructions that my child is allergic to synthetic dyes and is not EVER allowed to eat them. We bring out own cupcakes to birthdays, out own lollipops to the haircut place, etc.
Thanks again for the post. You can read Brooke Bernard's rants about food dye over at http://www.mamasagainstdrama.com.
Catherine says
This is a relief for me to hear. I honestly haven't known anyone else whose child reacted so violently like mine. If she has the smallest amount she will be almost unbearable for the first few hours and it seems to take almost two days to wear off. She is 9 now and I have known of her sensitivity since she was 18 months old. The last couple of years got hard as she started to really feel it when she had to miss eating certain things at parties and so on. She did have some out of defiance but the last few reactions scared her enough that she self regulates again. Now my kids know that on days like Valentine's they come home and just empty it all out on the table and we go through and throw away the stuff they can't eat - I give them a few pieces of high quality chocolate instead and they are fine. Same with party favor bags. I am constantly having to fight the wave of what other people will gladly give her though.
Danyelle says
Such great information and so many things to think about. I've been wanting to stay away from dyes and this post has given me the information I need to let the "doubters" in my life know why I want to do this. Thank you!
Richellle @ The Carolina Clipper says
Lisa, Thank you for making this easy to understand! This article is short, to the point, and full of valid references. I appreciate the way you educate us with facts and not opinion. I will consider this new-found knowledge. Is there any data as to 'how much' one has to be exposed to for the behavior to modify or cancer to be an increased risk?
BrookeB says
Richelle: My son has been dye free for 3 years. If he ingests ONE Dum Dum lollipop, he is in a complete meltdown within 30 minutes. Every time.
ALL dyes are petrochemicals. I wouldn't let him have "just a sip" of motor oil, so I don't let him have "just a taste" of something with a synthetic dye.
Good luck with your research! You can't unlearn this stuff and it can be really overwhelming. There are some good articles you can Google called A Rainbow of Risks and The Color of Controversy. The Feingold Association website also has a link to all the scientific studies on this topic -- including the ones that led to the essential ban on dyes in other countries.
Emily says
Perfect quote: "You can't unlearn this stuff and it can be really overwhelming." Sigh. I am officially overwhelmed. Grateful for this blog & all the good info.
100 Days of Real Food says
Thanks so much Richelle...that means a lot! :) And I have not personally seen any specifics on how much dye causes health implications, but certainly the more that's consumed the higher the risk. If you think it could be negatively impacting one of your children I would consider going cold turkey for 2 weeks to see if you notice a difference.
Rebecca Black says
Love your blog!! We are a "no-dye" household and I am a baking maniac. We decorate with these dyes...http://www.chocolatecraftkits.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=81_86
They aren't as bright, but we are cool with that. My 5 and 4 year old love to tell their friends that food dyes are BAD.
Thanks for all the wonderful info you share with us!
Rebecca
Michelle says
Thank you for the link! I don't bake a lot, but I've been looking for some effective, natural food dyes for when we need them. These look great!
BugladyNora says
We belong to the Feingold association. http://www.feingold.org, which is lifestyle diet that gives you information about removing these dyes as well as petroleum derivative preservatives like BHA, BHT and THBQ, as well as artificial flavors which have the same source. It really helps my son with ADHD, not cures him, but we can tell when we have had an infraction. We did it as a family and in the last year since we started, it has resolved many health issues for me, such as migraines, depression, soreness, low energy and even allergies. There are many internet stores that sell dye free candy online such as Squirrels Nest, The Natural Candy Store and I buy a few on amazon since I am a few hour drive away from anything other than regular Grocery stores.
Michelle says
"It really helps my son with ADHD, not cures him, but we can tell when we have had an infraction."
That's exactly it for us. He's still an energetic kid, for sure, but when his behavior is really off the wall, our first question is, "Did you have something to eat today that we didn't pack in your lunch/give to you?" Nine times out of 10, the answer is yes, and almost always it's something that has dye in it.
Laura says
Thanks for that link, I've bookmarked it. I've never really given much thought to food dyes except for when I'm eating Cheetos - you know that colour orange isn't natural! It looks like a helpful program!
missy @ it's almost naptime says
I can testify that Feingold has completely changed our lives. My son was kicked out of two preschools and getting in trouble at the third before we started Feingold. I blame the artificial vanilla in his favorite food, Nutella, among others. One month on Feingold and he was a different kid.
I also wonder if a lot of families who go gluten free could solve their issues with Feingold, which is MUCH easier. It is worth trying.
Nicole says
I had NO idea that cuttin out artificial dyes and processed foods would change my lie so dramatically. I was convinced that my 3yr olds naughty behavior was simply my karma for being a rebelous teen. Well, i wa wrong! I'm off the hook. We cut these things out of our diet and my son is ten million times easier to handle. People are starting to notice his behavior shift and i have never had a prouder mommy moment :)
Amanda says
We've slowly been moving this way. It all started with realizing that Red 40 gave my daughter a rash and caused a lot of behavior issues. I still get some looks when I say that she is allergic to it, even from those in the medical field. Its sad that so many believe the FDA is there to protect us, yet they allow all of these poisons in our food. Too many conflicting interests of those in charge there.
Barbie says
Thank you for this great information. Avoiding dyes is something I strive for but will be first to admit it's not easy.
Jill says
Whole Foods is another store that doesn't carry products with artificial dyes.
The problem with the U.S. is the president/government doesn't actually seem to support good health and doesn't listen to the people. Thats why raw milk is illegal.
I feel so alone in my quest to eat healthy when so many people dont care, or are uneducated or financilly unable to eat organic and/or make healthier choices. Schools are the worst. My son in 4 and I send his breakfast, lunch and snacks. He actually prefers "his" food but there are always birthday parties etc and I'm sure the "I'll trade mine for yours" is coming. Looking at the school lunch menus is totally disgusting...looks like all "dead food" to me. Yes. people "survive" on these "foods" but isn't life more than just "surviving"???
Bri says
We are trying to go dye-free (after a few years of being "dye-cautious," or allowing it only outside the home and at birthdays, etc.) after realizing that my youngest son has a probable allergy to Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1. Our biggest challenge has been with his preschool -- although they swear they don't serve snacks with any artificial dyes in them, it seems like every week there's a "special activity" or a parent bringing in a treat that involves food dyes. The school is trying to work with us, but I think sometimes it's hard for everyone to step back and think "Hm...when we put green food coloring into the eggs for morning snack, or put red food coloring into the cream cheese, it's unnecessary."
As to the questions above: Whole Foods also pledges to be entirely dye-free. They also have a wonderful selection of dye-free candies and so forth for Easter. However, when we do Easter baskets, we approach it this way: 1) I bake lemon shortbread cookies in the shape of bunnies, tie them up in pretty packets, and place them in the baskets. 2) We buy the naturally colored organic jelly beans from the Whole Foods bulk section and include a small portion of those in each basket. 3) We include one piece of high-quality chocolate. 4) We round out the baskets with bubbles, small outdoor toys to celebrate Spring, and other Easter-themed objects (last year they each got a cute bowl with an easter critter on it, and a stuffed bunny). We don't spend a lot, either -- I shop sales and clearance bins.
Jennifer says
When my dd was younger and to an extent even now - I provided a safe snack for her to eat at preschool, church, etc. She has food allergies and in order to make sure she only ate what she could eat I provided foods for the classes to keep on hand for when someone else brought in a treat.
Kim says
I totally agree with you. We make it a point to eat as natural as possible at home. However, I struggle with this when holidays come around. For example Easter is right around the corner. What does your family do when it comes to coloring Easter eggs, and of course all the candy associated with the holiday? Do you know of any good all natural candy out there? Or a safer, natural way to dye eggs? Thanks!
Amanda says
I agree and love shopping at Earthfare because they promise not to sell any products with artificial colors or flavors. Does anyone know of other stores making this same promise? Regarding Easter candy, the Earthfare in my area (Montgomery, AL) has a nice display with Easter candy and similar treats.
Michelle says
Last year I found plenty of candy at Trader Joe's, too - jelly beans, gummy chicks, etc. - that didn't have dye. Plus, there are always non-candy options for Easter baskets, and I try to focus on those. The candy tends to go uneaten, anyway, so Matchbox cars and beads and art supplies seem more popular with my kids (even with my son, who loves candy but soon forgets about it after he gets it, which is great, since I have seen firsthand that food dyes absolutely do contribute to hyperactivity).
lilmrsmchenry says
As for easter eggs we have used many of these methods with great success. http://chemistry.about.com/od/holidayhowtos/a/eastereggdyes.htm
Sari says
We dye our eggs with natural dyes from foods. Here are the "recipes" I use
Pink - 1 cup beet juice mixed with 1/2 tsp vinegar and 2-3 cups of water.
Purple - 1 cup grape juice, mixed with 1/2 tsp vinegar and 2-3 cups of water.
Orange - yellow onion skins boiled for about 1/2 hour with 1tsp. vinegar and 3 cups of water
Yellow - boil tsp tumeric with 1 tsp vinegar and 3 cups water for 1/2 hour.
Light blue - boil 1 cup of torn red cabbage leaf with 1 tsp vinegar and 3 cups water.
All eggs need to stay in the cooled dye for 1/2 hour or longer.
Anne says
Last year we used natural dyes. Not the kind you make yourself from veggies, drops like artificial ones, just natural. The colors weren't as bold, but it was just as much fun!
Michelle says
Excellent! I could not agree with this post more. I am totally on board with the anti-food dye crusade. It is at the top of my list when deciding what kinds of foods to buy my family, even more so than whether something is organic (which is saying a lot, because that's way up there, too). I am absolutely baffled by when it became so important that food look bright and beautiful that we were willing to sacrifice so many things in order to obtain those colors. I am so discouraged when I find a product in the store I'm interested in buying, but then when I look at the ingredients, I see food dye on the list, which makes me immediately put it down. Why does ranch dressing need food dye? Why do we need blue ketchup? Since when do kids hate ranch dressing and ketchup so much that they need to be coerced into eating them by making them artificial like that?