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.
Jen says
When I came across this article, my jaw literally hit the floor. I knew that dyes were bad, but WOW! Now I completely understand why this father I had talked to years ago, who brought his daughter to baseball games, wouldn't allow her to purchase anything from the concession stand that had red dyes in it. It almost drove me crazy that a father wouldn't allow his daughter the simplest of treats while they were out and would sit there and literally inspect each and every package. But now I know better. Now, I would do the exact same thing to my son. While I am a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist and my son and I have been eating "real food" for quite some time now, there are always special outings among friends and family that we attend. I can't always inspect each and every food that is at a friend's house or family's house, but I have noticed that if it's a highly fatty processed food, my body almost immediately lets me know about it. The way the body reacts to harmful things is amazing and some of us are so conditioned to not recognize that what they just consumed was harmful. Some of the things I can no longer consume are: sodas, high fructose corn syrup, lunch meats, hot dogs or sausages, white bread, and many others... Thank you for posting about the dyes as I will surely add this to my list :)
Gaby says
Hello..I have a question about food dyes. We no longer use them at home for eating but I do use them to color homemade play do and sometimes my kids ask me to color their bath water. I am wondering if you know if this can still be harmful? Can they dye be absorbed through the skin while they manipulate play do or take a bath? Any info would be helpful..Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Gaby. Yes, it is my understanding that artificial dyes can be absorbed by the skin and into the blood stream. You aren't alone. I've just recently educated myself on dyes. This is likely more information than you need but I refer to it often now: http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/food-dyes-rainbow-of-risks.pdf. Hope that helps. ~Amy
winnie says
I have an unusual reaction to any yellow dye; I am seized by severe cramps and explosive diarhea after eating anything will yellow dye. This happens sometimes within 20 minutes. Then, after a day or two, I get an ulcer somewhere in my mouth, which lasts up to a week.
I would everyone who has diarhrea IBS to consider these chemicals as a probable cause.
Brandee says
I am allergic to Red 40. I developed this allergy while traveling abroad as a teenager. I have had to learn to read labels of food and medicine. And when a doctor asks if I have allergies, it's one of the first I tell them. I've also trained my coworkers, family members and friends to read labels to make sure there is no Red 40 in something they offer me. (Though if it's for a group, I don't make a fuss. I just don't eat it.) So many people have said to me that they didn't realize that 1) there are allergies to this and 2) that SO many products have dyes in them. Because of this, I have learned to bake and cook using non-processed foods. And I enjoy the process quite a bit. Of course, I still go out to eat from time to time.
Thank you for posting this. I will share this information in the hopes of educating many more!
Kristie says
This info is so helpful! What do you do as far as medicine, or is there another blog post about this? My pediatrician told me to keep benadryl on hand in case my son were to have a reaction to any foods, but every thing I found had artificial dye in it. So frustrating!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Kristie. There is not a post specifically about medicine, but, I always make sure to use the dye free one whenever I can. I do feel like my kids don't get sick that often so when they do, I give them whatever medicine is recommended by my doctor in terms of a prescription. But, again, for over the counter, I try and look for the ones free of dyes. Here is a recipe for homemade pedialyte that Lisa did that you may find helpful...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/31/homemade-pedialyte/. Jill
Sophia says
I am new to this information. Do the kids not get cupcakes because the icing is colored? How do you color the cookies or cupcakes without the food coloring?
Thanks
Sophia
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Sophia. Yes, I don't buy the cupcakes from the stores due to the food coloring but also because of the many ingredients that go into them that I don't even know what they are. You can color foods naturally...here is some more info on natural food colors...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/12/21/natural-food-dyes-for-holiday-cookies/. Jill
amy says
Thank you for this site, I am starting to learn more and more about artifical dyes and flavorings. I have been a vegetarian for 18 years now, and never had a problem with dyes in the past. But just recentlly I have started itching a lot, even had a rash with small bumbs around my stomache. After seeing a determologist and well they dismissed the fact that I told them it was something that I had ate, why else would this happen all the sudden. Come to find out it was well toothpaste. I had swicthed my toothpaste. But not only the toothpaste. It was the blue #1 that had caused it, now I have been keeping a food journal of everything and talking to my accupunturist today, she seems to believe that I am allergic to artifical colors and flavorings. Do you have any suggestions on foods to eat, even snacks? I know that I am going to have to wipe everything out, but I do have stepkids, and I know that they are going to miss there things when I wipe the house clean of all the artifical products. Thanks for your site :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Amy. I would encourage you to take a look at the meal ideas and resources page for some ideas on snacks and meals...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/real-food-resources/. I hope that you are feeling better. Good luck. Jill
Anne says
The blue seems to be especially tricky
I had something with blue (american) food dye once. A cake with blue icing. Broke out in a rash and really had to think about what could have been the problem.
Luckily I am German and only managed to eat something with that dye because they sell prducts with American food dye where my cousin lives.
I don't have to read labels at home because it's not in our products.
I am usually horrified when some American friends post pictures of oh so delicious looking rainbow coloured cakes - please give me homemade non-dyed cakes (preferrably without icing too)
Amy says
We have been "clean" for 18 months now and have never been healthier or happier. Many of our friends find us frustrating because we pack our own foods, bring our own suckers (no-dye of course) and seem to rain on their picnics. However, they can't argue the fact that we are so much healthier. My dd used to be up at nights vomiting or suffering from terrible tummy aches, etc. She wasn't allergic to dairy, wheat, nuts or other common culprits. I eliminated MSG with some good outcome, but as soon as we cleaned our diet, those symptoms cleared. I now believe it was the coloring and artificial this and that I unknowingly fed my family. Lisa, I am very thankful for your website and posts. We were several months into our clean eating and were frankly struggling with dealing with the practical away-from-home applications before I found you and that has helped keep us going. I love how you have dealt with parties, classroom treats, etc. (Why is it that there potential days of compromise around EVERY corner?? I, like you, have chosen to just not compromise but be creative.) It has helped my teens too as they read some of your posts and see that I am not the only mom who thinks this way. So keep it up! In the meantime, I'm packing the fruit and veggie suckers. :-)
Becky says
I am allergic to yellow dye...My reactions have varied from feeling achy and sick to being blind for 5 hours...Blind no vision at all. I take this allergy seriously. Unfortunately, it is in medicine and I have a constant battle to be prescribed properly. Everytime I get a prescription I begin the battle of researching and getting the doctor and pharmacist to find something different. It often ends poorly. I was recently told by my surgeon that this is not a real allergy and if I was concerned not to take the antibiotics..Obviously, I am struggling with this inconsiderate, arrogant approach to my well being. I am looking for suggestions on how to communicate with him or for support regarding this allergy.
Lillian says
Wow.just wow
Kim says
2 of my kids show drastic behavior changes with artificial dye. I actually have a document through school (health plan) and everybody knows to not give my kids food. I supply their teachers with candy and treats for those occasions and I send in cupcakes and what not on party days. My oldest has bipolar and artificial color will throw him into mania super fast. Actually, we are finding that now that he's medicated and more even-keel in general, food with any artificial preservatives, flavors, etc can at least put him into hypomania. My middle kiddo deals with anxiety and that manifests in hyperactivity as well as other anxious behaviors. The dye and whatnot definitely make it all worse.
Sally says
Hello Lisa,
Thank you for this article. I am slowly discovering how hard it is to eat healthy. I know one of the first steps is to eliminate the artificial dyes and HFCS. Reading this story, about your daughter thinking she can write the president broke my heart. All we can do is try to educate our children and hope that they continue to research and educate others until we all are educated enough to put a stop to the FDA and their crimes. They are the worst. The fact that 95% of soy product is made by one company that uses GMO's is really disturbing. Our government is so screwed up, it's depressing.
Are you part of any groups trying to make a change, I'm interested in getting involved in trying to help change America's options in food choices. Right now we are very limited. Especially if you are from a lower socioeconomic status. Their options are extremely limited and have to resort to buying crap. I just learned in my anatomy class that diabetes increased from 1.5 million in 1958 to 25.8 million in 2011. That's insane.
Best,
Sally
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Sally. If you are interested in getting involved, I might suggest checking out The Food Babe's blog...www.foodbabe.com. I think you may find some further information there. Best of luck. Jill
Candice says
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge on this website. I just ran across your website yesterday and I have already cleaned out my pantry and refrigerator. I've always struggled with my weight and believe sugar is a huge problem for me. When I read this article, it reminded me of the headaches I got as a child every time I drank red Kool-aides or had red jello. I believe the dyes are a huge problem. I just wanted to thank you again for your research and sharing your knowledge. I can't wait to try out your recipes. My household will be taking the Real Food pledge for good.
Kelli Pruiett says
Love this article!! Thank you so much for sharing all your passion and knowledge. You mentioned that some people are aware of these dangers and side effects but continue to eat these products and feed them to their kids. Why do you think that is? When we know better, we should do better...right?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Kelli. Glad you enjoyed the article. In response to your question, I think the food choices we make are all a very personal decision and perhaps for some, despite knowing the dangers, it is not something they want to change. Jill
Ed says
The food coloring problem has been around for years, I don't remember what it was, had something to do with Red coloring I thnk, that supposedly got banned. This new stuff must be something the mfg's have come up with to replace what got banned.
Carmen says
I love this article! My family has seen the terrible health consequences that can be caused by artificial food dyes, artificial flavors and artificial preservatives like BHT, BHA and TBHQ. We stay far away from all petroleum based additive in food as well as in skincare and home products.
We have followed the Feingold diet for many years with great success. http://www.feingold.org. I am so thankful for this organization and what it does to help families, especially for children. My daughter now knows that she is not abnormal. I feel for so many children slapped with labels growing up thinking there is something wrong with them when it is really just the food being given to them. =-( We've experienced first hand the freedom that comes from shedding the psychobabble labels and our daughter has soared and is continuing grow into the person God created her to be.
Becky says
I started my family on a no artificial, no preservative diet in 1996. I found a great organization that I was a member of that helped me tremendously to know what foods my children could and could not eat. They were able to investigate the foods beyond what the requirements for what we see on the labels. The organization is the Feingold oganization/diet. Their website is : http://www.feingold.org/. It is well worth the membership fee. I hope this helps those who are looking to provide healthy foods for your children.
Elisabeth says
I really liked this article. My question is for when I make cupcakes at home for example is there a safe food dye choice I can make or is there no such thing unless I'm willing to shave beet skins for there colour on the icing. ;0)
Amy says
Elisabeth- I haven't personally used either of these products, but two options I've found while searching online for natural food dyes are India Tree natural food dyes and Maggie's Naturals food dye.
http://www.amazon.com/India-Tree-Natural-Decorating-Colours/dp/B000FNM5PU
http://www.maggiesnaturals.com
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Elisabeth. You can order natural food dyes online (I have seen them on Amazon). You may also be able to get them at Whole Foods. Jill
Teresa says
Great article! I know I shouldn't have been surprised but was when I found that my old prenatals, taken while pregnant and nursing, contained Red 40, Yellow 6 & Blue 1! Why on earth would vitamins, in this case those geared towards ensuring fetal development, contain known carcinogens? Do I really care what color it is? Then I looked at my kids chewables and sure enough, contain the same. I am so much more diligent in my buying choices now. Thank you!
Ella D says
But somehow when it comes to birth control, we stop caring about ingesting synthetic carcinogens.
Joanne Holbrook says
I am an American living in the UK with 2 small school going kids. I
Was show shocked with the food here (although double the price)
You can track everything you eat. From what you are eating to where it came from.
It can be done! Candy colors are less bright but my kids don't notice!
School lunches are so good they would rather eat at school than home (I'm a pretty good cook too)
Please keep doing what you are doing, you are making a big difference!
It's going to be huge shock when we return in 2 years!!
Karen says
I have been trying to avoid artificial food dyes for some time as my 5yo seems to be particularly sensitive to them (pressured speech and hyperactivity). We recently discovered, however, that even "natural" food dyes (Annatto) can be problematic as well. My 3yo was diagnosed with ODD this summer. We had started some time ago with limiting sugar, etc, but his behavior was not improving. About 3 months ago, I started finding studies about Annatto and behavior issues in those who are sensitive to it...hyperactivity, restlessness, aggression, sleep issues, head banging and body banging. It sounded just like my son. We eliminated Annatto and immediately saw a difference...a huge one. Is it definitely the Annatto? Maybe, maybe not..he still has rough days, but not every day is a rough one any more. What I found the most disturbing is that Annatto is in everything! Wheat Thins, yellow cheeses, some yogurts, cereals, goldfish, event sons' multivitamin from Trader Joe's. Many of these things we had already eliminated (like goldfish), but I have been startled by how many food producers are using it (as a natural alternative to artificial dyes). Just wanted to share...
Carmen says
Karen,
Thanks for sharing that. We've had a similar experience and have stayed away from annato as well. My child with diagnosed with ODD as well as ADHD and sensory processing disorder...all by the age of 6. She is 10 now and is doing amazingly well on the Feingold diet that we've been following for almost 5 years. She still has rough days, but doesn't everybody? She can be dramatic and loud...that's her personality. But the diet changes stopped the aggression, restlessness, tantrums, resistance to authority, etc.
Tabatha says
I wholeheartedly believe in what you said. My oldest son was diagnosed with ADHD a few years back. At that time they wanted to medicate him (which incidentally the medication also contained dyes) and I refused. I thought to myself there had to be a reason for this behavior and I sought to change it naturally. I did tons of research on ADHD and it's causes and always came back with the same answers- high fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes. It was at that point that I completely changed our diet. Since then, the doctors can't find any symptoms of ADHD and I have my son back. Un-medicated. :)
Paula Perez says
Ditto. My 15 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive type this summer. After a scary incident concerning his driving after eating a bunch of junk, we have changed his diet to have no nitrates, artificial food dyes, or lots of corn syrup or processed sugar. He has gone from a D-F student to an A-B student this year and has none of the symptoms that have been plaguing him for years. He monitors his own diet because HE SEES AND FEELS THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE! Once he had a diet Gatorade (thinking only of the sugar and not the dye) and he felt again the profound fogginess and lack of focus. He doesn't cheat now.
Worried Mom says
I have a 5yr old boy now who has the tendencies of ADHD, very hyperactive in school but not so much at home. School calls at least once a week about his behavior or they have a behavior chart which is not good MOST of the time. I have tried to cut whatever I could out of his diet, dyes, high fructose, etc. Lunchables however, because it's lunch. He eat "cooked Veggies" at home but not at school. home food vs school just doesn't work)kinda picky. I need a list of actual products for his drinks, snacks, vitamins, etc. I think that I am missing a link with his eating because so far, hyper is still there.
Grace says
We had the same problem. My son is 8 and we were thinking that he had dyslexia and learning disabilities. We would call him the hulk because something small would set him off and he was a raging, miserable boy. He took forever to call down and says he can't help himeself, wouldn't remember hitting us and cried a LOT. Mood swing, anyone?
My daughter has food intolerances to rice, corn, wheat and sensitivities to soy and dairy, that we found out about in June (she's 10). We have spent months hunting down recipes, changing the way we eat (and eat out) and changing our kitchen. We have recently switched our son to the Feingold (the diet for ADD) Diet (No dyes, preservatives ect). We saw a difference after 3 days and there is no going back. We learned early on that red food dye makes him CRAZY. One bottle of power aid and he just loses control.
Cut out pop, juice, vitamins and most fruits. Google feingold diet 4 day plan and you can see a short list of what he can have without buying the Feingold package (about $80ish) to give you an idea. If you keep researching and plugging away you will see a differnce. I explained it to my family by saying if my daughter had a stomach problem for years and we didin't know it was diet related.....how can you not see that my son's is the same but different? He has a sensativity too and it has nothing to do with parenting or discipline. Good luck.
Tammy Davidson says
I love your website and the information that you provide to help us all live healthier lives. I agree that we should limit our intake of artificial dyes and food additives, but please don't be too harsh on petroleum! There are literally thousands of products derived from petroleum, including just about every medicine out there (yes, even aspirin), those nifty Zip-lock containers that we use for school lunches, the re-freezable ice blocks, and the Thermos caps, too. Just because it comes from petroleum or is made in a lab doesn't make it bad.
Lynn Bolser says
One of my 3 children has extreme behavior changes when he consumes food coloring. But you have to be a vigilante to avoid it.
Amber says
In reference to #4...my 2.5 year old hasn't had conventional candy in probably 3 months. With last night being Halloween she had about 4-5 pieces last night and 2 pieces after breakfast this morning. Her behavior today has been less than satisfactory, totally out of character for her. I believed it affected behavior & after seeing this behavior I definitely believe it!
Anna says
I occured to me the other day that most toothpaste brands use artifical coloring. Do you happen to know of any good ones that do not?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Anna. I am pretty sure Tom's brand is all natural. Jill
Cheryl P says
I just bought Tom's b/c of the artificial colors in Colgate/Aquafresh and discovered it contains carrageenan. Blah! Onto the next one!
missy @ it's almost naptime says
Trader Joe's also has a natural kind.
Isabel says
I've started using the doTERRA toothpaste and love it so far. Here is some info on it:
Primary Benefits
 On Guard® protective blend of essential oils provides natural germ protection
ï‚· Supports strong teeth and healthy gums
ï‚· Naturally whitens teeth by removing stains with gentle polishing agents
What Makes This Product Unique?
 Formulated with CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils
ï‚· Proprietary formula that is free of harsh abrasives, alcohol and fluoride
ï‚· Formulated according to dÅTERRA’s “NONE OF THE BAD†philosophy, meaning it does not contain artificial colors, diethanolamine (DEA), formaldehyde donors, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), toluene, or triethanolamine (TEA). Product not tested on animals
Key Ingredients
 Proprietary On Guard® essential oil blend of wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary that clean and freshen breath while providing natural protection against germs and other harmful microbes in the mouth
ï‚· Myrrh essential oil that provides soothing protection for the mouth, gums, and throat
ï‚· Peppermint essential oil that functions as a natural germ-fighting agent and, combined
with the On Guard essential oil blend, leaves your breath cinnamon-mint fresh
ï‚· Calcium hydroxyapatite clinically shown to support strong teeth through remineralization of surface tooth enamel
ï‚· Natural xylitol sweetener that tastes great while promoting oral health
ï‚· Hydrated silica, a natural abrasive that helps remove plaque and tooth stains, but gentle
enough to not damage tooth enamel
Who Should Use this Product? Safe and effective for the whole family.
KDST says
There are none. You can only brush your teeth with Baking soda (powered form) this is the for a short time. You need to use a soft tooth brush so you will not put too much pressure on your teeth. You do not want to damage them. The baking soda is alkaline not acid which leads to erosion of the teeth.
YOu will also need to eat radashes to get the metal out of your body that holds baking soda, but most imporantedly to take the metals out of your body.
baking soda is the only natrual product on the market you can use. It is not genetically modified by the man or your self. It also kills 90% of the diseases that enter your body through your mouth.
KDST
KDST says
I for got to tell you this. You must understand how to use your chemistry. Baking soda in Na bicarbonate. Eat green foods to make the carbon leave your body and make the na balance with the oxygen you are eating. Your body needs the Na and the Oxygen more then the carbon. This prevents you from getting sick.
Carbon auto matically produces in your body if you do not put oxigen in your body in liquid form or solid form. Carbon in your body is linking to lowering your immune system. This effects your blood as well.
griselda iglesias says
I love this article.thanks god that internet exist. I am new mom in this matter. My daughter will present a science fair project about the terrible impact of Artificial food dye Red # 40 and its deadly consequences. I choose that topic. My life change due to the huge investigation i have made about artificial food coloring. Next friday she will present this project. She will talk about the bad consecuences of this artificial food color. Thank you for your article i learn more about this.
Josiane says
So I guess that it's time we pull up our sleeves and cook what we eat ourselves...
Stephen says
I would like to say something that you seem to keep harping on. Petrolium products. Just because something is derived from petrolium does not make it bad. Petrolium is all natural as well and when you break it down to the natural components, there are some of the same carbon chains found in coconut oil, corn, etc. I am not saying everything is great because you can get bad stuff from everything, but just don't make petrolium the enemy. It isn't. It keeps us from killing whales to get the same oils from their blubber. Just a coment.
Mom to max says
There are always two sides to the coin though. I understand why people hate all the unnatural things, but for us they are a God send. My son has a rare autoimmune disease that causes his body to attack itself whenever he eats food. It's called eosinophilic esophagitis. Because of this the only thing he can consume is plain cane sugar and grape/cherry kool aid. Only grape and cherry because those are the only 2 with only artificial flavorings in it. Other then that he is fed a amino acid formula through a g tube. Yes his formula is completely chemically altered, unnatural everything. But it keeps him alive and heathly. Just something to think about, when trying to get things like kool aid banned from stores, you would be taking away the only thing my son can have.
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Mom to max - We aren't trying to get Kool Aid banned from stores, but I would be happy if artificial dyes were banned! The products would just be reformulated with natural dyes. Of course your son's diet is atypical and you have to do what is right for him. I wish you both the best.
Lori says
Truly, I think there is very little nourishing food left in our grocery stores. Currently, I'm buying nearly all of our food from the local food co-op, two local health food stores, and directly from four different local farmers. Now, if I only I could get my husband to stop bringing home sodas, doughnuts, chips, and junk candy. He just doesn't seem to care what he's eating, in spite of my warnings about food ingredient safety and poor health implications. I also wish there was at least one restaurant nearby where we could eat the same quality of ingredients that I cook with at home. Sometimes I just need a break from the kitchen, but I'm less and less interested in eating lower quality restaurant food.
Marie says
Isn't it our OWN responsibility to research what we're eating and make our own choices accordingly? More government over-regulation is not the answer. If we stop buying things with artificial sweeteners and dyes them companies will stop making them. Once I was educated about the dangers of hydrogenated oils I have consciously read every label to ensure I am not feeding it to my family and have tried to educate all my acquaintances about it. Let'a leave the president and his wife out of our decision making and do it for ourselves, eh?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Marie. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think the point was not for anyone else to make the decision for us, but, exactly the opposite. For us, as consumers, to stop buying products containing these artificial dyes and, in turn, causing food companies to change their ingredients. Jill
Jen says
One of our children is allergic to artificial food coloring - it's life-threatening...he has trouble breathing & we have to have dye-free benadryl & an epi pen on hand. Of course we never give him anything with it but everywhere we go people are handing out candy, juices, etc. that may have it.
Michelle Stone says
I seriously about lost it today in the grocery store. I was already having a moment because of some diet limitations due to candida overgrowth, then I look at a package of fruit & nut trail mix and that's when I about for real lost it...seriously.. not only does it have yellow 5 & 6, artificial flavor (what exactly is that, or "natural flavor" for that matter), sugar, citric acid, but sulphur dioxide (the chemical compound with the formula SO2. It is a toxic gas with a pungent, irritating smell, that is released by volcanoes and in various industrial processes.) WTH?!? WHY does this needed to be added to a fruit and nut mix!?!?!?! It makes me SO ANGRY! And it's not just that one item..it's in SO many things. This was just after looking at some "supposed healthy" Hempmilk that had junk in it. I also saw bottled water with fluoride added...and don't even get me started on that and the FDA... :(
I was telling a friend about being upset about the dye stuff and all the additives and trying to find real food at the store and how hard it is becoming, and she told me about your blog and I'm so glad!!
Janna says
What are the additives listed as in the ingredient list? I've seen several references to Cheerios in the comments, but don't see the food dyes I am familiar with listed. Certainly too many ingredients regardless... Thanks in advance for your help.
Abby says
The issue with Cheerios is HIDDEN additives that are not required on the label. From what I understand ( I do not have first hand knowledge, other that we no longer buy them!), there is BHT or BHA in the lining of the bag, or in the oil used it. My son is very sensitive to these chemicals and it is appalling that companies don't have to disclose their presence.
heidi says
My daughter will be sixteen in February and since she was around the age of three her behavior would change and she would become hyperactive and disruptive everytime she would eat anything with dye,the one that caused her the most problems was red 40. I still do my best not to buy anything with artificial dyes or preservatives. People back then thought we where crazy too.
Melinda S says
Every day my family gets a little bit healthier as I read and understand better what we are putting in our bodies.
Lindsay says
Wow! This is a wake up call for my family! After dealing with behaviour issues, mood swings and aggressiveness from the time my son was about 2 1/2 yrs old, this puts a lot of the issues into perspective! We have tried every 'positive form of discipline' and to no avail! He is having issues with wetting and he is 6 now....so frustrating...after seeing the pediatrician on serial occasions, we had actually discussed trying meds for ADHD when he turns 7! I have 11 months to get this figured out on my own....why do moms always feel like they are doing it on our own?! Any suggestions on where to start would be greatly appreciated!
S. says
My son also had behavior issues, mood swings, and agressiveness at around age 2. I am a behavior specialist, so my inability to find the root cause of his behavior (at first) was highly frustrating. When I suspected his diet was to blame, I started researching. I called the pediatrician and asked to meet with him to discuss the possibility of food dyes affecting behavior.
At the appointment, the doctor was prepared with research on the subject. He shared most of what is mentioned in this post, specifically numbers 4, 5, and 7. He was wary of some of the research, but he agreed that removing artificial dyes from my son's diet was worthwhile.
I started here in my quest for helping my son be his best self:
http://reddyefree.blogspot.com/
Amanda says
Hello- I thought I would comment because I've been dealing with the same thing with my son. Out of desperation, I decided to try a wheat free and dairy free (gluten/casein free) diet. Within 2 days it was like I had a different kid. I can't express enough what a life changing thing it was for our family. It is a very hard diet to follow, but it is SO SO much easier than dealing with his behavior before. I can tell within a few hours if he's had something by mistake- he becomes so aggressive, very obsessive, and even regresses with his vocabulary. There is no harm in trying it. Give it a week or two and if nothing happens, then no harm done. Good luck!
Abby says
Please consider the feingold diet. http://www.feingold.org It has helped us immensely. If you are not sure about it, join our Yahoo Group Feingold 4 Us, you will get to know and hear stories from tons of us parents in the same boat.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Lindsay. Sounds like you are considering trying to eliminate the artificial dyes from his diet? You will just have to pay close attention to food labels and, I would even go a step further and say that as much as you can get him away from hightly processed food might also be helpful. Best of luck to you. Jill
Nicole M says
Did they make it themselves from scratch? If not they shouldn't be offended. store bought junk food is cheap and no effort. Were effort made to make candies or snacks st home I would allow it. Same goes with store bought cake mix, it is literally no effort whatsoever, but from scratch is something entirely different with real ingredients and less likely to contain fake schmutz in it. It tastes better too.